OPT Clinical Operations Lead Jobs

Clinical Operations Lead jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with backgrounds in clinical research, biomedical sciences, or public health. Most roles qualify as STEM-eligible, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization. Employers in pharma, biotech, and CROs regularly sponsor H-1B visas for this role.

Find OPT Clinical Operations Lead Jobs

Overview

Open Jobs1,302+
Work Type88% On-site
Top LocationNew York, NY
Most JobsAmazon.com

Showing 5 of 1,302+ Clinical Operations Lead jobs

Copart, Inc
CDS Ops Customer Service Representative
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Copart, Inc
New 23h ago
CDS Ops Customer Service Representative
Copart, Inc
Dallas, Texas
Customer Service & Support
Administrative & Office Support
Customer Service
On-Site
Associate's
5,001-10,000

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NBCUniversal
Corporate Services Ops Coordinator
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NBCUniversal
Added 1d ago
Corporate Services Ops Coordinator
NBCUniversal
Universal City, California
Administrative & Office Support
Project & Program Management
Customer Service & Support
$24 - $33/hr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Florida Gulf Coast University
OPS Assistant Coach, Women's Golf
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Florida Gulf Coast University
Added 1d ago
OPS Assistant Coach, Women's Golf
Florida Gulf Coast University
Fort Myers, Florida
Fitness & Recreation
Sports & Fitness
On-Site
Bachelor's
1,001-5,000

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CBRE
Engineering Ops Manager
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CBRE
Added 1d ago
Engineering Ops Manager
CBRE
Tacoma, Washington
Human Resources
Project & Program Management
Specialized Engineering
Project Management
Engineering (Non-Software)
$95k - $115k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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TikTok
Site Ops Supervisor
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TikTok
Added 1d ago
Site Ops Supervisor
TikTok
Fontana, California
Procurement & Supply Chain
Logistics & Fleet Management
Supply Chain
On-Site
Associate's

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Tips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Clinical Operations Lead

Target CROs and biotech firms with established OPT pipelines

Contract research organizations like ICON, Syneos, and PRA Health Sciences hire clinical operations staff at scale. These employers have established visa sponsorship infrastructure and are far more likely to support OPT and future H-1B transitions than smaller sponsors.

Confirm your degree qualifies for STEM OPT extension

Clinical Operations Lead roles typically fall under STEM CIP codes in biomedical engineering, public health, or biological sciences. Verify your specific degree program is on the STEM OPT designated list before applying to roles requiring a 24-month extension.

Apply before your OPT end date, not after

Sponsorship timelines for H-1B require employers to file by April 1 for October 1 starts. If your OPT expires before October, you need a STEM extension or a cap-exempt employer. Start conversations about sponsorship at the offer stage, not onboarding.

Highlight regulatory and cross-functional experience on your resume

Employers justify H-1B sponsorship by demonstrating specialty occupation status. Emphasize ICH-GCP compliance knowledge, protocol deviation management, and cross-functional team coordination. These signal the specialized expertise that supports a specialty occupation determination from USCIS.

Ask directly about H-1B sponsorship before accepting offers

Many clinical operations employers sponsor visas but do not advertise it publicly. During the offer stage, ask explicitly whether the company has sponsored H-1B visas for this role before and whether your position would qualify. Silence is not a yes.

Use your OPT period to build a track record in trial management

Employers weighing H-1B sponsorship costs want demonstrated ROI. Use your OPT period to take ownership of site activation metrics, sponsor audits, or TMF management. Documented outcomes during OPT make the sponsorship case significantly easier for your employer.

Clinical Operations Lead OPT: Frequently Asked Questions

Do Clinical Operations Lead jobs qualify for STEM OPT extension?

Most Clinical Operations Lead positions qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, provided your degree is in an eligible field such as biomedical sciences, public health, or a related STEM discipline listed on the DHS STEM OPT designated degree program list. Roles in pharma and CRO settings almost always meet the specialty occupation threshold, but you should confirm your specific degree CIP code with your DSO before applying.

Which types of employers are most likely to sponsor OPT students for Clinical Operations Lead roles?

Large contract research organizations, mid-size biotech companies, and pharmaceutical sponsors with active clinical pipelines are the most consistent sponsors. These employers file high volumes of H-1B petitions annually and have legal teams familiar with OPT-to-H-1B transitions. Migrate Mate filters clinical operations roles by sponsorship history so you can prioritize employers already doing this.

Can I work as a Clinical Operations Lead on OPT without a full-time offer from a single employer?

OPT requires that your work be directly related to your degree field, but it does not require a single full-time employer in most cases. However, Clinical Operations Lead roles are almost always full-time positions given their regulatory and oversight responsibilities. Part-time or consulting arrangements are rare at this level and may complicate your OPT reporting obligations with your DSO.

What happens to my OPT status if my employer goes through a merger or acquisition during my authorization period?

If your employer is acquired or merges with another company, your OPT authorization itself does not automatically terminate, but your I-983 training plan and employer of record details must be updated with your DSO promptly. If the acquiring entity is a fundamentally different employer, a new I-983 may be required. Delays in updating these records can create compliance gaps that affect your immigration record.

Is Clinical Operations Lead considered a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?

Yes, in the large majority of cases. USCIS has consistently recognized clinical operations roles as specialty occupations when the position requires application of clinical research methodology, regulatory compliance frameworks, or biomedical expertise at a level that normally requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific field. Your employer's H-1B petition should document the degree requirement for the specific role to support this classification.