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.
Find OPT Director Of Program Management JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 3,651+ Director Of Program Management jobs
See all 3,651+ Director Of Program Management Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Director Of Program Management roles.
Get Access To All JobsSalary
$50,000.00 - $60,000.00 Annually
Location
3001 - Port Control
Job Type
Full-time
Job Number
10898-HR
Department
3001 - Port Control
Division
300170 - PC Operations / Security
Opening Date
08/07/2026
Closing Date
8/21/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Description
Airport Safety Management Systems Coordinator
Examples of Duties
Under administrative direction, is responsible for planning and administering a specific project or program for a City department. Serves as the administrative supervisor on projects or programs. Plans, assigns, supervises, and reviews activities of subordinate personnel. Monitors the project or program's operating budget and assists in the annual preparation of same. Designs, implements, and monitors procedures utilized in program evaluation. Develops and secures commitments from other City departments and agencies to provide services to program participants. Provides technical assistance or reviews program policies and procedures. Maintains current information and oversees the preparation of project status reports. Prepares financial and narrative reports and program applications. Communicates project/program status and information to municipal officials and/or public and private entities. May supervise employees assigned to the respective project. Performs other related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's Degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Business or Public Administration, Social Sciences, or closely related field preferred. Two (2) years of any equivalent combination of education, training and experience in program administration required. Must be able to lift and carry thirty (30) pounds. Valid State of Ohio Driver's License required.
Supplemental Information
Additional Minimum Qualifications
- Must successfully complete a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) 10-year fingerprint-based Criminal History Records Check and employment background check and Security Threat Assessment.
- Must be able to pass a pre-employment physical and drug test.
- Must be proficient in the Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.
- Availability for on-call support and occasional after-hours work for critical system maintenance.
Preferred Minimum Qualifications
- Two years of full-time, paid experience in safety, risk management, airport operations or a closely related field.
- NIMS and ICS certifications for Management tier and any assigned working groups must be completed within six months of employment and complete additional or refresher trainings as required.
- Must be highly organized, detail oriented, have the ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities.
- Must have exceptional customer service skills with the ability to communicate professionally and effectively with both internal and external customers.
Airport Safety Management Coordinator
- Must be computer proficient in the Microsoft Office Suite, especially MS Excel and MS PowerPoint.
- Must be able to work outdoors as well as indoors and be exposed to various weather conditions.
- Must be able to wear and utilize required safety equipment such as respirators, hearing protection, or fall restraining harnesses as required by the conditions present at any incident and as required under applicable state or federal regulations.
- Must obtain Ground Vehicle Operator Non-Movement Credentialing within the first six months of employment and maintain these credentials for the duration of their employment.
- AAAE SMS Airport Certified Employee certification within one year of hire.
- Occupational Safety, Safety Management Systems, or Aviation-related professional certifications.
- Experience working in an airport or municipality is preferred.
Key Responsibilities
Regulatory Compliance:
- Ensures compliance with department safety and certification programs, local, state and federal rules and regulations including but not limited to OSHA/PERRP, FAR Part 139 as well as other state or federal guidelines.
- Conducts onsite inspections to ensure compliance with safety and regulatory requirements in accordance with state and federal regulations and organizational safety policies and programs.
Safety Management Systems Program:
- Conducts timely and comprehensive investigations of all accidents/incidents and reported hazards and prepare factual reports summarizing the circumstances and root causes of the accident/incident or hazard.
- Develop and aid in implementation of recommended corrective and preventive actions.
- Assists in the promotion of SMS program policies, and procedures.
- Assist in the design and delivery of safety education programs and communications safety information and trends to stakeholders on a regular basis.
- Prepare standards, process, procedures, reports and documentation for the SMS program.
- Assists in the Development, implementation and maintenance of occupational/aviation safety management policies, procedures and programs including research, review and documentation of incidents/accidents, best practices, policy revisions and risk assessments.
- Provide recommendations in the enhancement and maintenance of communications systems for distributing safety information to stakeholders as well as hazard reporting systems.
- Develop and distribute safety promotion materials and promotional items to the organization.
- Assists in overseeing DPC’s safety-related reporting systems, including the Confidential Hazard Reporting form, safety hotline and hazard reporting email address.
- Participate in various safety committees to identify and eliminate hazardous conditions and generates reports identifying areas with elevated risk.
- Assists with budget development and assists section procurements including ordering supplies/materials, services, manages requisitions and payments, and monitors contracts for compliance with terms and specifications.
- Promotes and ensures compliance with occupational health and safety management policies, procedures, and programs to minimize employee accidents and to promote a safe work environment.
Airport Safety Management Coordinator
- Acts as a resource to and liaison between various divisions within DPC as well as external stakeholders and regulatory agencies such as the FAA, or NTSB.
- Performs other related duties as required.
The City's guiding principles are as follows: Placing Clevelanders at the Center, Empowering Employees to Do Purposeful Work, Defining Clear and Pragmatic Objectives, Leading with Trust and Transparency, Striving for Equity in All We Do, and Embracing Change. All City employees are responsible for embracing and carrying out these principles in all that they do.
The City of Cleveland makes available a variety of benefit options depending upon your employment status and any applicable union membership. In general, benefit options include comprehensive medical, dental, vision, prescription medical and life insurance. Specific information regarding benefit eligibility will be discussed and reviewed at the time of hire.
Employer
City of Cleveland
Address
601 Lakeside Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio, 44114
Phone
216-664-2493
Salary
$50,000.00 - $60,000.00 Annually
Location
3001 - Port Control
Job Type
Full-time
Job Number
10898-HR
Department
3001 - Port Control
Division
300170 - PC Operations / Security
Opening Date
08/07/2026
Closing Date
8/21/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Description
Airport Safety Management Systems Coordinator
Examples of Duties
Under administrative direction, is responsible for planning and administering a specific project or program for a City department. Serves as the administrative supervisor on projects or programs. Plans, assigns, supervises, and reviews activities of subordinate personnel. Monitors the project or program's operating budget and assists in the annual preparation of same. Designs, implements, and monitors procedures utilized in program evaluation. Develops and secures commitments from other City departments and agencies to provide services to program participants. Provides technical assistance or reviews program policies and procedures. Maintains current information and oversees the preparation of project status reports. Prepares financial and narrative reports and program applications. Communicates project/program status and information to municipal officials and/or public and private entities. May supervise employees assigned to the respective project. Performs other related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's Degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Business or Public Administration, Social Sciences, or closely related field preferred. Two (2) years of any equivalent combination of education, training and experience in program administration required. Must be able to lift and carry thirty (30) pounds. Valid State of Ohio Driver's License required.
Supplemental Information
Additional Minimum Qualifications
- Must successfully complete a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) 10-year fingerprint-based Criminal History Records Check and employment background check and Security Threat Assessment.
- Must be able to pass a pre-employment physical and drug test.
- Must be proficient in the Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.
- Availability for on-call support and occasional after-hours work for critical system maintenance.
Preferred Minimum Qualifications
- Two years of full-time, paid experience in safety, risk management, airport operations or a closely related field.
- NIMS and ICS certifications for Management tier and any assigned working groups must be completed within six months of employment and complete additional or refresher trainings as required.
- Must be highly organized, detail oriented, have the ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities.
- Must have exceptional customer service skills with the ability to communicate professionally and effectively with both internal and external customers.
Airport Safety Management Coordinator
- Must be computer proficient in the Microsoft Office Suite, especially MS Excel and MS PowerPoint.
- Must be able to work outdoors as well as indoors and be exposed to various weather conditions.
- Must be able to wear and utilize required safety equipment such as respirators, hearing protection, or fall restraining harnesses as required by the conditions present at any incident and as required under applicable state or federal regulations.
- Must obtain Ground Vehicle Operator Non-Movement Credentialing within the first six months of employment and maintain these credentials for the duration of their employment.
- AAAE SMS Airport Certified Employee certification within one year of hire.
- Occupational Safety, Safety Management Systems, or Aviation-related professional certifications.
- Experience working in an airport or municipality is preferred.
Key Responsibilities
Regulatory Compliance:
- Ensures compliance with department safety and certification programs, local, state and federal rules and regulations including but not limited to OSHA/PERRP, FAR Part 139 as well as other state or federal guidelines.
- Conducts onsite inspections to ensure compliance with safety and regulatory requirements in accordance with state and federal regulations and organizational safety policies and programs.
Safety Management Systems Program:
- Conducts timely and comprehensive investigations of all accidents/incidents and reported hazards and prepare factual reports summarizing the circumstances and root causes of the accident/incident or hazard.
- Develop and aid in implementation of recommended corrective and preventive actions.
- Assists in the promotion of SMS program policies, and procedures.
- Assist in the design and delivery of safety education programs and communications safety information and trends to stakeholders on a regular basis.
- Prepare standards, process, procedures, reports and documentation for the SMS program.
- Assists in the Development, implementation and maintenance of occupational/aviation safety management policies, procedures and programs including research, review and documentation of incidents/accidents, best practices, policy revisions and risk assessments.
- Provide recommendations in the enhancement and maintenance of communications systems for distributing safety information to stakeholders as well as hazard reporting systems.
- Develop and distribute safety promotion materials and promotional items to the organization.
- Assists in overseeing DPC’s safety-related reporting systems, including the Confidential Hazard Reporting form, safety hotline and hazard reporting email address.
- Participate in various safety committees to identify and eliminate hazardous conditions and generates reports identifying areas with elevated risk.
- Assists with budget development and assists section procurements including ordering supplies/materials, services, manages requisitions and payments, and monitors contracts for compliance with terms and specifications.
- Promotes and ensures compliance with occupational health and safety management policies, procedures, and programs to minimize employee accidents and to promote a safe work environment.
Airport Safety Management Coordinator
- Acts as a resource to and liaison between various divisions within DPC as well as external stakeholders and regulatory agencies such as the FAA, or NTSB.
- Performs other related duties as required.
The City's guiding principles are as follows: Placing Clevelanders at the Center, Empowering Employees to Do Purposeful Work, Defining Clear and Pragmatic Objectives, Leading with Trust and Transparency, Striving for Equity in All We Do, and Embracing Change. All City employees are responsible for embracing and carrying out these principles in all that they do.
The City of Cleveland makes available a variety of benefit options depending upon your employment status and any applicable union membership. In general, benefit options include comprehensive medical, dental, vision, prescription medical and life insurance. Specific information regarding benefit eligibility will be discussed and reviewed at the time of hire.
Employer
City of Cleveland
Address
601 Lakeside Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio, 44114
Phone
216-664-2493
See all 3,651+ OPT Director Of Program Management Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Director Of Program Management Jobs.
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.