OPT Development Manager Jobs
Development Manager roles are strong candidates for OPT work authorization. Most positions require a bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or a related technical field, which aligns directly with F-1 degree requirements. Your 12-month standard OPT window, extendable to 36 months with STEM OPT, gives you meaningful runway to establish yourself in this role.
See All OPT Development Manager JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 5,100+ Development Manager jobs
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
See all 5,100+ Development Manager Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Development Manager roles.
Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The Business Development Manager plays a vital role in generating new business opportunities within the InReach convenience solutions segment. This sales role supports the sales process by identifying leads, qualifying prospects, and engaging potential clients through structured outreach and value-driven communication. The Business Development Manager focuses on smaller, transactional deals with short sales cycles and collaborates with internal teams to ensure alignment with client needs and business goals. Remote role with local travel within the Chicago market.
Incentives: Commission plan, vehicle allowance
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
What You'll Do:
- Research and identify prospective clients using CRM, social media, in the field territory planning and sales intelligence tools.
- Execute outbound call and email campaigns to introduce Sodexo’s InReach convenience solutions offerings.
- Build relationships with key contacts to nurture opportunities and establish trust.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date records in CRM to track activities, engagement, and lead status to maintain deal momentum. Leverage CRM dashboards to prioritize high-potential opportunities and flag aging deals for action or re-engagement. Align pipeline activities with target revenue goals, providing insights into deal velocity and probability to close.
- Follow-up on inbound marketing campaigns and outbound prospecting activities to advance them through the sales funnel.
- Actively support the conversion of qualified opportunities into closed-won deals by ensuring timely proposal delivery and pricing support.
WHAT WE OFFER
Compensation is fair and equitable, partially determined by a candidate's education level or years of relevant experience. Salary offers are based on a candidate's specific criteria, like experience, skills, education, and training. Sodexo offers a comprehensive benefits package that may include:
- Medical, Dental, Vision Care and Wellness Programs
- 401(k) Plan with Matching Contributions
- Paid Time Off and Company Holidays
- Career Growth Opportunities and Tuition Reimbursement
More extensive information is provided to new employees upon hire.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
What You Bring:
- Demonstrated success in sales. Preferrable in food services, hospitality, or convenience solutions.
- Proficiency in conveying product details and negotiating contracts with clients.
- Expertise in building and nurturing strong client relationships.
- Experience successfully closing deals with top-tier clients, resulting in a growth in client base.
- A hunter mindset.
- Ability to develop a robust pipeline that contributes to an increase in lead conversion rates.
WHO WE ARE
At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone and build a better life for all. We believe in improving the quality of life for those we serve and contributing to the economic, social, and environmental progress in the communities where we operate. Sodexo partners with clients to provide a truly memorable experience for both customers and employees alike. We do this by providing food service, catering, facilities management, and other integrated solutions worldwide.
Our company values you for you; you will be treated fairly and with respect, and you can be yourself. You will have your ideas count and your opinions heard because we can be a stronger team when you’re happy at work. This is why we embrace diversity and inclusion as core values, fostering an environment where all employees are valued and respected. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to individuals regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, military status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. If you need assistance with the application process, please complete this form.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum Education Requirement - Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience
Minimum Management Experience - 3 years
Minimum Functional Experience - 3 years
INTRODUCTION
The Business Development Manager plays a vital role in generating new business opportunities within the InReach convenience solutions segment. This sales role supports the sales process by identifying leads, qualifying prospects, and engaging potential clients through structured outreach and value-driven communication. The Business Development Manager focuses on smaller, transactional deals with short sales cycles and collaborates with internal teams to ensure alignment with client needs and business goals. Remote role with local travel within the Chicago market.
Incentives: Commission plan, vehicle allowance
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
What You'll Do:
- Research and identify prospective clients using CRM, social media, in the field territory planning and sales intelligence tools.
- Execute outbound call and email campaigns to introduce Sodexo’s InReach convenience solutions offerings.
- Build relationships with key contacts to nurture opportunities and establish trust.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date records in CRM to track activities, engagement, and lead status to maintain deal momentum. Leverage CRM dashboards to prioritize high-potential opportunities and flag aging deals for action or re-engagement. Align pipeline activities with target revenue goals, providing insights into deal velocity and probability to close.
- Follow-up on inbound marketing campaigns and outbound prospecting activities to advance them through the sales funnel.
- Actively support the conversion of qualified opportunities into closed-won deals by ensuring timely proposal delivery and pricing support.
WHAT WE OFFER
Compensation is fair and equitable, partially determined by a candidate's education level or years of relevant experience. Salary offers are based on a candidate's specific criteria, like experience, skills, education, and training. Sodexo offers a comprehensive benefits package that may include:
- Medical, Dental, Vision Care and Wellness Programs
- 401(k) Plan with Matching Contributions
- Paid Time Off and Company Holidays
- Career Growth Opportunities and Tuition Reimbursement
More extensive information is provided to new employees upon hire.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
What You Bring:
- Demonstrated success in sales. Preferrable in food services, hospitality, or convenience solutions.
- Proficiency in conveying product details and negotiating contracts with clients.
- Expertise in building and nurturing strong client relationships.
- Experience successfully closing deals with top-tier clients, resulting in a growth in client base.
- A hunter mindset.
- Ability to develop a robust pipeline that contributes to an increase in lead conversion rates.
WHO WE ARE
At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone and build a better life for all. We believe in improving the quality of life for those we serve and contributing to the economic, social, and environmental progress in the communities where we operate. Sodexo partners with clients to provide a truly memorable experience for both customers and employees alike. We do this by providing food service, catering, facilities management, and other integrated solutions worldwide.
Our company values you for you; you will be treated fairly and with respect, and you can be yourself. You will have your ideas count and your opinions heard because we can be a stronger team when you’re happy at work. This is why we embrace diversity and inclusion as core values, fostering an environment where all employees are valued and respected. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to individuals regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, military status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. If you need assistance with the application process, please complete this form.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum Education Requirement - Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience
Minimum Management Experience - 3 years
Minimum Functional Experience - 3 years
See all 5,100+ OPT Development Manager Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Development Manager Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Development Manager
Lead with your technical depth, not just management
Development Manager roles require a specialty occupation foundation. Emphasize your engineering or CS degree alongside leadership experience. Employers are more confident sponsoring managers who can demonstrate the technical specialty that justifies OPT eligibility for the position.
Target employers with established engineering organizations
Companies with large engineering teams, dedicated HR departments, and existing visa programs are far more likely to extend OPT sponsorship. Mid-to-large tech firms and growth-stage startups with technical leadership structures are the most practical targets for this role.
Apply before your OPT authorization arrives, not after
Hiring cycles for Development Manager roles often run six to ten weeks. Start applying two to three months before your OPT start date so offers and onboarding timelines align with when you're legally authorized to work.
Position STEM OPT as a low-cost path to H-1B sponsorship
Development Manager roles typically qualify for STEM OPT extension under CIP codes tied to CS or engineering degrees. Framing your 36-month authorization window as a structured bridge to H-1B visa sponsorship reduces perceived risk for cautious hiring managers.
Get your EAD card details right before interviews
Know your OPT start date, EAD expiration, and STEM extension eligibility before any hiring conversation. Development Manager interviews often involve HR verification steps early, and confident, accurate answers about your authorization timeline build immediate credibility.
Highlight cross-functional leadership in your application materials
Development Managers coordinate across product, design, and engineering. OPT candidates who can demonstrate measurable team outcomes, not just technical contributions, stand out. Quantify team size, delivery timelines, or project scope wherever your resume allows.
Development Manager OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Development Manager role qualify as a specialty occupation for OPT?
Yes, in most cases. Development Manager positions typically require a bachelor's degree or higher in computer science, software engineering, or a closely related technical field. That degree requirement is what qualifies the role as a specialty occupation, which is a prerequisite for valid OPT work authorization. Roles where any unrelated degree is accepted may face more scrutiny, so confirm the job description explicitly requires a technical degree.
Can I use STEM OPT extension as a Development Manager?
Yes, if your underlying degree is in a STEM-designated field such as computer science, software engineering, or information systems, you can apply for the 24-month STEM OPT extension after your initial 12 months. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and you'll need a formal training plan submitted on Form I-983. This gives you up to 36 months total to work as a Development Manager on OPT.
How do I find Development Manager jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Most general job boards don't filter by visa sponsorship status, which wastes significant time for OPT students. Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT candidates and surfaces Development Manager roles from employers who are open to sponsoring work authorization. Browsing on Migrate Mate lets you focus your applications on companies already willing to hire international candidates rather than discovering that limitation late in the process.
What happens to my OPT status if I'm laid off as a Development Manager?
You have a 60-day unemployment grace period if you lose your job while on OPT. During that window, you can search for a new authorized position, but you cannot work. If you're on STEM OPT, the 60-day unemployment limit still applies and counts against a cumulative 150-day unemployment cap across your full OPT period. Finding a new employer quickly is critical, so having your job search materials ready before any potential disruption is a practical precaution.
Do I need to update SEVP when I change employers as a Development Manager?
Yes. Every time you change employers on OPT, you must report the change to your Designated School Official within ten days. Your DSO will update your record in SEVIS to reflect the new employer name, address, and your start date. Failing to report a job change is a common compliance mistake that can jeopardize your OPT status even when the new role is fully authorized.