OPT Clinic Director Jobs
Clinic Director roles fall under specialty occupation criteria, making them viable for F-1 OPT students with degrees in healthcare administration, public health, or a related clinical field. Your 12-month OPT window (29 months with STEM extension) gives you time to demonstrate leadership before pursuing H-1B visa sponsorship.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
For more than 55 years, Family Health Centers of San Diego’s (FHCSD) mission has been to provide caring, affordable, high-quality health care and supportive services to everyone, with a special commitment to uninsured, low-income and medically underserved persons.
FHCSD is one of the top 10 largest federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) in the country. We operate more than 90 sites across San Diego County, including 29 primary care clinics, 23 behavioral health facilities, 10 physical rehabilitation clinics, nine dental clinics, five vision clinics, four outpatient substance use treatment programs, three mobile medical units, two mobile counseling centers, two urgent care centers, and a pharmacy.
Our staff provides care to over 227,000 patients each year, of whom 91% are low-income and 29% are uninsured. FHCSD provides care to all. Services include, but are not limited to adult care, chronic disease management, pediatrics, comprehensive women’s care including obstetrics, dental, vision, case management, physical rehabilitation, speech therapy for children, vaccinations, infectious diseases, behavioral health, substance use counseling and a host of specialty services including cardiology, podiatry, endocrinology, dermatology, among others. FHCSD also offers supportive services to those who are unsheltered and in need of intensive case management.
The breadth of our clinic locations, services and programs has grown over the last five decades, making us the largest community clinic provider of health care to the uninsured in the county and one of the top 10 largest community clinic organizations in the nation. We are also the largest health care safety-net provider, largest school-based health care provider and the largest mental health provider in the San Diego region.
Family Health Centers of San Diego is looking for a Clinic Director who is responsible for the day-to-day operation and ongoing management of a Family Health Centers of San Diego ambulatory care, community health clinic.
Responsibilities:
- Builds positive relationships, inspires others to perform at a higher level, prepares career development plans and retains an accountable workforce.
- Coaches and counsels staff and administers appropriate disciplinary action in a timely manner.
- Develops and maintains community linkages and key community relationships to enhance the site’s ability to serve the local area. Looks for opportunities to connect local community to all appropriate FHCSD programmatic areas, and collaborates with Patient Engagement staff in this effort.
- Ensures applicable regulatory and department standards are adhered to on an ongoing basis (The Joint Commission, OSHA, etc.).
- Ensures site is managed in a fiscally responsible manner. Implements annual contracts, grants, and grant requirements as directed and in collaboration with other FHCSD departments and clinics as applicable.
- Ensures site is well maintained and is compliant with FHCSD’s facilities policies.
- Leads the site in providing quality care to patients. Works well with Medical, Nursing, and Program Leadership in the effective implementation and coordination of services and quality of care standards, policies, and procedures. Effectively and accurately interprets the role of health center services for patients, personnel, medical staff, volunteers, and the community at large.
- Participates in continuous improvement activities and ensures appropriate Lean tools (i.e., 5S, A3) are deployed and results are evaluated and/or measured.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
- Provides/ensures staff receive all new hire and annual trainings on time.
Requirements
- RN, BSN degree, or BA/BS in a related field with 4 years managerial experience, OR Master level education with 2 years of experience in health care management.
- 3 years' experience demonstrating progressively responsible positions in health care services required with preference for ambulatory medical clinics.
- Experience as an Associate Clinic Director preferred.
- Demonstrated skills in customer and patient satisfaction, strong service recovery skills.
- Traveling between sites and other locations is required as an essential function of the job. Must have a car, a valid California driver’s license, and proof of minimum levels of car insurance as required under California law, although limits of $100,000 are recommended. An acceptable driving record is also required. California law requires all drivers to obtain a valid California driver’s license within ten days of establishing residency. Mileage and other reimbursement governed by policy.
Rewards:
- Job type: Regular Full Time (Onsite)
- Competitive Salary with Excellent Benefits
- Retirement Plan with Employer Match
- Paid Time Off, Extended Sick Leave and Paid Holidays
- Medical/Dental/Vision/FSA/Life Insurance
- Employee Discounts and Wellness Programs
The successful candidate will have a demonstrated commitment to community medicine and providing culturally competent care to the medically underserved.
We are excited to share that the salary range for this position is:
83,500.00 - 137,039.00
Information on our extensive benefits package can be found here: FHCSD Wellness – Employee Hub (gobenefits.net)
FHCSD provides Equal Employment Opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training.
INTRODUCTION
For more than 55 years, Family Health Centers of San Diego’s (FHCSD) mission has been to provide caring, affordable, high-quality health care and supportive services to everyone, with a special commitment to uninsured, low-income and medically underserved persons.
FHCSD is one of the top 10 largest federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) in the country. We operate more than 90 sites across San Diego County, including 29 primary care clinics, 23 behavioral health facilities, 10 physical rehabilitation clinics, nine dental clinics, five vision clinics, four outpatient substance use treatment programs, three mobile medical units, two mobile counseling centers, two urgent care centers, and a pharmacy.
Our staff provides care to over 227,000 patients each year, of whom 91% are low-income and 29% are uninsured. FHCSD provides care to all. Services include, but are not limited to adult care, chronic disease management, pediatrics, comprehensive women’s care including obstetrics, dental, vision, case management, physical rehabilitation, speech therapy for children, vaccinations, infectious diseases, behavioral health, substance use counseling and a host of specialty services including cardiology, podiatry, endocrinology, dermatology, among others. FHCSD also offers supportive services to those who are unsheltered and in need of intensive case management.
The breadth of our clinic locations, services and programs has grown over the last five decades, making us the largest community clinic provider of health care to the uninsured in the county and one of the top 10 largest community clinic organizations in the nation. We are also the largest health care safety-net provider, largest school-based health care provider and the largest mental health provider in the San Diego region.
Family Health Centers of San Diego is looking for a Clinic Director who is responsible for the day-to-day operation and ongoing management of a Family Health Centers of San Diego ambulatory care, community health clinic.
Responsibilities:
- Builds positive relationships, inspires others to perform at a higher level, prepares career development plans and retains an accountable workforce.
- Coaches and counsels staff and administers appropriate disciplinary action in a timely manner.
- Develops and maintains community linkages and key community relationships to enhance the site’s ability to serve the local area. Looks for opportunities to connect local community to all appropriate FHCSD programmatic areas, and collaborates with Patient Engagement staff in this effort.
- Ensures applicable regulatory and department standards are adhered to on an ongoing basis (The Joint Commission, OSHA, etc.).
- Ensures site is managed in a fiscally responsible manner. Implements annual contracts, grants, and grant requirements as directed and in collaboration with other FHCSD departments and clinics as applicable.
- Ensures site is well maintained and is compliant with FHCSD’s facilities policies.
- Leads the site in providing quality care to patients. Works well with Medical, Nursing, and Program Leadership in the effective implementation and coordination of services and quality of care standards, policies, and procedures. Effectively and accurately interprets the role of health center services for patients, personnel, medical staff, volunteers, and the community at large.
- Participates in continuous improvement activities and ensures appropriate Lean tools (i.e., 5S, A3) are deployed and results are evaluated and/or measured.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
- Provides/ensures staff receive all new hire and annual trainings on time.
Requirements
- RN, BSN degree, or BA/BS in a related field with 4 years managerial experience, OR Master level education with 2 years of experience in health care management.
- 3 years' experience demonstrating progressively responsible positions in health care services required with preference for ambulatory medical clinics.
- Experience as an Associate Clinic Director preferred.
- Demonstrated skills in customer and patient satisfaction, strong service recovery skills.
- Traveling between sites and other locations is required as an essential function of the job. Must have a car, a valid California driver’s license, and proof of minimum levels of car insurance as required under California law, although limits of $100,000 are recommended. An acceptable driving record is also required. California law requires all drivers to obtain a valid California driver’s license within ten days of establishing residency. Mileage and other reimbursement governed by policy.
Rewards:
- Job type: Regular Full Time (Onsite)
- Competitive Salary with Excellent Benefits
- Retirement Plan with Employer Match
- Paid Time Off, Extended Sick Leave and Paid Holidays
- Medical/Dental/Vision/FSA/Life Insurance
- Employee Discounts and Wellness Programs
The successful candidate will have a demonstrated commitment to community medicine and providing culturally competent care to the medically underserved.
We are excited to share that the salary range for this position is:
83,500.00 - 137,039.00
Information on our extensive benefits package can be found here: FHCSD Wellness – Employee Hub (gobenefits.net)
FHCSD provides Equal Employment Opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Clinic Director
Lead with your healthcare credentials, not just your degree
Clinic Directors are hired for clinical oversight expertise. Highlight licensure, any supervised hours, and relevant certifications alongside your degree. Employers evaluating OPT candidates want evidence you can assume regulatory and operational responsibility from day one.
Target multi-site and growing clinic networks
Larger healthcare groups with multiple locations are far more likely to have established H-1B visa sponsorship processes. A single-location independent clinic may want to hire you but lack the legal infrastructure to sponsor a visa when your OPT expires.
Raise sponsorship early in the interview process
Clinic operations are highly disrupted by leadership turnover. Frame visa sponsorship as continuity planning, not a burden. Bringing it up by the second interview gives employers time to consult legal counsel before extending an offer.
Quantify your operational impact in every application
Hiring managers for director-level roles want measurable outcomes. Cite patient volume managed, staff headcount supervised, or compliance improvements you drove. Concrete numbers make your OPT candidacy harder to pass over in favor of someone who needs no sponsorship.
Understand STEM OPT eligibility for your degree field
Healthcare administration and health informatics programs are often STEM-designated, which extends your work authorization to 29 months. Confirming this before applying lets you honestly tell employers you have significantly more runway than a standard 12-month OPT window.
Build relationships with hospital system HR teams directly
Large hospital systems employ clinic directors across dozens of specialties and have dedicated immigration counsel. Connecting with their HR or talent acquisition teams directly, rather than through intermediaries, puts you in front of people who already know how sponsorship works.
Clinic Director OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Clinic Director role qualify as a specialty occupation for OPT and H-1B purposes?
Yes, in most cases. Clinic Director positions typically require a bachelor's degree or higher in healthcare administration, nursing, public health, or a related clinical field, which satisfies the specialty occupation standard. USCIS looks at whether the role normally requires a degree in a specific discipline, and clinic-level leadership positions consistently meet that threshold. Your specific job description matters, so ensure the offer letter reflects those degree requirements explicitly.
Can I work as a Clinic Director on OPT right after graduation?
Yes, if the role is directly related to your degree field. OPT authorizes employment that is commensurate with your program of study, so a health administration graduate stepping into a clinic operations or director-level role is well within scope. If your degree is in a tangential field, document the connection carefully with your DSO before accepting the offer to avoid any authorization issues.
How do I find Clinic Director jobs that offer OPT and visa sponsorship?
Migrate Mate is the best place to start. The platform surfaces Clinic Director roles specifically at employers with a history of sponsoring work visas, which saves significant time compared to filtering through general postings. Many clinic director openings never explicitly advertise sponsorship willingness, so targeting employers already in Migrate Mate's vetted network gives you a meaningful head start.
What happens to my Clinic Director job if my OPT expires before H-1B approval?
If your employer files an H-1B petition by April 1 of the relevant cap year and you maintain valid OPT through October 1, the cap-gap provision extends your work authorization automatically. You can continue working as Clinic Director without interruption. If your OPT expires outside this window or the petition is not selected in the lottery, you would need an alternative visa or a period of absence from the workforce.
Does a Clinic Director role with a STEM OPT extension require the same employer reporting obligations?
Yes. Under STEM OPT, your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and you are required to submit a formal training plan on Form I-983. For a Clinic Director position, this plan should document your learning objectives in areas like clinical governance, regulatory compliance, and operational management. Your employer's HR or legal team is responsible for signing off, and your DSO must approve the plan before the extension takes effect.