OPT Data Management Specialist Jobs
Data Management Specialist jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with backgrounds in information systems, computer science, or data analytics. Most roles qualify as STEM OPT extensions, giving you up to three years of work authorization. Employers in healthcare, finance, and tech regularly hire for this title.
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INTRODUCTION
The Simplot Company is a diverse, privately held global food and agriculture company headquartered in Boise, Idaho. We are a true farm-to-table company with an integrated portfolio including food processing and food brands, phosphate mining, fertilizer manufacturing, farming, ranching and cattle production, and other enterprises related to agriculture.
SUMMARY
This role develops, maintains, and resolves specification quality issues for specialty products for foodservice, retail, customer specific (national accounts, key accounts, industrial, etc.) in the PDM system. They work directly with production facilities, co-packers, suppliers, food scientists and technicians, Sales & Marketing, Regulatory, and customers on quality related matters. This position also maintains and distributes factory documentation through sales, legal and customer portals.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Develop, modify, and maintain specialty product and purchased products (incoming ingredients) specifications by working directly with QA managers, supplier quality manager, food scientists, purchasing, packaging, production facilities (including co-packer and joint ventures), sales and marketing to ensure the factories have the necessary information to produce quality products. Ensures specifications are agreed upon with suppliers, customers, and factories.
- Work directly with Regulatory and QA Manager on potential labeling issues.
- Work directly with packaging and purchasing to ensure that specifications are managed in a timely manner so necessary packaging and ingredients can be ordered and shipped.
- Maintain quality documents in SharePoint, including supplier specifications, GFSI certificates, factory flow diagrams, letters of guarantee, Food Safety and Quality policies.
- Coordinate specifications with co-packers as needed.
- Create and maintain the specification system by providing feedback on ideas for improvement, making system changes to accommodate our ever-changing environment.
- Provide training on quality systems.
- Assist in product cuttings for our sales and marketing groups, broker training, school specialist training, product and competitive cuttings, customer cuttings and provide back-up assistance on quality complaints as needed.
- Coordinate with Sales and Legal to ensure non-disclosure agreements are signed when providing sensitive factory information and meet frequently with all stakeholders to include Research and Development, Sales, Marketing, QA, Food Safety and PLM to ensure all teams are aligned. Changes are frequent and attention to detail and organizational ability is imperative.
- Review ingredient statements and point out potential labeling issues.
- Stay up to date on food safety and labeling requirements to ensure factories are in compliance with sales, purchasing and export demands.
- Develop specifications for new factories throughout the Global Supply Chain.
TYPICAL EDUCATION
Bachelor’s degree (B.A. or B.S.) from 4 year college or university
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
3+ years related experience and/or training
REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS
- HACCP certification
- Internal Food Safety Auditor
- FSPCA Preventive controls for Human Food
OTHER INFORMATION
An understanding of processing technology, quality assurance systems and statistical methods. An understanding of quality assurance systems, food safety, FDA compliance and GMP’s and have experience working with customers to identify their needs and expectations, while balancing this with plant capabilities. The ability to understand specifications and product applications is essential. The demonstrated ability to interface with all functional departments is critical. Must demonstrate a high level of tenacity and flexibility in solving problems and implementing solutions. Must possess strong interpersonal skills to develop and maintain relationships with both external and internal customers, with the ability to motivate all functional areas to quickly research and resolve problems. Must be able to work effectively under pressure, without direct supervision, and handle multiple priorities. Detailed knowledge of PLM/PDM. Knowledge of JDE, Sharepoint, Excel, Visio, PowerPoint.
JOB REQUISITION ID: 27137
TRAVEL REQUIRED: Less than 10%
PAY GRADE: Global Grade 3
LOCATION(S): GF Tech Center R&D - Caldwell
COUNTRY: United States
The Simplot Company is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, marital status, or any other protected status.
If the Simplot Company decides to offer you this position, such offer will be conditioned on your satisfactory completion of a post-offer criminal background check. For Washington Job Applicants, see the Washington State Attorney General’s Washington Fair Chance Act Guide and RCW 49.94.010 for more information.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Data Management Specialist
Lead with your technical stack
Data Management Specialists are hired for specific tools. List SQL, Python, ETL platforms, and any data governance software prominently on your resume. Recruiters filter by these keywords before they ever read your OPT status.
Target STEM-designated employers first
Companies already filing H-1B visa petitions are far more comfortable with OPT work authorization. Filter your search toward employers in tech, healthcare IT, and financial services, where data roles and visa familiarity overlap most consistently.
Clarify your OPT timeline upfront
Tell employers your OPT start date, end date, and STEM extension eligibility early. Hiring managers often overestimate complexity. A clear one-paragraph explanation in your cover letter removes the biggest objection before the first interview.
Emphasize data governance and compliance experience
Regulated industries like healthcare and finance have constant data management needs tied to compliance requirements. If you have coursework or project experience with HIPAA, GDPR, or SOX data controls, highlight it specifically for these sectors.
Pursue roles with structured onboarding programs
Large enterprises and consulting firms with formal training programs are more likely to sponsor work visas long-term. These organizations have HR infrastructure to handle OPT paperwork and established precedent for transitioning employees to H-1B status.
Use Migrate Mate to find OPT-friendly openings
Migrate Mate surfaces Data Management Specialist roles from employers with active visa sponsorship history. Searching there saves time you would otherwise spend filtering out companies with no OPT experience or no path to long-term sponsorship.
Data Management Specialist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Data Management Specialist roles qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Most do, but the qualification depends on your degree field, not just the job title. If your degree is in computer science, information systems, data science, or a related STEM field, and the role involves technical data work, it will typically qualify. Your Designated School Official confirms eligibility before you apply for the 24-month extension.
How do I explain my OPT work authorization to a hiring manager unfamiliar with F-1 visas?
Keep it simple and factual. Tell them you have work authorization through the OPT program, that it covers up to three years for STEM roles, and that you need no action from them during that period. Offer to send a short written summary. Most confusion comes from employers assuming they need to file paperwork immediately, which is not accurate for OPT.
Which industries hire the most Data Management Specialists open to OPT students?
Healthcare IT, financial services, and enterprise technology are the most active. These sectors generate large volumes of regulated data and face ongoing compliance requirements, creating consistent demand for data management roles. Federal contractors and consulting firms are also strong options because they frequently work with structured data at scale and have experience sponsoring international employees.
Where is the best place to find Data Management Specialist jobs that are open to OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT and visa-sponsored job searches. The platform focuses on employers with active sponsorship history, so you avoid wasting applications on companies that will reject you at the work authorization question. Searching on Migrate Mate filters the pool to roles where OPT is already an understood part of the hiring process.
Can I start a Data Management Specialist job before my OPT EAD card arrives?
No. You cannot begin work until your Employment Authorization Document is in hand and your OPT start date has passed. Starting early, even by a single day, is a violation of your F-1 status. Plan your job search and offer acceptance timeline so your anticipated start date gives at least two to four weeks of buffer after your expected EAD delivery date.