OPT Director Of Program Management Jobs
Director of Program Management jobs are accessible on OPT, but employers typically require demonstrated leadership over cross-functional teams and complex delivery cycles. Your 12-month standard OPT window, or 24-month STEM extension if your degree qualifies, gives you a real runway to land and grow in a senior role.
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Get Access To All JobsROLE OVERVIEW:
Sodexo K12 is hiring our polished, community‑minded Director of Facilities Engineering & Operations Adlai Stevenson High School, one of Illinois’ premier public high schools to lead a large, high‑performing Integrated Facilities Management program. This role oversees a 1.2 million‑square‑foot campus that includes two connected high schools, a swimming complex, synthetic athletic turf, and extensive academic and community spaces. Our ideal leader brings strong operational oversight, exceptional communication skills, and the presence to engage confidently with district leadership, high‑profile parents, and community stakeholders. This is a highly visible role in a district that values professionalism, stability, and a deep sense of community involvement.
INCENTIVES: $5,000 Sign On Bonus
WHAT YOU'LL DO:
- Lead a team of ~6 managers and 110 non‑union facilities team members across maintenance, custodial, and grounds operations for a 1.2M sq ft campus.
- Serve as the primary liaison to district leadership, including the Superintendent, CEO, CFO, and present to the Board of Education, delivering polished updates and presentations.
- Oversee mechanical systems, custodial programs, groundskeeping, capital projects, and construction activities while ensuring compliance, safety, and operational excellence.
- Build strong relationships with parents, community leaders, and school stakeholders; maintain a visible presence at school events, including athletic games.
- Drive a culture of professionalism, accountability, and service excellence while adapting to shifting priorities and diverse personalities within the school community.
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.
WHAT YOU BRING:
- Extensive experience in Facilities Management with strong working knowledge of mechanical systems, custodial operations, and groundskeeping.
- Polished leadership presence with the ability to communicate effectively at all levels, from frontline staff to high‑profile community members and the Board of Education.
- Proven project management and construction oversight experience, including capital planning and vendor coordination.
- Customer‑oriented mindset with demonstrated success navigating complex organizational structures and senior‑level personalities.
- Bachelor’s degree preferred; candidates without a degree must demonstrate strong qualifications, stability, and longevity in previous roles.
- Experience with FMX or other CMMS systems.
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.
QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:
Minimum Education Requirement - Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience
Minimum Management Experience – 5 years
Minimum Functional Experience – 5 years
ROLE OVERVIEW:
Sodexo K12 is hiring our polished, community‑minded Director of Facilities Engineering & Operations Adlai Stevenson High School, one of Illinois’ premier public high schools to lead a large, high‑performing Integrated Facilities Management program. This role oversees a 1.2 million‑square‑foot campus that includes two connected high schools, a swimming complex, synthetic athletic turf, and extensive academic and community spaces. Our ideal leader brings strong operational oversight, exceptional communication skills, and the presence to engage confidently with district leadership, high‑profile parents, and community stakeholders. This is a highly visible role in a district that values professionalism, stability, and a deep sense of community involvement.
INCENTIVES: $5,000 Sign On Bonus
WHAT YOU'LL DO:
- Lead a team of ~6 managers and 110 non‑union facilities team members across maintenance, custodial, and grounds operations for a 1.2M sq ft campus.
- Serve as the primary liaison to district leadership, including the Superintendent, CEO, CFO, and present to the Board of Education, delivering polished updates and presentations.
- Oversee mechanical systems, custodial programs, groundskeeping, capital projects, and construction activities while ensuring compliance, safety, and operational excellence.
- Build strong relationships with parents, community leaders, and school stakeholders; maintain a visible presence at school events, including athletic games.
- Drive a culture of professionalism, accountability, and service excellence while adapting to shifting priorities and diverse personalities within the school community.
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.
WHAT YOU BRING:
- Extensive experience in Facilities Management with strong working knowledge of mechanical systems, custodial operations, and groundskeeping.
- Polished leadership presence with the ability to communicate effectively at all levels, from frontline staff to high‑profile community members and the Board of Education.
- Proven project management and construction oversight experience, including capital planning and vendor coordination.
- Customer‑oriented mindset with demonstrated success navigating complex organizational structures and senior‑level personalities.
- Bachelor’s degree preferred; candidates without a degree must demonstrate strong qualifications, stability, and longevity in previous roles.
- Experience with FMX or other CMMS systems.
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.
QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:
Minimum Education Requirement - Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience
Minimum Management Experience – 5 years
Minimum Functional Experience – 5 years
See all 260+ OPT Director Of Program Management Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Director Of Program Management
Lead with delivery metrics, not just titles
Program management directors are hired on outcomes. Quantify scope: budgets managed, teams led, timelines compressed. Concrete numbers give hiring managers confidence you can own enterprise-level programs, making OPT sponsorship a straightforward business decision.
Target STEM-designated programs if your degree qualifies
A STEM OPT extension adds 24 months to your work authorization, giving employers a longer runway before H-1B visa sponsorship is needed. Degrees in engineering management, information systems, or operations research commonly qualify. Confirm eligibility with your DSO before applying.
Focus on companies with established OPT hiring pipelines
Large technology, defense, and consulting firms have HR teams experienced in OPT compliance. Mid-size companies without dedicated immigration support often hesitate. Research employers' past OPT and H-1B hiring patterns to prioritize applications toward organizations already comfortable with the process.
Address your authorization timeline proactively in interviews
Senior roles involve long onboarding and ramp periods. Framing your OPT duration as sufficient to deliver a full program cycle, while signaling H-1B intent, reassures employers. Bring up the timeline yourself rather than leaving it as an unanswered concern late in negotiations.
Position your international background as a program asset
Many enterprise programs involve global vendors, offshore teams, or cross-regional stakeholders. Your multicultural experience and language skills directly reduce execution risk on those programs, making you a stronger candidate relative to domestic peers with equivalent technical credentials.
Engage a PMP or relevant certification before applying
PMP certification signals professional credibility to hiring committees evaluating senior candidates. Employers weighing OPT paperwork overhead against a candidate's readiness are more likely to proceed when credentials reduce uncertainty about your ability to lead at director level immediately.
Director Of Program Management OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Director of Program Management on OPT?
Yes. OPT authorizes F-1 graduates to work in roles directly related to their field of study, and program management is recognized as a qualifying occupation under engineering, business, and technology degree programs. The position must be in a field related to your major. Full-time employment is permitted, and seniority level does not disqualify you.
Does my degree have to match program management specifically?
The connection needs to be reasonable, not exact. Degrees in engineering, computer science, business administration, operations research, or information systems are commonly accepted as related to program management roles. USCIS uses a broad standard for OPT eligibility. Document the connection clearly in your records and discuss it with your DSO if you have doubts about your specific major.
How do I find Director of Program Management jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters for employers willing to work with OPT and visa sponsorship. Searching on general platforms wastes time on listings that quietly exclude international candidates. Migrate Mate surfaces roles where sponsorship is realistic, which matters more at the director level where employer commitment is a longer-term question.
Will employers hesitate to hire a director-level candidate on OPT?
Some will, because senior roles involve higher replacement costs if work authorization lapses. The practical counter is demonstrating that your OPT duration covers a full delivery cycle and that you'll pursue H-1B sponsorship. Employers experienced with international talent understand the timeline. Targeting companies with a track record of OPT and H-1B hiring reduces friction significantly.
What happens to my OPT if I change employers after starting a Director of Program Management role?
OPT is not employer-specific, so you can change employers without reauthorizing your EAD. The new role must still be in a field related to your degree and must be reported to your DSO within 10 days. For STEM OPT holders, the new employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and you'll need to file a new Form I-983 training plan.