OPT Chief Operating Officer Jobs
Chief Operating Officer roles on OPT are rare but not impossible. Most COO positions require extensive leadership experience, so F-1 students pursuing this path typically hold STEM OPT extensions and target high-growth startups where operational leadership opens earlier. Your 12 to 36 months of work authorization needs to convert to long-term sponsorship fast.
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INTRODUCTION
Established in 1989, the Stanford Center for Biomedical (SCBE) is an interdisciplinary hub for faculty who do research, teaching, and service on topics in bioethics and medical humanities. SCBE and its faculty have been widely recognized for leadership on a range of issues.
SCBE faculty teach throughout Stanford, from large undergraduate courses to ethics courses taken by all medical students. SCBE offers training for medical students who choose to specialize in biomedical ethics and medical humanities, as well a highly-rated research ethics seminar taken by over 350 graduate students and fellows a year. Faculty provide a wide array of educational and training opportunities for residents, fellows, nurses and other medical staff. Additionally, faculty conduct guest lectures in other departments and divisions across the School of Medicine. The Center also provides educational opportunities for the general public.
OUR MISSION
- To conduct innovative empirical bioethics research (in the core areas of genomics, end-of-life care, cultural diversity, neuroscience, the changing health care marketplace, and technology development)
- To provide leadership in bioethics education for students and faculty in medicine, the Humanities and Sciences, and the professional schools, at Stanford and nationally
- To apply ethical reasoning to moral issues in medicine, including basic science, translational biomedical research, patient care, and the development of medical technology
- To contribute to national and international policy discussions by building a community of professionals dedicated to formulating effective responses to contemporary ethical issues
- To advance and preserve a compassionate and humanistic perspective on the practice of medicine, in order to improve health care for adults and children
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Stanford University is seeking a Finance and Operations Director to provide management and coordination of administrative and operations-related functions for departments with substantial impact within a school. Manage staff to achieve the research and teaching mission, goals and objectives of the unit. Partner with and/or influence faculty leadership on departmental affairs.
DUTIES INCLUDE
- Direct staff and provide leadership to achieve goals and vision of the organization and the day-to-day operations. Responsible for hiring and retaining staff, career coaching, personal development for direct reports and accountable for the performance of employees.
- May independently or in collaboration with human resources managers, guide faculty supervisors in the interpretation and implementation of human resources policies, procedures and programs.
- Develop business plans and infrastructure to support research and teaching. Provide analysis and review of multi-year plans, including providing alternative methods for achieving goals when necessary. Influence faculty leadership on specific recommendations for current operation and for future development of the organization and lead process improvement.
- Interpret, implement and ensure compliance with university academic and administrative policies and procedures within an operating unit. Recommend new internal policies, guidelines and procedures.
- Oversee and/or manage the finances across all sources for the annual budget cycle, including developing, monitoring, analyzing forecasting and reporting.
- Manage and coordinate grants and contracts for the department. Ensure compliance with institutional and external requirements.
- Represent the unit’s business and academic operations within the organization. May represent the organization to external constituencies.
- Other duties may also be assigned.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE (REQUIRED):
- Bachelor's degree and five years of relevant experience in administrative and financial management, or combination of education and relevant experience.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (REQUIRED):
- Demonstrated leadership and supervisory skills including conflict resolution.
- Excellent planning and organizational skills.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Strong financial expertise in accounting, budget planning and financial forecasting.
- Strong expertise in grants and contract administration.
- Strong negotiation and interpersonal skills.
- Attention to detail and accuracy.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Strong expertise in business and management computer applications and databases.
- Strong knowledge of industry standards and/or regulatory requirements.
- Subject matter expertise for area(s) of responsibility.
- Ability to multi-task and manage deadlines.
Physical Requirements:
- Constantly perform desk-based computer tasks.
- Frequently sitting.
- Occasionally stand/walk, writing by hand, use a telephone, lift/carry/push/pull objects that weigh 11-20 pounds.
- Rarely sort/file paperwork or parts, rarely twist/bend/stoop/squat.
Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- Occasional evening and weekend hours.
WORK STANDARDS
- Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.
- Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned.
- Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University's Administrative Guide.
COMPENSATION
- The expected pay range for this position is $160,294 to $199,273 per annum.
Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.
At Stanford University, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package. The Cardinal at Work website provides detailed information on Stanford’s extensive range of benefits and rewards offered to employees. Specifics about the rewards package for this position may be discussed during the hiring process.
Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact Stanford University Human Resources by submitting a contact form.
Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Chief Operating Officer
Target startups over established corporations
Early-stage companies promote operational leaders faster and sponsor visas more flexibly than large enterprises. A Series A or B startup actively scaling needs operational talent and is more willing to invest in sponsorship for the right person.
Build your case around measurable operational impact
COO hiring decisions hinge on outcomes, not credentials. Document specific metrics: revenue growth you drove, costs reduced, headcount scaled. Concrete numbers replace the experience gap that OPT students often face at this seniority level.
Get your employer started on H-1B sponsorship early
The H-1B lottery registration opens in March for October starts. If your OPT expires mid-year, timing matters enormously. Raise sponsorship in the offer negotiation stage, not after you have started working, to avoid authorization gaps.
Position yourself as a specialist, not a generalist
COO roles at the OPT stage are usually functional, not company-wide. Titles like Head of Operations or VP of Operations lead there. Specializing in supply chain, product ops, or growth ops makes you a stronger visa sponsorship candidate.
Engage immigration-friendly industries strategically
Technology, healthcare operations, and logistics companies file the most H-1B petitions for operational leadership roles. Prioritizing these sectors improves your odds of finding an employer already comfortable with visa sponsorship processes.
Use your OPT period to demonstrate leadership, not just execution
Sponsors back people who show they can run things independently. Take on cross-functional projects, manage budgets, and lead teams during OPT. That track record is what converts a current employer into a long-term visa sponsor.
Chief Operating Officer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can F-1 OPT students work as a Chief Operating Officer in the United States?
Yes. F-1 OPT authorizes full-time employment in any role directly related to your field of study, including executive positions like Chief Operating Officer. The key requirement is that your COO duties connect to your degree field. Business, management, engineering, and computer science graduates can reasonably make this connection, particularly in operationally complex industries.
Which visa is most commonly used to sponsor Chief Operating Officer roles after OPT?
The H-1B is the most common long-term path for COO roles, provided the position qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field. Some COO candidates also pursue the O-1A visa, which requires demonstrating extraordinary ability through awards, media coverage, high compensation relative to peers, or significant contributions to their industry.
How can I find Chief Operating Officer jobs that offer OPT sponsorship?
Migrate Mate is the recommended starting point. It surfaces employer-sponsored roles specifically for F-1 OPT and international students, filtering out listings where sponsorship is unlikely. COO-level roles on OPT are uncommon, so searching for operational leadership titles like Head of Operations, Director of Operations, or VP of Operations and building toward the COO level is often more practical.
Does a COO role qualify for a STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree. If you graduated from a STEM-designated program and your COO responsibilities apply STEM knowledge directly, such as overseeing engineering operations, technical product delivery, or data-driven growth functions, you may qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. The employer must also be enrolled in E-Verify. Your DSO and the employer's HR team should confirm eligibility before filing.
What makes it harder to get OPT sponsorship for senior executive roles like COO?
Employers sponsoring executive roles face the same visa costs and timelines as any hire, but the stakes are higher. COO positions require demonstrated leadership experience that most recent graduates cannot show. Additionally, the H-1B lottery introduces uncertainty that can disqualify a candidate from the role. Companies willing to sponsor tend to be startups where the candidate has already proven themselves internally during the OPT period.