OPT Design Director Jobs
Design Director roles on OPT require demonstrating senior leadership over visual and brand strategy, which satisfies the specialty occupation standard USCIS uses to evaluate OPT extensions. Most employers sponsoring these roles file H-1B visa petitions after OPT, making early sponsor identification critical within your 12- or 29-month authorization window.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
We are seeking an Assistant Director of Life Design, Physical & Materials Engineering who will report to the Senior Director for Undergraduate Education and will execute on the Life Design Lab’s vision, strategy, and objectives to enhance and deliver the professional development, career advancement, and life design offerings for students pursuing careers in engineering. The physical and materials engineering portfolio is composed of four primary majors: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, and Electrical & Computer Engineering.
As an equity-based office that believes all of our students have the same opportunity to pursue their life purpose regardless of background, field of study, or social capital, each Life Design Educator is expected to co-create, collaborate, and support all of our students; however, this position has a particular focus on careers in engineering professions most closely aligned to chemical and biomolecular engineering, mechanical engineering, material sciences and engineering, and electrical and computer engineering.
The Life Design Educator will become familiar with the novel approach to career readiness and life design established at Johns Hopkins University and implement programs, scalable support systems, and create content to connect critical mindsets, frameworks, and approaches with their designated student population. There will be an emphasis on scalable solutions, initiative-based delivery, and high-impact applied experiences to support our student population.
Specific Duties & Responsibilities
Core Services & Outcomes
- Scale efforts for a positive life design and professional development experience for all students and alumni, with special attention to students within the physical and materials engineering portfolio.
- Design and implement workshops to support our students’ career readiness and life design needs at scale, grounded in current best practices and emerging trends.
- Develop scalable asynchronous and on-demand content to deliver career readiness best practices at scale to students pursuing undergraduate education.
- Strategically manage targeted outreach to enhance participation and support, ensuring they are informed about relevant opportunities, individual coaching, and events while proactively monitoring engagement and job attainment.
- Engage in social media, digital outlets, and academic and professional journals and associations to establish an exciting brand, tell the story, and serve as a thought leader at Johns Hopkins University and in higher education.
- Provide strategic individual and group coaching to support students' life design exploration, career readiness, and professional development.
- Track and drive key student outcomes, including full-time and bridge year attainment, offer conversion, and participation in high-impact experiences.
Curriculum Development & Facilitation
- Using the mindsets and methodologies of life design and best practices from the Life Design Lab, deliver workshops, programs, content, and digital resources to help students and alumni achieve their life ambitions.
- Customize existing Life Design curriculum, offerings, and approaches given the unique needs of students and alumni based on identity and values, academic pursuits and professional interests.
- Instruct the Life Design Summer Experience Practicum Course and additional credit-bearing classes when available.
- Integrate asynchronous learning material into tailored student outreach, cohort development, and programmatic efforts.
Project Management
- Adheres to project timelines, supporting the execution of life design programs and initiatives.
- Coordinates cohort-specific programs and services in partnership with key stakeholders.
Strategic Partnerships
- In partnership with Life Design Lab leadership, cultivate and strengthen relationships with colleagues across units.
- Collaborate with Hire Hopkins & alumni relations colleagues to build and maintain a network of employers and mentors across varied careers who can attend courses, programs, and networking events.
Departmental Contribution
- Actively participates as a member of a Life Design Lab committee, contributing to strategic initiatives and collaborative decision-making.
Behavioral Competencies
Inclusive Communication
- Communicates clearly and empathetically across diverse student and stakeholder groups.
Collaborative Relationships
- Builds respectful and productive partnerships by valuing diverse experiences and perspectives.
Initiative & Follow-Through
- Demonstrates ownership of responsibilities and consistently delivers integrity and reliability.
Adaptability
- Responds flexibly to evolving priorities, student needs, and technological shifts in a dynamic setting.
Equity-Centered Practice
- Applies an equity lens to programming and decision-making, ensuring inclusive access and support.
Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities
- By way of experience, evidence of ability to develop and execute programs, courses, events, and content to scale impact across various constituent groups.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team to achieve individual and shared goals within a complex and decentralized institution.
- Strong multicultural competency and demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders to achieve equitable and inclusive results.
- Comfortable with technology and able to quickly learn and use a wide range of systems (Handshake, Salesforce, PeopleGrove), collaboration tools (Zoom, Teams, Miro, Monday), and instructional technologies (Blackboard, etc.)
- Listen and communicate convincingly in written and verbal formats.
- Knowledge of highly selective college or university settings, and familiarity with operations of the world of work and university networks.
- Experience in presenting or facilitating in both in-person and online formats.
- Experience creating content (video, digital, written) and utilizing social media for the purposes of engaging and educating diverse audiences, and influencing public opinion.
- Ability to translate student experiences to employment as evidenced by prior experience in either a government, non-profit, education, or private sector setting.
- Experience in developing and implementing effective assessment methods and articulating strategic priorities.
About Working in the Imagine Center
Our educators work within multiple offices and spaces on campus. Rather than assigning office or desk spaces to our teams, we have modernized our approach and assigned laptops and cell phones, and expect that our teams can work from anywhere to scale our impact across the institution. For this model to work, the ideal candidate must present excellent relationship-building skills and engage audiences in groups and via social media and digital outlets.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Master's Degree required.
- Three (3) years of experience within a higher education, government, non-profit, or corporate setting.
- Additional education may substitute for required experience and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond a high school diploma/graduation equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.
Classified Title: Life Design Educator
Job Posting Title (Working Title): Assistant Director of Life Design, Physical & Materials Engineering (Life Design Lab)
Role/Level/Range: ACRP/04/MD
Starting Salary Range: $57,195 - $100,040 Annually ($65,000 targeted; Commensurate w/exp.)
Employee group: Full Time
Schedule: Mon - Fri 08:30am-05:00pm (some evening and weekend requirements)
FLSA Status: Exempt
Location: Hybrid/Homewood Campus
Department name: Life Design Lab
Personnel area: University Student Services
Total Rewards
The referenced base salary range represents the low and high end of Johns Hopkins University’s salary range for this position. Not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range. Exact salary will ultimately depend on multiple factors, which may include the successful candidate's geographic location, skills, work experience, market conditions, education/training and other qualifications. Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports our employees' health, life, career and retirement. More information can be found here: https://hr.jhu.edu/benefits-worklife/.
Education and Experience Equivalency
Please refer to the job description above to see which forms of equivalency are permitted for this position. If permitted, equivalencies will follow these guidelines: JHU Equivalency Formula: 30 undergraduate degree credits (semester hours) or 18 graduate degree credits may substitute for one year of experience. Additional related experience may substitute for required education on the same basis. For jobs where equivalency is permitted, up to two years of non-related college course work may be applied towards the total minimum education/experience required for the respective job.
Applicants Completing Studies
Applicants who do not meet the posted requirements but are completing their final academic semester/quarter will be considered eligible for employment and may be asked to provide additional information confirming their academic completion date.
Background Checks
The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check. Johns Hopkins is committed to hiring individuals with a justice-involved background, consistent with applicable policies and current practice. A prior criminal history does not automatically preclude candidates from employment at Johns Hopkins University. In accordance with applicable law, the university will review, on an individual basis, the date of a candidate's conviction, the nature of the conviction and how the conviction relates to an essential job-related qualification or function.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Johns Hopkins University values diversity, equity and inclusion and advances these through our key strategic framework, the JHU Roadmap on Diversity and Inclusion.
Equal Opportunity Employer
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
EEO is the Law
https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf
Accommodation Information
If you are interested in applying for employment with The Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the Talent Acquisition Office at jhurecruitment@jhu.edu. For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711. For more information about workplace accommodations or accessibility at Johns Hopkins University, please visit: https://accessibility.jhu.edu/.
Vaccine Requirements
Johns Hopkins University requires all faculty, staff, and students to receive the seasonal flu vaccine. Exceptions to the flu vaccine requirements may be provided to individuals for religious beliefs or medical reasons. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry.
The following additional provisions may apply, depending upon campus. Your recruiter will advise accordingly.
The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.
INTRODUCTION
We are seeking an Assistant Director of Life Design, Physical & Materials Engineering who will report to the Senior Director for Undergraduate Education and will execute on the Life Design Lab’s vision, strategy, and objectives to enhance and deliver the professional development, career advancement, and life design offerings for students pursuing careers in engineering. The physical and materials engineering portfolio is composed of four primary majors: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, and Electrical & Computer Engineering.
As an equity-based office that believes all of our students have the same opportunity to pursue their life purpose regardless of background, field of study, or social capital, each Life Design Educator is expected to co-create, collaborate, and support all of our students; however, this position has a particular focus on careers in engineering professions most closely aligned to chemical and biomolecular engineering, mechanical engineering, material sciences and engineering, and electrical and computer engineering.
The Life Design Educator will become familiar with the novel approach to career readiness and life design established at Johns Hopkins University and implement programs, scalable support systems, and create content to connect critical mindsets, frameworks, and approaches with their designated student population. There will be an emphasis on scalable solutions, initiative-based delivery, and high-impact applied experiences to support our student population.
Specific Duties & Responsibilities
Core Services & Outcomes
- Scale efforts for a positive life design and professional development experience for all students and alumni, with special attention to students within the physical and materials engineering portfolio.
- Design and implement workshops to support our students’ career readiness and life design needs at scale, grounded in current best practices and emerging trends.
- Develop scalable asynchronous and on-demand content to deliver career readiness best practices at scale to students pursuing undergraduate education.
- Strategically manage targeted outreach to enhance participation and support, ensuring they are informed about relevant opportunities, individual coaching, and events while proactively monitoring engagement and job attainment.
- Engage in social media, digital outlets, and academic and professional journals and associations to establish an exciting brand, tell the story, and serve as a thought leader at Johns Hopkins University and in higher education.
- Provide strategic individual and group coaching to support students' life design exploration, career readiness, and professional development.
- Track and drive key student outcomes, including full-time and bridge year attainment, offer conversion, and participation in high-impact experiences.
Curriculum Development & Facilitation
- Using the mindsets and methodologies of life design and best practices from the Life Design Lab, deliver workshops, programs, content, and digital resources to help students and alumni achieve their life ambitions.
- Customize existing Life Design curriculum, offerings, and approaches given the unique needs of students and alumni based on identity and values, academic pursuits and professional interests.
- Instruct the Life Design Summer Experience Practicum Course and additional credit-bearing classes when available.
- Integrate asynchronous learning material into tailored student outreach, cohort development, and programmatic efforts.
Project Management
- Adheres to project timelines, supporting the execution of life design programs and initiatives.
- Coordinates cohort-specific programs and services in partnership with key stakeholders.
Strategic Partnerships
- In partnership with Life Design Lab leadership, cultivate and strengthen relationships with colleagues across units.
- Collaborate with Hire Hopkins & alumni relations colleagues to build and maintain a network of employers and mentors across varied careers who can attend courses, programs, and networking events.
Departmental Contribution
- Actively participates as a member of a Life Design Lab committee, contributing to strategic initiatives and collaborative decision-making.
Behavioral Competencies
Inclusive Communication
- Communicates clearly and empathetically across diverse student and stakeholder groups.
Collaborative Relationships
- Builds respectful and productive partnerships by valuing diverse experiences and perspectives.
Initiative & Follow-Through
- Demonstrates ownership of responsibilities and consistently delivers integrity and reliability.
Adaptability
- Responds flexibly to evolving priorities, student needs, and technological shifts in a dynamic setting.
Equity-Centered Practice
- Applies an equity lens to programming and decision-making, ensuring inclusive access and support.
Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities
- By way of experience, evidence of ability to develop and execute programs, courses, events, and content to scale impact across various constituent groups.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team to achieve individual and shared goals within a complex and decentralized institution.
- Strong multicultural competency and demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders to achieve equitable and inclusive results.
- Comfortable with technology and able to quickly learn and use a wide range of systems (Handshake, Salesforce, PeopleGrove), collaboration tools (Zoom, Teams, Miro, Monday), and instructional technologies (Blackboard, etc.)
- Listen and communicate convincingly in written and verbal formats.
- Knowledge of highly selective college or university settings, and familiarity with operations of the world of work and university networks.
- Experience in presenting or facilitating in both in-person and online formats.
- Experience creating content (video, digital, written) and utilizing social media for the purposes of engaging and educating diverse audiences, and influencing public opinion.
- Ability to translate student experiences to employment as evidenced by prior experience in either a government, non-profit, education, or private sector setting.
- Experience in developing and implementing effective assessment methods and articulating strategic priorities.
About Working in the Imagine Center
Our educators work within multiple offices and spaces on campus. Rather than assigning office or desk spaces to our teams, we have modernized our approach and assigned laptops and cell phones, and expect that our teams can work from anywhere to scale our impact across the institution. For this model to work, the ideal candidate must present excellent relationship-building skills and engage audiences in groups and via social media and digital outlets.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Master's Degree required.
- Three (3) years of experience within a higher education, government, non-profit, or corporate setting.
- Additional education may substitute for required experience and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond a high school diploma/graduation equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.
Classified Title: Life Design Educator
Job Posting Title (Working Title): Assistant Director of Life Design, Physical & Materials Engineering (Life Design Lab)
Role/Level/Range: ACRP/04/MD
Starting Salary Range: $57,195 - $100,040 Annually ($65,000 targeted; Commensurate w/exp.)
Employee group: Full Time
Schedule: Mon - Fri 08:30am-05:00pm (some evening and weekend requirements)
FLSA Status: Exempt
Location: Hybrid/Homewood Campus
Department name: Life Design Lab
Personnel area: University Student Services
Total Rewards
The referenced base salary range represents the low and high end of Johns Hopkins University’s salary range for this position. Not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range. Exact salary will ultimately depend on multiple factors, which may include the successful candidate's geographic location, skills, work experience, market conditions, education/training and other qualifications. Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports our employees' health, life, career and retirement. More information can be found here: https://hr.jhu.edu/benefits-worklife/.
Education and Experience Equivalency
Please refer to the job description above to see which forms of equivalency are permitted for this position. If permitted, equivalencies will follow these guidelines: JHU Equivalency Formula: 30 undergraduate degree credits (semester hours) or 18 graduate degree credits may substitute for one year of experience. Additional related experience may substitute for required education on the same basis. For jobs where equivalency is permitted, up to two years of non-related college course work may be applied towards the total minimum education/experience required for the respective job.
Applicants Completing Studies
Applicants who do not meet the posted requirements but are completing their final academic semester/quarter will be considered eligible for employment and may be asked to provide additional information confirming their academic completion date.
Background Checks
The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check. Johns Hopkins is committed to hiring individuals with a justice-involved background, consistent with applicable policies and current practice. A prior criminal history does not automatically preclude candidates from employment at Johns Hopkins University. In accordance with applicable law, the university will review, on an individual basis, the date of a candidate's conviction, the nature of the conviction and how the conviction relates to an essential job-related qualification or function.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Johns Hopkins University values diversity, equity and inclusion and advances these through our key strategic framework, the JHU Roadmap on Diversity and Inclusion.
Equal Opportunity Employer
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
EEO is the Law
https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf
Accommodation Information
If you are interested in applying for employment with The Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the Talent Acquisition Office at jhurecruitment@jhu.edu. For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711. For more information about workplace accommodations or accessibility at Johns Hopkins University, please visit: https://accessibility.jhu.edu/.
Vaccine Requirements
Johns Hopkins University requires all faculty, staff, and students to receive the seasonal flu vaccine. Exceptions to the flu vaccine requirements may be provided to individuals for religious beliefs or medical reasons. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry.
The following additional provisions may apply, depending upon campus. Your recruiter will advise accordingly.
The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Design Director
Target companies with dedicated in-house creative teams
Large consumer brands, tech companies, and agencies with established creative departments are far more likely to sponsor than startups. An in-house team signals that design is a core business function, not a contractor role, which strengthens the specialty occupation case.
Frame your portfolio around business outcomes, not aesthetics
Sponsoring employers need to justify your role to USCIS. When presenting work, connect design decisions to revenue, retention, or brand equity metrics. A portfolio that speaks business language makes the sponsorship conversation easier for hiring managers and legal teams.
Confirm OPT authorization early in the interview process
Raise your work authorization status before the final round, not after an offer. Design Director searches move slowly, and discovering a company has a no-sponsorship policy after weeks of interviews wastes critical time on your OPT clock.
Prioritize roles with 'Director' or equivalent titles explicitly
Job titles matter for USCIS specialty occupation assessments. A position formally titled Design Director carries more weight than a senior designer role with director-level responsibilities. The title signals the degree requirement and leadership scope that supports an H-1B visa petition.
Document your degree-to-role alignment clearly
Design Director positions typically require a degree in graphic design, industrial design, architecture, or a related field. Be explicit in applications about how your specific degree program connects to the role, since employers and attorneys need this when building your sponsorship case.
Ask about the H-1B timeline during final negotiations
H-1B cap-subject petitions are only filed once yearly in April. If your OPT expires before the next filing window, ask whether the employer will support an O-1 visa or other bridge visa. Understanding their plan before accepting protects you from a gap in status.
Design Director OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Design Director on OPT?
Yes. Design Director is a specialty occupation that directly supports OPT work authorization for F-1 students with degrees in design, architecture, or related fields. Your employment must be directly related to your degree program. STEM OPT extension is generally not available for design roles unless the position falls under a STEM-designated CIP code, so confirm your program's classification with your DSO before applying.
Do Design Director roles typically lead to H-1B sponsorship?
Design Director positions at established companies with in-house creative functions do regularly lead to H-1B sponsorship, since the role meets the specialty occupation standard and requires a specific bachelor's degree or higher. Smaller agencies and startups are less consistent. When browsing opportunities on Migrate Mate, you can filter specifically for employers with a documented history of sponsoring design roles, which removes much of the guesswork.
What degree do I need to qualify for a Design Director role on OPT?
Most Design Director positions require a bachelor's degree or higher in graphic design, visual communication, industrial design, interaction design, or a closely related field. A degree in an unrelated field, even combined with extensive experience, may complicate both the employer's specialty occupation argument and your OPT eligibility determination. Your DSO must confirm the role qualifies as directly related to your program of study.
How do I explain OPT work authorization to a design employer who has never sponsored before?
Start by clarifying that OPT is a federal authorization that lets you work for any employer without immediate visa sponsorship. For the first 12 months, no employer action is required. If you're eligible for a 24-month STEM extension, that also requires employer enrollment in E-Verify. Many design employers have not sponsored before but are willing to once they understand the process is employer-initiated and largely handled by immigration counsel.
Is a Design Director role considered a STEM occupation for OPT extension purposes?
Not automatically. STEM OPT eligibility depends on your degree's CIP code, not the job title. Most graphic design and fine arts programs do not qualify for the 24-month STEM extension. However, degrees in human-computer interaction, user experience design, or industrial engineering design sometimes do. Check your degree's CIP code with your DSO, since a 12-month OPT timeline significantly changes how urgently you need to identify a sponsoring employer.