Clinical Research Manager Jobs for OPT Students
Clinical Research Manager jobs on OPT require employers who understand FDA-regulated trial environments and are willing to sponsor work authorization. Most roles fall under STEM OPT, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization, and demand a background in life sciences, public health, or a related clinical field.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Your future role at a glance:
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Facility: Heritage Center
Department/Specialty: Research Administration
Schedule: Full Time | Day Shift
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
How you'll make an impact in this role:
- Manage the daily operations of a clinical research department including clinical trials.
- Conduct hiring, training, directing, developing, and evaluating of staff.
- Assist with the development and implementation of policies, procedures, standards of practice and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations.
- Monitor the departmental budgets to ensure availability and allocation of resources for clinical trials.
- Oversee clinical trials through all stages.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
What minimum qualifications you'll need:
Licensure / Certification / Registration:
- Preferred Credential(s):
- Certification specializing in Research Professional.
- Registered Nurse credentialed from the Wisconsin Board of Nursing. Licensure from the Wisconsin Board of Nursing OR current home state license if considered multi-state/Compact State.
- Research Professional.
Education:
- High School diploma equivalency with 3 years of cumulative experience OR Associate's degree/Technical degree with 2 years of experience OR 7 years of applicable cumulative job specific experience required.
- 3 years of leadership or management experience preferred.
LIFE AT ASCENSION
Where purpose meets opportunity:
Ascension is a leading nonprofit Catholic health system with a culture and associate experience grounded in service, growth, care and connection. We empower our 99,000+ associates to bring their skills and expertise every day to reimagining healthcare, together. Recognized as one of the Best 150+ Places to Work in Healthcare and a Military-Friendly Gold Employer, you’ll find an inclusive and supportive environment where your contributions truly matter.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Ascension provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all associates and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, lactation, breastfeeding, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, all as defined by applicable law, and any other legally protected status or characteristic in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. For further information, view the EEO Know Your Rights (English) poster or EEO Know Your Rights (Spanish) poster.
FRAUD PREVENTION NOTICE
Prospective applicants should be vigilant against fraudulent job offers and interview requests. Scammers may use sophisticated tactics to impersonate Ascension employees. To ensure your safety, please remember: Ascension will never ask for payment or to provide banking or financial information as part of the job application or hiring process. Our legitimate email communications will always come from an @ascension.org email address; do not trust other domains, and an official offer will only be extended to candidates who have completed a job application through our authorized applicant tracking system.
E-VERIFY STATEMENT
Employer does not participate in E-Verify and therefore cannot employ STEM OPT candidates.
BENEFITS
- Paid time off (PTO)
- Various health insurance options & wellness plans
- Retirement benefits including employer match plans
- Long-term & short-term disability
- Employee assistance programs (EAP)
- Parental leave & adoption assistance
- Tuition reimbursement
- Ways to give back to your community
Benefit options and eligibility vary by position. Compensation varies based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, performance, location and salary range at the time of the offer.
INTRODUCTION
Your future role at a glance:
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Facility: Heritage Center
Department/Specialty: Research Administration
Schedule: Full Time | Day Shift
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
How you'll make an impact in this role:
- Manage the daily operations of a clinical research department including clinical trials.
- Conduct hiring, training, directing, developing, and evaluating of staff.
- Assist with the development and implementation of policies, procedures, standards of practice and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations.
- Monitor the departmental budgets to ensure availability and allocation of resources for clinical trials.
- Oversee clinical trials through all stages.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
What minimum qualifications you'll need:
Licensure / Certification / Registration:
- Preferred Credential(s):
- Certification specializing in Research Professional.
- Registered Nurse credentialed from the Wisconsin Board of Nursing. Licensure from the Wisconsin Board of Nursing OR current home state license if considered multi-state/Compact State.
- Research Professional.
Education:
- High School diploma equivalency with 3 years of cumulative experience OR Associate's degree/Technical degree with 2 years of experience OR 7 years of applicable cumulative job specific experience required.
- 3 years of leadership or management experience preferred.
LIFE AT ASCENSION
Where purpose meets opportunity:
Ascension is a leading nonprofit Catholic health system with a culture and associate experience grounded in service, growth, care and connection. We empower our 99,000+ associates to bring their skills and expertise every day to reimagining healthcare, together. Recognized as one of the Best 150+ Places to Work in Healthcare and a Military-Friendly Gold Employer, you’ll find an inclusive and supportive environment where your contributions truly matter.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Ascension provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all associates and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, lactation, breastfeeding, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, all as defined by applicable law, and any other legally protected status or characteristic in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. For further information, view the EEO Know Your Rights (English) poster or EEO Know Your Rights (Spanish) poster.
FRAUD PREVENTION NOTICE
Prospective applicants should be vigilant against fraudulent job offers and interview requests. Scammers may use sophisticated tactics to impersonate Ascension employees. To ensure your safety, please remember: Ascension will never ask for payment or to provide banking or financial information as part of the job application or hiring process. Our legitimate email communications will always come from an @ascension.org email address; do not trust other domains, and an official offer will only be extended to candidates who have completed a job application through our authorized applicant tracking system.
E-VERIFY STATEMENT
Employer does not participate in E-Verify and therefore cannot employ STEM OPT candidates.
BENEFITS
- Paid time off (PTO)
- Various health insurance options & wellness plans
- Retirement benefits including employer match plans
- Long-term & short-term disability
- Employee assistance programs (EAP)
- Parental leave & adoption assistance
- Tuition reimbursement
- Ways to give back to your community
Benefit options and eligibility vary by position. Compensation varies based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, performance, location and salary range at the time of the offer.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as a Clinical Research Manager
Target STEM-designated programs
A STEM OPT extension gives you 36 months of total work authorization instead of 12. Clinical Research Manager roles typically qualify when your degree is in biology, public health, or a related life sciences field. Confirm your CIP code with your DSO early.
Focus on large CROs and pharma companies
Contract research organizations like large pharma sponsors run structured hiring programs and are familiar with OPT paperwork. Smaller startups may not have sponsored international hires before, making the process slower and less predictable for time-sensitive OPT situations.
Highlight ICH GCP and regulatory experience upfront
Clinical Research Managers with documented ICH GCP certification and FDA or IRB regulatory experience are harder to replace locally. Framing your specialization around compliance knowledge makes sponsorship feel like a straightforward business decision rather than an immigration favor.
Address the E-Verify requirement in your application
OPT employers must be enrolled in E-Verify. Before investing time in an application, confirm the employer participates. Most large healthcare and pharma companies already do, but smaller sites and academic medical centers sometimes do not.
Quantify your trial management outcomes
Employers weighing OPT sponsorship costs want clear evidence of value. Quantify your impact by citing enrollment rates you improved, protocol deviations you reduced, or sites you managed simultaneously. Concrete metrics lower perceived sponsorship risk considerably.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Do Clinical Research Manager jobs typically qualify for STEM OPT extension?
Most Clinical Research Manager roles qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension when your degree is in a STEM-designated field such as biology, biochemistry, public health, or biomedical sciences. The extension is tied to your degree's CIP code, not the job title itself, so confirm eligibility with your DSO before assuming you qualify.
How do I find Clinical Research Manager jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is the most direct way to find Clinical Research Manager roles where employers are open to OPT work authorization. Standard job boards don't filter by sponsorship willingness, which means you can spend weeks applying to roles that won't move forward once your visa status comes up. Searching on Migrate Mate removes that friction.
Can I work as a Clinical Research Manager at an academic medical center on OPT?
Yes, academic medical centers can hire OPT students, but you must confirm they are enrolled in E-Verify before accepting an offer. Academic institutions sometimes have slower HR processes around international hiring, so ask your potential employer directly and early. Some cap-exempt institutions can also sponsor H-1B visas outside the annual lottery.
What happens to my OPT status if my clinical research contract ends between trials?
OPT allows up to 90 days of unemployment in total, and for STEM OPT holders, that drops to 150 days across the full extension period. If your contract-based role ends between studies, that gap counts against your unemployment limit. Having a transition timeline from your employer documented in writing protects you if USCIS ever reviews your authorization period.
Is a Clinical Research Manager role considered a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Clinical Research Manager positions generally qualify as specialty occupations for H-1B because they require at minimum a bachelor's degree in a specific scientific or clinical field. However, approval depends on how the employer writes the job description. Roles that mention a broad range of acceptable degrees or do not require a degree in a specific discipline can face USCIS scrutiny during adjudication.
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