OPT Education Program Manager Jobs
Education Program Manager jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with backgrounds in education, instructional design, nonprofit management, or public policy. Most roles qualify as specialty occupations for H-1B visa sponsorship, and your 12-month OPT window, or 24-month STEM extension if eligible, gives you meaningful time to prove your value before sponsorship conversations begin.
Find OPT Education Program Manager JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 36+ Education Program Manager jobs
See all 36+ Education Program Manager Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Education Program Manager roles.
Get Access To All JobsApplications will be received until August 27, 2026. If the position is not filled by then, we may consider applications submitted after the deadline. Interested applicants must apply online by visiting the Denver Public Schools job board at careers.dpsk12.org.
About this job:
The Special Education Transition Teacher teaches and manages a classroom for students in the 18-21 Transition Program whose educational needs center on the development of their transition goals specifically in the areas of college, career and independent living readiness. Notice to Applicants: This vacancy is at a school designated as an “Innovation School.” For more information, please contact the school and/or DCTA.
What DPS Offers You:
A Culture that values Equity, Accountability, Integrity, Collaboration and Fun with a shared vision that Every Learner Thrives.
- Competitive Teacher Compensation and Procomp Incentive plan, click here for the DCTA Teacher and SSP Salary Schedule. Click here for more information on compensation for these roles. Please note: You must submit all relevant documentation via onboarding before the deadline (15 days after receiving your offer letter) for salary setting purposes.
- In addition to competitive compensation, DPS has other Total Reward offerings such as time off, health and wellness benefits, and PERA Retirement.
What You'll Do:
- Work with special education staff and students to support educational, behavioral, social-emotional, physical, vocational, and daily living needs of students in school and community.
- Supervises and assigns duties to classroom paraprofessionals and vocational support.
- Develops and executes individualized lesson plans in subject areas providing for direct instruction while maintaining a focus on transition needs.
- Communicate and collaborate with parents or guardians, teachers, counselors, administrators about available Transition Services.
- Emphasize skill development in basic skills, concepts, recreation, leisure, community, vocational and domestic by infusing motor, communication and social skills.
- Develop opportunities in the areas of employment and job readiness skills.
- Provide both direct and indirect support for various activities including but not limited to job skills, job coaching, and use of public transportation.
- May participate in extra-duty activities as outlined in the teachers' collective bargaining agreement (this is for coaching, tutoring, or summer programs, etc. for Dept. of Labor laws).
What You’ll Need:
- Hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Education or in the subject areas for which you are applying. A Master's Degree is only required for Concurrent Enrollment positions.
- Have a valid Colorado Department of Education (CDE) teaching license. Click here for additional information regarding specific requirements and qualifications for the various subject areas (DPS does accept a CDE Application Receipt for 90 days).
- ELA-S Only (teaching in both Spanish and English) positions, candidates are required to take the Spanish language proficiency (SLP) exam, proctored by Berlitz Testing. Click here for more information. Additionally, if a teacher has taken, or chooses to take, the Praxis II - Spanish: World Language 5195 exam, it will also work at DPS as an appropriate SLP exam, as long as the candidate scores 163 or higher on the Praxis II (#5195) exam.
- ELA-S Only: Must be Bilingual in Spanish and English Required.
- Experience working with young special needs students and their parents preferred.
- Experience working with young special needs children who represent the diversity of the District school community is preferred.
- Lead for racial and educational excellence and work to dismantle systems of oppression and inequity in our community, along with believing in and supporting all students so they feel seen and heard with access to high quality education.
- Live and work with a permanent home address in Colorado while working with us.
- Have the ability with or without accommodations to meet the physical demands of the position.
Denver Public Schools is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender expression, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), political affiliation, military service, or any other status protected by law or regulations. It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job-related factors.
Students First. Integrity. Equity. Collaboration. Accountability. Fun
Applications will be received until August 27, 2026. If the position is not filled by then, we may consider applications submitted after the deadline. Interested applicants must apply online by visiting the Denver Public Schools job board at careers.dpsk12.org.
About this job:
The Special Education Transition Teacher teaches and manages a classroom for students in the 18-21 Transition Program whose educational needs center on the development of their transition goals specifically in the areas of college, career and independent living readiness. Notice to Applicants: This vacancy is at a school designated as an “Innovation School.” For more information, please contact the school and/or DCTA.
What DPS Offers You:
A Culture that values Equity, Accountability, Integrity, Collaboration and Fun with a shared vision that Every Learner Thrives.
- Competitive Teacher Compensation and Procomp Incentive plan, click here for the DCTA Teacher and SSP Salary Schedule. Click here for more information on compensation for these roles. Please note: You must submit all relevant documentation via onboarding before the deadline (15 days after receiving your offer letter) for salary setting purposes.
- In addition to competitive compensation, DPS has other Total Reward offerings such as time off, health and wellness benefits, and PERA Retirement.
What You'll Do:
- Work with special education staff and students to support educational, behavioral, social-emotional, physical, vocational, and daily living needs of students in school and community.
- Supervises and assigns duties to classroom paraprofessionals and vocational support.
- Develops and executes individualized lesson plans in subject areas providing for direct instruction while maintaining a focus on transition needs.
- Communicate and collaborate with parents or guardians, teachers, counselors, administrators about available Transition Services.
- Emphasize skill development in basic skills, concepts, recreation, leisure, community, vocational and domestic by infusing motor, communication and social skills.
- Develop opportunities in the areas of employment and job readiness skills.
- Provide both direct and indirect support for various activities including but not limited to job skills, job coaching, and use of public transportation.
- May participate in extra-duty activities as outlined in the teachers' collective bargaining agreement (this is for coaching, tutoring, or summer programs, etc. for Dept. of Labor laws).
What You’ll Need:
- Hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Education or in the subject areas for which you are applying. A Master's Degree is only required for Concurrent Enrollment positions.
- Have a valid Colorado Department of Education (CDE) teaching license. Click here for additional information regarding specific requirements and qualifications for the various subject areas (DPS does accept a CDE Application Receipt for 90 days).
- ELA-S Only (teaching in both Spanish and English) positions, candidates are required to take the Spanish language proficiency (SLP) exam, proctored by Berlitz Testing. Click here for more information. Additionally, if a teacher has taken, or chooses to take, the Praxis II - Spanish: World Language 5195 exam, it will also work at DPS as an appropriate SLP exam, as long as the candidate scores 163 or higher on the Praxis II (#5195) exam.
- ELA-S Only: Must be Bilingual in Spanish and English Required.
- Experience working with young special needs students and their parents preferred.
- Experience working with young special needs children who represent the diversity of the District school community is preferred.
- Lead for racial and educational excellence and work to dismantle systems of oppression and inequity in our community, along with believing in and supporting all students so they feel seen and heard with access to high quality education.
- Live and work with a permanent home address in Colorado while working with us.
- Have the ability with or without accommodations to meet the physical demands of the position.
Denver Public Schools is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender expression, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), political affiliation, military service, or any other status protected by law or regulations. It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job-related factors.
Students First. Integrity. Equity. Collaboration. Accountability. Fun
See all 36+ OPT Education Program Manager Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Education Program Manager Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as an Education Program Manager
Target mission-driven organizations with sponsorship history
Nonprofits, edtech companies, and university-affiliated programs frequently sponsor Education Program Managers. Search OFLC disclosure data to confirm which organizations have filed LCAs for this role before applying.
Emphasize your degree-to-role alignment
Education Program Manager roles require a specific degree match for H-1B specialty occupation status. Degrees in education, curriculum design, public administration, or a related field strengthen both your application and your eventual sponsorship case.
Pursue roles with structured onboarding and clear growth paths
Employers who invest in structured training programs are more likely to sponsor long-term. A well-defined career path signals the organization plans to retain talent, making sponsorship a logical business decision rather than a burden.
Highlight measurable program outcomes in your resume
Quantify your impact: enrollment growth, curriculum completion rates, participant outcomes. Concrete results reduce employer hesitation about sponsorship costs by making your retention value undeniable before the question even comes up.
Use Migrate Mate to find OPT-friendly employers efficiently
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically for employers open to sponsoring international candidates. Focusing your search there saves time and targets companies that have already indicated willingness to hire OPT students.
Education Program Manager OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Education Program Manager role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B sponsorship?
Yes, in most cases. Education Program Manager roles typically require a bachelor's degree or higher in education, instructional design, public administration, or a related field, which meets the H-1B specialty occupation standard. The key is that your degree field must align specifically with the role's responsibilities. Generic management degrees without a relevant specialization can complicate the case, so degree-to-role fit matters.
Can I work as an Education Program Manager on OPT without employer sponsorship right away?
Yes. F-1 OPT authorizes you to work for any employer in a role related to your degree field for up to 12 months, with a potential 24-month STEM extension if your degree qualifies. You don't need the employer to sponsor you during OPT. Sponsorship only becomes necessary when your OPT authorization ends and you need a longer-term visa like the H-1B.
What degree backgrounds are most competitive for Education Program Manager jobs on OPT?
Degrees in education, curriculum and instruction, instructional design, nonprofit management, public policy, or organizational leadership are the most competitive. These fields align directly with the role's core responsibilities and strengthen both your candidacy and any future H-1B specialty occupation petition. Degrees in adjacent fields like social work or communications can qualify if your coursework and experience clearly map to program management functions.
How do I find Education Program Manager jobs where employers are open to OPT students?
Migrate Mate is the most efficient way to find Education Program Manager roles with employers who are open to sponsoring international candidates. Rather than filtering through general job listings and guessing at sponsorship willingness, Migrate Mate surfaces opportunities specifically relevant to F-1 OPT students, saving you time and reducing the friction of reaching out to employers who won't sponsor.
Does a STEM OPT extension apply to Education Program Manager roles?
It depends on your undergraduate or graduate degree, not the job title. If your degree is in a STEM-designated field such as educational technology, data science applied to education, or a qualifying science or engineering discipline, you may be eligible for the 24-month STEM extension. Most traditional education degrees are not STEM-designated, so check the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List against your specific degree program before assuming eligibility.