OPT Graphic Designer Jobs
Graphic Designer roles are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with degrees in graphic design, visual communication, or a related field. Most positions qualify as specialty occupations for H-1B visa sponsorship, and STEM OPT extension may apply if your degree falls under a STEM-designated CIP code.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Colas Inc. is the corporate office of Colas USA, a materials and heavy highway/infrastructure leader that began operations in 1979 with the acquisition of Barrett Paving Materials. The headquarters office of Colas Inc. is located in Morristown, New Jersey, but our employees also work within our five (5) subsidiary companies operating throughout the United States from New York to Alaska.
The Colas USA Family of Companies provides competitive pay, outstanding benefits, career advancement opportunities, professional education, and extensive training for every employee. We pride ourselves on upholding the highest standards of safety, environmental conservation, and ethical conduct as we strive to grow our infrastructure products and services through empowering and developing our people, fostering innovation, utilizing new technology, and maximizing vertical integration at all levels of the company’s value chain.
JOB SUMMARY
Colas USA has ambitious and exciting growth plans that will see us build on our traditional industrial, contracting and highway maintenance activities. Established in the USA since the 1970’s, we are seeking a creative, detail-oriented Junior Graphic Designer to join our in-house communications team. This role will support the development of visual assets across a wide range of communication initiatives, including brand materials, digital content, presentations, internal communications, in-house magazines and event collateral.
With an enviable reputation for being innovative and progressive, our people are central to everything we do, they are vital to our success and set us apart from our competitors. Our aim is to attract, develop and retain visionary, talented and passionate individuals. The ideal candidate is a strong visual thinker with a passion for design, consistency, and elevating brand identity.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
Brand & Visual Content:
- Support the creation of on-brand graphics for digital and print channels, including brochures, one-pagers, social media assets, infographics, and website visuals.
- Assist in preparing visual content for internal communications such as newsletters, announcements, in-house magazines and presentations.
- Update and maintain brand templates, ensuring consistency and accuracy across all materials.
Digital & Multimedia:
- Produce graphics for email campaigns, web pages, and social media posts.
- Resize, format, and optimize visuals for various digital platforms.
- Assist with basic video editing, motion graphics, or animations (a plus).
- Collaborate closely with communications, and other internal teams to understand project needs and deliver high-quality design assets.
- Manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines.
- Maintain organized file structures and asset libraries.
Responsibilities
Reporting to the Communications Director, the Junior Graphic Designer will work with the Corporate Communications team, and the USA subsidiary businesses to create and develop impactful visuals that support communications activity that will positively benefit the Colas brand in the USA and build brand awareness.
This role will support teams across the Colas USA organization with their communication activity, driving a stronger visual Colas brand identity and working within the brand charter boundaries with a creative flair.
You will be initiating, producing and coordinating a range of communication assets as briefed by the communications team, managing multiple and overlapping projects which require clear communication skills, coordination and planning skills.
Other duties in this role will include managing the Colas USA media library, ensuring merchandise branding is consistent and within brand guidelines, and assisting team members with projects and activities.
Colas are committed to safety and lowering environmental impact, this will mean all tasks you complete will be done with these two things in mind.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or related field — or equivalent work experience.
- 0–2 years of design experience (agency, in-house, internship, or freelance).
- Strong proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop).
- Familiarity with PowerPoint, Canva, and other layout tools.
- A portfolio demonstrating clean, modern, and versatile design work.
- Experience designing for B2B audiences or complex industries.
- Familiarity with UI/UX principles.
- Basic motion graphics or video editing skills (Premiere, After Effects).
- Understanding of print production processes.
- 3 days per week/ 24 hours per week.
- $27.00-33.00 per hour.
Experience
To succeed in this role you will need to demonstrate good attention to detail with a good understanding of communication processes and systems. You should be flexible, enthusiastic with excellent communication skills both spoken and written and able to use these qualities to plan, develop and deliver effective communication assets to drive brand awareness.
Colas Inc. and its subsidiaries are an Equal Opportunity Employer. For details on the specifics of this commitment, if you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to:
- to meet the requirements of the role in which you are applying
- complete any part of the application process
- access or use the online application process and need an alternative method for applying
Please contact Colas Inc. at 973-290-9082 or send an email to ColasRecruiter@colasinc.com.
INTRODUCTION
Colas Inc. is the corporate office of Colas USA, a materials and heavy highway/infrastructure leader that began operations in 1979 with the acquisition of Barrett Paving Materials. The headquarters office of Colas Inc. is located in Morristown, New Jersey, but our employees also work within our five (5) subsidiary companies operating throughout the United States from New York to Alaska.
The Colas USA Family of Companies provides competitive pay, outstanding benefits, career advancement opportunities, professional education, and extensive training for every employee. We pride ourselves on upholding the highest standards of safety, environmental conservation, and ethical conduct as we strive to grow our infrastructure products and services through empowering and developing our people, fostering innovation, utilizing new technology, and maximizing vertical integration at all levels of the company’s value chain.
JOB SUMMARY
Colas USA has ambitious and exciting growth plans that will see us build on our traditional industrial, contracting and highway maintenance activities. Established in the USA since the 1970’s, we are seeking a creative, detail-oriented Junior Graphic Designer to join our in-house communications team. This role will support the development of visual assets across a wide range of communication initiatives, including brand materials, digital content, presentations, internal communications, in-house magazines and event collateral.
With an enviable reputation for being innovative and progressive, our people are central to everything we do, they are vital to our success and set us apart from our competitors. Our aim is to attract, develop and retain visionary, talented and passionate individuals. The ideal candidate is a strong visual thinker with a passion for design, consistency, and elevating brand identity.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
Brand & Visual Content:
- Support the creation of on-brand graphics for digital and print channels, including brochures, one-pagers, social media assets, infographics, and website visuals.
- Assist in preparing visual content for internal communications such as newsletters, announcements, in-house magazines and presentations.
- Update and maintain brand templates, ensuring consistency and accuracy across all materials.
Digital & Multimedia:
- Produce graphics for email campaigns, web pages, and social media posts.
- Resize, format, and optimize visuals for various digital platforms.
- Assist with basic video editing, motion graphics, or animations (a plus).
- Collaborate closely with communications, and other internal teams to understand project needs and deliver high-quality design assets.
- Manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines.
- Maintain organized file structures and asset libraries.
Responsibilities
Reporting to the Communications Director, the Junior Graphic Designer will work with the Corporate Communications team, and the USA subsidiary businesses to create and develop impactful visuals that support communications activity that will positively benefit the Colas brand in the USA and build brand awareness.
This role will support teams across the Colas USA organization with their communication activity, driving a stronger visual Colas brand identity and working within the brand charter boundaries with a creative flair.
You will be initiating, producing and coordinating a range of communication assets as briefed by the communications team, managing multiple and overlapping projects which require clear communication skills, coordination and planning skills.
Other duties in this role will include managing the Colas USA media library, ensuring merchandise branding is consistent and within brand guidelines, and assisting team members with projects and activities.
Colas are committed to safety and lowering environmental impact, this will mean all tasks you complete will be done with these two things in mind.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or related field — or equivalent work experience.
- 0–2 years of design experience (agency, in-house, internship, or freelance).
- Strong proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop).
- Familiarity with PowerPoint, Canva, and other layout tools.
- A portfolio demonstrating clean, modern, and versatile design work.
- Experience designing for B2B audiences or complex industries.
- Familiarity with UI/UX principles.
- Basic motion graphics or video editing skills (Premiere, After Effects).
- Understanding of print production processes.
- 3 days per week/ 24 hours per week.
- $27.00-33.00 per hour.
Experience
To succeed in this role you will need to demonstrate good attention to detail with a good understanding of communication processes and systems. You should be flexible, enthusiastic with excellent communication skills both spoken and written and able to use these qualities to plan, develop and deliver effective communication assets to drive brand awareness.
Colas Inc. and its subsidiaries are an Equal Opportunity Employer. For details on the specifics of this commitment, if you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to:
- to meet the requirements of the role in which you are applying
- complete any part of the application process
- access or use the online application process and need an alternative method for applying
Please contact Colas Inc. at 973-290-9082 or send an email to ColasRecruiter@colasinc.com.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Graphic Designer
Lead with your portfolio, not your resume
Hiring managers in design evaluate work before credentials. A strong portfolio that demonstrates range across branding, typography, and digital design will open more doors than a polished resume alone. Host it on a clean, fast-loading personal site.
Target employers with a history of visa sponsorship
Not every studio or agency sponsors visas. Focus on mid-size to large companies with dedicated HR teams and in-house legal resources. Browse Migrate Mate to find Graphic Designer roles at employers who have sponsored international workers before.
Know your OPT authorization dates inside out
Your EAD card start and end dates are what employers need to verify your work authorization. Bring a copy to interviews and be ready to explain the 90-day unemployment rule clearly and without hesitation. Confidence reduces employer uncertainty.
Check whether your degree qualifies for STEM OPT
Graphic design degrees are not automatically STEM-designated. Check whether your specific CIP code qualifies. If it does, you may be eligible for a 24-month STEM OPT extension, which significantly increases your value to sponsors weighing H-1B visa timelines.
Specialize to stand out in a competitive field
UX-adjacent design, motion graphics, and product design roles attract stronger sponsorship interest than general graphic design. Employers filing H-1B petitions need to establish specialty occupation. A clearly defined specialization strengthens that case considerably.
Address sponsorship timing honestly and early
If your OPT expires before the next H-1B cap season, say so upfront. Employers who want to sponsor you need time to prepare the petition. Raising this late in the process costs goodwill and sometimes the offer itself.
Graphic Designer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Graphic Designer role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Graphic Designer positions can qualify as specialty occupations, but it depends on how the role is defined. USCIS looks for positions requiring a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific field such as graphic design, visual communication, or fine arts. Roles that blend design with UX, product, or marketing strategy tend to have stronger specialty occupation arguments than general production design jobs.
Can I work as a freelance Graphic Designer on OPT?
Yes, self-employment is permitted on OPT, but with important conditions. You must be actively working in a job directly related to your degree, and freelance work counts toward your 90-day unemployment limit only if it is consistent and documented. You should maintain contracts, invoices, and records showing your work relates to your field of study. Consult your DSO before relying solely on freelance income.
What types of employers are most likely to sponsor Graphic Designers for an H-1B?
In-house design teams at technology companies, financial institutions, and large consumer brands are the most consistent H-1B sponsors for designers. Smaller boutique agencies often lack the legal infrastructure or budget to sponsor. Browse Migrate Mate to find Graphic Designer roles at employers with a documented history of sponsoring international workers on H-1B visas.
Does my graphic design degree qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your specific CIP code, not your degree title. Some programs in graphic design or visual communication are STEM-designated under codes like 11.0801 (Web Page, Digital/Multimedia and Information Resources Design). Others are not. Check with your DSO and compare your CIP code against the official DHS STEM designated degree program list to confirm your eligibility before counting on the 24-month extension.
How do I explain my OPT work authorization to a Graphic Designer employer who has never sponsored visas before?
Keep it simple and focus on what they need to do right now, which is nothing beyond a standard I-9 verification. Explain that your EAD card authorizes you to work like any other employee for its validity period. Then raise the H-1B sponsorship conversation separately, after you have demonstrated your value. Many employers become willing sponsors once they see the work firsthand.