OPT Clinical Operations Director Jobs

Clinical Operations Director jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with backgrounds in clinical research, public health, or biomedical sciences. Most roles qualify as specialty occupations, supporting H-1B visa sponsorship after OPT. Your 12-month standard OPT window applies, with a 24-month STEM extension available if your degree qualifies.

Find OPT Clinical Operations Director Jobs

Overview

Open Jobs1,426+
Work Type87% On-site
Top LocationHouston, TX
Most JobsAmazon.com

Showing 5 of 1,426+ Clinical Operations Director jobs

American Electric Power
RT Ops Infrastructure Specialist Assc - Specialist
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American Electric Power
New 8h ago
RT Ops Infrastructure Specialist Assc - Specialist
American Electric Power
New Albany, Ohio
IT Support & Systems Administration
Technical Product & Program Management
IT Support
Systems Administration
$75k - $125k/yr
On-Site
Associate's
10,000+

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Walgreens
Business Analyst Pharmacy & Retail Ops
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Walgreens
New 9h ago
Business Analyst Pharmacy & Retail Ops
Walgreens
Deerfield, Illinois
Business Analysis
Project & Program Management
Business Analyst
$65k - $114k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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LPL Financial
Sr. Ops Margin Specialist
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LPL Financial
Added 1d ago
Sr. Ops Margin Specialist
LPL Financial
Tempe, Arizona
Finance
Accounting
Compliance & Legal
Business Operations
Customer Service & Support
Compliance & Risk
$17 - $28/hr
On-Site
Bachelor's
5,001-10,000

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TikTok
Site Ops Supervisor, Sort Center
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TikTok
Added 4d ago
Site Ops Supervisor, Sort Center
TikTok
Atlanta, Georgia
Procurement & Supply Chain
Logistics & Fleet Management
Supply Chain
On-Site
Associate's

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Fairview Health Services
Lead Pharmacy Ops - Access Specialist
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Fairview Health Services
Added 5d ago
Lead Pharmacy Ops - Access Specialist
Fairview Health Services
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Healthcare Administration
Customer Service & Support
Human Resources
$29 - $41/hr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Tips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Clinical Operations Director

Target employers with active clinical trial pipelines

Biopharmaceutical companies, CROs, and academic medical centers with ongoing Phase II or III trials hire Clinical Operations Directors regularly and are more likely to have established H-1B visa sponsorship infrastructure and dedicated immigration support.

Frame your degree as a specialty occupation match

Clinical operations roles typically require degrees in life sciences, public health, or healthcare administration. Make your application explicit about this alignment, since USCIS scrutinizes specialty occupation status for director-level clinical roles during H-1B petitions.

Raise sponsorship early in the process

Bring up your OPT status and H-1B sponsorship need before final interviews. Director-level hiring involves HR, legal, and executive sign-off, so surfacing your authorization timeline early prevents delays or last-minute withdrawals from employers unprepared to sponsor.

Verify your degree qualifies for the STEM OPT extension

Degrees in biological sciences, epidemiology, biomedical engineering, or health informatics typically qualify for 24-month STEM OPT extensions. Confirm your CIP code with your DSO before accepting a role, as extension eligibility significantly affects your sponsorship runway.

Prioritize large employers with dedicated HR compliance teams

Companies with 500 or more employees and established compliance teams process H-1B sponsorships more reliably. Smaller startups may offer the role but lack the legal infrastructure to file on time before your OPT authorization period ends.

Use your OPT period to build measurable clinical outcomes

Quantify your impact during OPT: trial enrollment rates improved, protocol deviations reduced, or site activation timelines shortened. Concrete operational metrics strengthen both your H-1B specialty occupation case and your negotiating position with sponsoring employers.

Clinical Operations Director OPT: Frequently Asked Questions

Can F-1 OPT students work as Clinical Operations Directors?

Yes. Clinical Operations Director roles qualify as specialty occupations under USCIS standards because they require a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific field such as life sciences, clinical research, or healthcare administration. Your F-1 OPT work authorization covers full-time employment in this role, provided the position matches the field on your EAD.

Do Clinical Operations Director roles typically lead to H-1B sponsorship?

Most do. Biopharmaceutical companies, contract research organizations, and hospital systems sponsoring Clinical Operations Directors have strong precedent for H-1B petitions, as the role consistently meets specialty occupation criteria. Employers in regulated clinical environments are accustomed to immigration compliance, making sponsorship more straightforward than in less regulated industries.

Where can I find Clinical Operations Director jobs that sponsor OPT students?

Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT and visa-sponsored job seekers. You can browse Clinical Operations Director roles filtered by sponsorship availability, so you're not wasting time applying to employers who won't support your work authorization. This is more efficient than searching general job boards and filtering manually.

Does my degree qualify me for the 24-month STEM OPT extension in this field?

It depends on your specific CIP code. Degrees in biological sciences, epidemiology, biomedical engineering, health informatics, and related STEM-designated fields typically qualify. Clinical research degrees or MPH programs may qualify depending on how your institution filed the program classification. Confirm your CIP code with your DSO before your 12-month OPT window expires.

What happens if my OPT expires before my employer files an H-1B petition?

If you've applied for a STEM OPT extension before your initial OPT expires and your employer meets E-Verify requirements, you're authorized to continue working for up to 180 days while USCIS processes the extension. Director-level roles take time to fill and onboard, so confirming your employer's H-1B filing readiness before your OPT end date is critical.