OPT Director Of Data Governance Jobs
Director of Data Governance roles on OPT require a STEM-eligible background in data management, information systems, or a related field. Most positions qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Employers typically sponsor H-1B visa for strong candidates, making this a viable long-term path for international students.
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JOB TITLE: Director - Research & Data Analysis
REPORTS TO: Executive Director – Student Assessment, Research, & Accountability
WAGE/HOUR STATUS: Exempt
PAY GRADE: AI 5
DAYS PER YEAR: 226
MIN: $97,820
MID: $117,854
PRIMARY PURPOSE:
The Director of Research and Data Analysis is responsible for managing the development, analysis, and dissemination of descriptive and statistical information related to student performance and district achievement. This role leads the research and data analysis initiatives within the Office of Academics and School Leadership, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
The Director of Research & Data Analysis must act with integrity, support organizational goals, demonstrate the ability to inspire, grow, motivate others, utilize feedback, drive for results, and commit to championing the needs of the students, employees, and overall District.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
- Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university
- Three years of leadership or job-related experience
Preferred:
- Five years experience in K-12 education
Special Knowledge/Skills:
- Able to handle the pressures of multiple deadlines and quick turnarounds
- Excellent use of statistical software such as SPSS, Stata, SAS, or R
- Proficiency in Tableau and Qualtrics Survey Tool
- Microsoft Office Suite (ability to create and manipulate spreadsheets and raw data)
- Understanding of statistics, research methods, data management, student test data, and project management
- Excellent leadership, organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
- Working knowledge of the state and federal accountability system
- Ability to respond promptly and accurately to customer complaints and/or concerns
- Ability to develop and deliver training
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:
- Data Analysis: Examining, transforming, and interpreting data to uncover insights, patterns, trends, or relationships that can inform decision-making. Using statistical and computational techniques to process data and extract meaningful conclusions from it. Conduct comprehensive district-wide data analysis, including trend analysis of student demographics, assessment, and achievement data. Prepare clear and concise reports and memos for stakeholders.
- Data Management: Manage the collecting, storing, organizing, and maintaining data in a way that ensures it is accurate, accessible, secure, and usable for future use. Manage datasets that track student progress, including metrics for the state and federal accountability system which includes College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) and Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) assessments.
- External Partnerships: Manage data requests and transfers with external partners, ensuring compliance with contractual agreements, data sharing agreements, and FERPA regulations.
- Research Oversight: Oversee the external research application process, ensuring methodologies prioritize participant safety and uphold data privacy.
- Leadership and Supervision: Supervise and evaluate the Research Coordinators, foster professional growth and development, and provide leadership that reflects the need to balance long-term goals with day-to-day management while fostering a positive culture.
- Program Evaluation: Collecting and analyzing data to evaluate whether programs are achieving their intended goals, and to inform decision-making, improve program performance, and ensure accountability. Lead state and federal-mandated program evaluations, as well as internal programs and assessments to ensure continuous improvement.
- Research Development and Projects: Lead and implement research projects utilizing rigorous statistical concepts. Design, implement, and coordinate in-district research projects aimed at enhancing decision-making processes. Prepare detailed reports for district stakeholders.
- Statistical Methods: Utilizing forecasting and projection models, employing testing concepts, evaluation methods, and multivariate statistical analyses using advanced relevant statistical software.
- Data Visualization: Oversee the creation and implementation of data visualization tools and reports to effectively communicate student and campus achievement data. Using visual elements like charts, graphs, maps, and infographics, to present complex data in a more accessible, understandable, and insightful way to make it easier to interpret and make informed decisions.
- Staff Training: Conduct training sessions for department team members and district staff on data interpretation and application for instructional and fiscal decision-making.
- Decision Support: Utilize both quantitative and qualitative analyses to inform stakeholders about program effectiveness and necessary instructional modifications.
- Technical Writing: Demonstrate excellent written communication skills, including the ability to produce technical documents. Create documents that communicate complex information in a clear, concise, and easily understandable way.
- Additional Duties: Perform other duties as assigned to support the goals of the district.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
The usual and customary methods of performing the job’s functions require the following physical demands: physical mobility, frequent standing, stooping, bending some lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling. Mental demands: Ability to solve problems and deal with a variety of situations; ability to interpret a variety of data; ability to interpret TEC and policy; ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory, ability to be effective in both oral and written communication; ability to maintain emotional control under stress.
The foregoing statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and are not an exhaustive list of responsibilities and duties that may be required.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Director Of Data Governance
Lead with your STEM OPT eligibility
Mention your STEM OPT status and 24-month extension eligibility upfront. Data governance is a STEM-designated field, which signals to employers that you offer a longer runway before H-1B visa sponsorship becomes necessary.
Target companies with established data governance functions
Large enterprises in financial services, healthcare, and technology typically have dedicated data governance teams and structured sponsorship processes. These employers are far more likely to have filed H-1B petitions for similar roles before.
Demonstrate cross-functional leadership experience
Director-level roles require proven ability to align data policy across business units. Highlight specific initiatives where you drove data quality standards, compliance frameworks, or governance committee participation at an organizational level.
Get certified in recognized governance frameworks
Credentials like DAMA CDMP or DCAM certification signal serious domain expertise. Employers hiring at director level want proof you understand enterprise data policy, metadata management, and regulatory compliance beyond general data engineering skills.
Address sponsorship directly in your cover letter
Senior hiring managers appreciate transparency. Briefly state your current OPT status, your STEM extension eligibility, and your intent to pursue H-1B sponsorship. Removing ambiguity early keeps your application moving through the process.
Quantify the business impact of your governance work
Frame your experience in terms employers understand at the director level. Reduced audit findings, improved data quality scores, or compliance risk mitigation are far more compelling than listing tools or frameworks you have worked with.
Director Of Data Governance OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Director of Data Governance on OPT?
Yes. Director of Data Governance is a specialty occupation requiring a bachelor's degree or higher in a field like information systems, computer science, or data management, all of which are STEM-eligible. Your F-1 OPT work authorization covers full-time employment in this role, and your degree field typically qualifies you for the 24-month STEM OPT extension.
Does a Director of Data Governance role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree field. If your bachelor's, master's, or PhD is in a STEM-designated field such as computer science, information technology, data science, or management information systems, you qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. The job title alone does not determine eligibility; your degree's CIP code does. Confirm your classification with your DSO before applying.
Do employers sponsor H-1B visas for Director of Data Governance roles?
Many do, particularly large enterprises and regulated industries where data governance is a compliance requirement rather than a nice-to-have. Financial institutions, healthcare systems, and Fortune 500 technology companies have the legal infrastructure to handle H-1B sponsorship. Director-level hires represent significant investment, which makes employers more willing to sponsor. You can browse OPT-friendly data governance roles on Migrate Mate.
What should I do if my OPT is expiring while I am interviewing for director-level roles?
Apply for your STEM OPT extension as early as possible, ideally 90 days before your current OPT end date. Director-level hiring processes move slowly, often taking three to six months from first interview to offer. Having your STEM extension approved or pending gives employers the timeline they need to move forward without rushing an H-1B filing.
Is a Director of Data Governance role considered a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes. Data governance at the director level requires specialized knowledge in data architecture, regulatory compliance, metadata management, and enterprise risk frameworks, which typically satisfies the specialty occupation standard. The role must require at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field, which most Director of Data Governance job descriptions do. Your employer's immigration attorney will confirm this during H-1B petition preparation.