OPT Head Of Communications Jobs
Head of Communications jobs on OPT require employers willing to sponsor H-1B visa or bridge to another visa before your 12-month authorization expires. Most roles in this field qualify as specialty occupations, and STEM OPT extensions don't typically apply since communications isn't a STEM-designated degree.
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Job Details
The University Archivist (Center City) leads and manages the collection, organization, description and preservation of, and provides access to the Siegman Archives and the Center City collections of rare books, artifacts, and historic records. The University Archivist leads programming for the university and local archival communities based on the collections within the archives.
Job Description
Job Duties
- Interacts with co-workers, visitors, and other staff consistent with the values of Jefferson.
- Manages, collects, organizes, and makes available the holdings of the Archives and the Special Collections in varied formats, including print and digital materials and artifacts. Determines the scope of the collection through internal deposits, purchases and donations.
- Provides reference and research guidance to internal and external parties seeking access to materials held in the archives collections.
- Supervises and directs the work of a full-time digital archivist whose responsibilities include managing the Jefferson’s digital repository, the Jefferson Digital Commons.
- Collaborates with Academic Commons colleagues, senior academic officers and related leadership to implement best practices in the historic preservation of university activities. Builds relationships with new academic partners and introduces and establishes archival practices as standard operating policy.
- At the behest of senior leadership, including the university president, prepares and makes presentations to the Board of Trustees, faculty, students, alumni, parents, about the history of the university.
- Collaborates with the Office of Institutional Advancement regarding potential gifts to Jefferson, including artifacts, furniture, works of art and named professorships. Curates on an ongoing basis the exhibits and programming developed for the Jefferson alumni center.
- Prepares temporary and permanent exhibits singly or in collaboration with other Jefferson entities for display at Jefferson which showcase materials and resources in the Archives and Special Collections.
- Serves as instructor for history components in academic courses and special programs for other audiences. Works with key campus leaders on projects (signage, tours, special programs and lectures) which incorporate Jefferson’s rich history.
- Maintains a current awareness of archival management trends and technologies.
Competencies (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required):
- Demonstrated knowledge of archival theory and practice, national standards, relevant legal and ethical regulations (e.g. HIPAA, FERPA, and copyright), and best practices that govern the arrangement, description, preservation, and use of archival materials.
- Demonstrated understanding of the research process with historical documents, books, manuscripts, and other primary sources.
- Experience with collection development and management of analog, digitized, and born-digital collections; knowledge of metadata and other standards and best practices; and understanding of copyright and intellectual property issues of archival collections.
- Experience building and maintaining donor relationships and collaborating within a university community.
- Demonstrated understanding of the education and practice of medicine and health sciences.
Minimum Qualifications
- Master’s Degree in History with emphasis in archival administration or Masters of Library or Information Science from an ALA-accredited school with archival or records management training and experience.
- Bachelor’s Degree.
- 4 years professional university or institutional archival experience.
- Demonstrated knowledge of archival theory and practice, national standards, relevant legal and ethical regulations, and best practices that govern the arrangement, description, and use of archival materials.
- Demonstrated understanding of the research process with historical documents, books, manuscripts, and other primary sources.
- Experience managing digital collections; knowledge of metadata and other standards for management of archival collections.
- Demonstrated ability to balance and complete multiple projects, set priorities, and work effectively in a rapidly changing environment.
Additional Qualifications
Physical Demands
Lift and carry 25 lbs. frequent sitting/standing, frequent keyboard use, patient care providers may be required to perform activities specific to their role including kneeling, bending, squatting and performing CPR.
Job Description Disclaimer: This position description provides the major duties/responsibilities, requirements and working conditions for the position. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current position, however management reserves the right to revise or change as necessary to meet organizational needs. Other responsibilities may be assigned when circumstances require.
Work Shift
Workday Day (United States of America)
Worker Sub Type
Regular
Employee Entity
Thomas Jefferson University
Primary Location Address
1020 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Nationally ranked, Jefferson, which is principally located in the greater Philadelphia region, Lehigh Valley and Northeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey, is reimagining health care and higher education to create unparalleled value. Jefferson is more than 65,000 people strong, dedicated to providing the highest-quality, compassionate clinical care for patients; making our communities healthier and stronger; preparing tomorrow's professional leaders for 21st-century careers; and creating new knowledge through basic/programmatic, clinical and applied research. Thomas Jefferson University, home of Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Jefferson College of Nursing, and the Kanbar College of Design, Engineering and Commerce, dates back to 1824 and today comprises 10 colleges and three schools offering 200+ undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 8,300 students. Jefferson Health, nationally ranked as one of the top 15 not-for-profit health care systems in the country and the largest provider in the Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley areas, serves patients through millions of encounters each year at 32 hospitals campuses and more than 700 outpatient and urgent care locations throughout the region. Jefferson Health Plans is a not-for-profit managed health care organization providing a broad range of health coverage options in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for more than 35 years.
Jefferson is committed to providing equal educational and employment opportunities for all persons without regard to age, race, color, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, military status, veteran status, handicap or disability or any other protected group or status.
Benefits
Jefferson offers a comprehensive package of benefits for full-time and part-time colleagues, including medical (including prescription), supplemental insurance, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, short- and long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, retirement plans, tuition assistance, as well as voluntary benefits, which provide colleagues with access to group rates on insurance and discounts. Colleagues have access to tuition discounts at Thomas Jefferson University after one year of full time service or two years of part time service. All colleagues, including those who work less than part-time (including per diem colleagues, adjunct faculty, and Jeff Temps), have access to medical (including prescription) insurance.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Head Of Communications
Target companies with a sponsorship track record
Search Migrate Mate to find employers who have previously sponsored communications professionals. A company that has sponsored before understands the timeline and is far less likely to back out when your OPT window closes.
Address your OPT status early in the process
Raise work authorization in the first or second interview, not at the offer stage. Hiring managers in communications move fast, and surfacing it late wastes everyone's time and can kill offers that would have survived an earlier conversation.
Frame your international background as a communications asset
Cross-cultural fluency is genuinely valuable in communications leadership. Emphasize your ability to craft messaging for diverse audiences, navigate different media environments, and bring perspective that locally sourced candidates typically can't offer.
Build a portfolio that demonstrates strategic impact, not just execution
Head of Communications roles demand strategic thinking. Include examples of campaigns you shaped from brief to outcome, crisis communications you handled, or media coverage you drove. Metrics matter: reach, sentiment shift, or press placements all count.
Know your OPT end date and H-1B cap timing cold
The H-1B lottery runs in March with an October 1 start date. If your OPT expires before October, you need a cap-gap or bridge strategy. Knowing these dates precisely signals professionalism and makes sponsorship conversations much easier.
Target larger organizations with dedicated HR and legal infrastructure
Startups often want to sponsor but lack the legal infrastructure to execute it quickly. Larger companies, particularly those in media, finance, or tech, have established immigration counsel and processes that make sponsorship decisions faster and more reliable.
Head Of Communications OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Head of Communications jobs typically qualify for OPT work authorization?
Yes. Head of Communications is a specialty occupation requiring at minimum a bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, journalism, or a related field. USCIS consistently recognizes senior communications roles as qualifying positions, meaning your OPT authorization covers this work from day one without any additional approval needed from USCIS.
Will my communications degree qualify for a STEM OPT extension?
Almost certainly not. Communications, public relations, and journalism degrees are not on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List, which means you won't qualify for the 24-month STEM extension. Your OPT authorization is limited to 12 months, making it critical to secure an employer willing to sponsor H-1B or another visa before that window closes.
How do I find Head of Communications employers who sponsor OPT students?
Migrate Mate is the most efficient way to find these employers. The platform surfaces Head of Communications jobs from companies that have a demonstrated history of sponsoring work visas, filtering out postings from employers unlikely to bridge candidates through H-1B. This saves significant time compared to applying broadly and discovering sponsorship limitations late in the process.
Can I work as Head of Communications while my H-1B petition is pending?
Yes, if your OPT is still valid when your employer files the H-1B petition. If your OPT expires between April 1 and September 30 and a timely H-1B was filed on your behalf, cap-gap protection automatically extends your work authorization through September 30. You can continue working in your Head of Communications role uninterrupted during this period.
Is a Head of Communications role considered full-time employment for OPT purposes?
Yes, and it must be. OPT regulations require that your employment be directly related to your degree field and average at least 20 hours per week. A Head of Communications role almost always exceeds that threshold. You're also required to report your employer and any changes to your Designated School Official within ten days of starting or leaving a position.