OPT Client Relationship Manager Jobs
Client Relationship Manager roles fit OPT well because most employers classify the position as a specialty occupation requiring a degree in business, communications, or a related field. Your 12-month OPT window (29 months with a STEM extension if eligible) gives you enough runway to prove your value and secure H-1B visa sponsorship.
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The Freeman Company is a global leader in events, on a mission to redefine live for a new era. With a data-driven approach and the industry’s largest network of experts, The Freeman Company's insights shape exhibitions, exhibits, and events that drive audiences to action. The integrated full-service solutions leverage a 99-year legacy in event management as well as new technologies to deliver moments that matter.
Summary
The Client Relationship Manager develops relationships and effectively closes inbound exhibit leads. This position grows opportunities with existing accounts by selling additional services, and renewing project contracts year over year.
This position will support our Exhibit Sales group under our Growth (Sales) team. It is eligible to work a hybrid schedule, generally requiring work in-office and/or show-site 2-3 days per week.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Client Relationship Volume - $2.5M or more
- Focuses on sales to organizations within an assigned customer market and/or segment
- Sells all Freeman lines including but not limited to: exhibit rental, custom exhibit design, carpet, furnishings, exhibit installation & dismantle, audio visual equipment and production, global transportation, content development, delivery, and measurement services
- Responds to leads in a timely manner and appropriately documents correspondence
- Prepares sales collateral and makes virtual presentations when necessary. Modifies collateral as required to close the sale
- Entertains clients as necessary
- Quotes prices and credit terms
- Attends local and state industry meetings and functions as directed
- Produces and reviews orders with Guardian team for successful delivery
- Occasionally supervises jobs on site, as required
- Prepares reports of business transactions and keeps sales
- Keeps track of travel expenses and submits travel expense reports as required
Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree preferred, High School Diploma or Equivalent with relevant work experience required
- 3+ years related experience
- Has proven the ability to successfully manage their own book of accounts in the profitable production of revenue opportunities totaling approximately $500k or more
- Knowledge of sales systems is required
- Working knowledge of all Microsoft Office Software applications
- Excellent customer service and organizational skills are required
- Has demonstrated consistent above average performance evaluations in previous roles
Travel Requirements
Travel up to 25%
What We Offer
The Freeman Company provides benefits that aim to empower our people and their families to thrive mentally, physically, and financially. These are a handful of the types of programs and benefits our full-time people may be eligible for. There may be some variances in specific benefits across regions.
- Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Paid Parental Leave
- Life, Accident and Disability
- Retirement with Company Match
- Paid Time Off
Diversity Commitment
At The Freeman Company, our commitment to diversity and inclusion is helping us to create not only a great place to work, but also an environment where our employees, our customers and our communities around the world can reach their goals and connect with each other. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status and other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
LI-Hybrid #TFCBrand
About us
The Freeman Company is a global leader in events, on a mission to redefine live for a new era. With a data-driven approach and the industry’s largest network of experts, The Freeman Company's insights shape exhibitions, exhibits, and events that drive audiences to action. The integrated full-service solutions leverage a 99-year legacy in event management as well as new technologies to deliver moments that matter.
Summary
The Client Relationship Manager develops relationships and effectively closes inbound exhibit leads. This position grows opportunities with existing accounts by selling additional services, and renewing project contracts year over year.
This position will support our Exhibit Sales group under our Growth (Sales) team. It is eligible to work a hybrid schedule, generally requiring work in-office and/or show-site 2-3 days per week.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Client Relationship Volume - $2.5M or more
- Focuses on sales to organizations within an assigned customer market and/or segment
- Sells all Freeman lines including but not limited to: exhibit rental, custom exhibit design, carpet, furnishings, exhibit installation & dismantle, audio visual equipment and production, global transportation, content development, delivery, and measurement services
- Responds to leads in a timely manner and appropriately documents correspondence
- Prepares sales collateral and makes virtual presentations when necessary. Modifies collateral as required to close the sale
- Entertains clients as necessary
- Quotes prices and credit terms
- Attends local and state industry meetings and functions as directed
- Produces and reviews orders with Guardian team for successful delivery
- Occasionally supervises jobs on site, as required
- Prepares reports of business transactions and keeps sales
- Keeps track of travel expenses and submits travel expense reports as required
Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree preferred, High School Diploma or Equivalent with relevant work experience required
- 3+ years related experience
- Has proven the ability to successfully manage their own book of accounts in the profitable production of revenue opportunities totaling approximately $500k or more
- Knowledge of sales systems is required
- Working knowledge of all Microsoft Office Software applications
- Excellent customer service and organizational skills are required
- Has demonstrated consistent above average performance evaluations in previous roles
Travel Requirements
Travel up to 25%
What We Offer
The Freeman Company provides benefits that aim to empower our people and their families to thrive mentally, physically, and financially. These are a handful of the types of programs and benefits our full-time people may be eligible for. There may be some variances in specific benefits across regions.
- Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Paid Parental Leave
- Life, Accident and Disability
- Retirement with Company Match
- Paid Time Off
Diversity Commitment
At The Freeman Company, our commitment to diversity and inclusion is helping us to create not only a great place to work, but also an environment where our employees, our customers and our communities around the world can reach their goals and connect with each other. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status and other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
LI-Hybrid #TFCBrand
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Client Relationship Manager
Target companies with a history of H-1B sponsorship
Financial services firms, consulting companies, and enterprise software providers routinely sponsor H-1B visas for client-facing roles. Prioritize employers with dedicated HR teams who already understand the sponsorship process, as they move faster and make fewer mistakes.
Position your degree as a specialty occupation match
USCIS requires Client Relationship Manager roles to need a specific bachelor's degree field. Frame your business, marketing, or communications degree as directly tied to the role's client strategy responsibilities, not just general business knowledge, in every application and interview.
Raise sponsorship early, not at the offer stage
Bring up your OPT status and future sponsorship needs during the second or third interview round. Waiting until the offer stage creates friction and sometimes kills deals. Employers who are uncomfortable usually say so early, saving everyone time.
Quantify your client management impact with numbers
Employers weighing the cost of sponsorship need to see clear return. Lead with metrics on your resume: retention rates you improved, revenue you influenced, or portfolio size you managed. Concrete numbers reduce perceived hiring risk significantly for international candidates.
Apply during the October-to-December hiring window for H-1B timing
If you need H-1B sponsorship, employers must file by April 1 for an October 1 start. Working backward, that means securing an offer between October and December gives your employer the most preparation time without rushing the process.
Highlight client-facing soft skills that are hard to offshore
Relationship management relies on cultural fluency, communication, and trust-building that many employers consider location-dependent. Emphasizing these strengths signals you add value that remote or offshore alternatives cannot easily replicate, which strengthens the sponsorship business case.
Client Relationship Manager OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Client Relationship Manager on OPT?
Yes, provided your role qualifies as a specialty occupation tied to your degree field. Most Client Relationship Manager positions require a bachelor's degree in business, marketing, communications, or a related discipline, which satisfies that standard. You must also ensure your employer reports any material changes in your job duties to your DSO, since OPT authorization is tied to your specific field of study.
Do Client Relationship Manager roles commonly lead to H-1B sponsorship?
Many do, particularly at larger financial services, consulting, and SaaS companies where the role is well-defined and recurring. The key factor is whether the employer can demonstrate the position requires a specific degree rather than any bachelor's degree, which is the threshold USCIS applies. Roles with defined account portfolios, revenue responsibility, or technical product knowledge tend to pass that test more reliably than generalist relationship roles.
Where can I find Client Relationship Manager jobs that are open to OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters roles by sponsorship openness, so you avoid wasting applications on employers who won't consider international candidates. Searching there surfaces Client Relationship Manager positions where the employer has either sponsored before or explicitly indicated openness to OPT and H-1B candidates, which saves significant time during a limited authorization window.
Does my field of study affect whether I can work as a Client Relationship Manager on OPT?
Yes, and this is one of the most common problems OPT students encounter. Your OPT authorization must be directly related to your degree. A business, marketing, finance, or communications degree connects clearly. A degree in engineering or the natural sciences may still qualify if your CRM role sits at a technical company where the position genuinely requires that background, but your DSO and employer should document that connection carefully.
Can I work as a Client Relationship Manager for a small business or startup on OPT?
Yes, OPT does not restrict employer size. However, small employers and early-stage startups are less likely to have prior H-1B sponsorship experience, which can create delays or complications if you need sponsorship before your OPT expires. If you pursue a startup role, have a direct conversation about sponsorship timelines early, confirm they have legal counsel who handles immigration, and verify your role qualifies as a specialty occupation before you start.