Head Of Communications Jobs for OPT Students
Head of Communications jobs on OPT require employers willing to sponsor H-1B 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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Get Access To All JobsAbout Checkr
Checkr is building the data platform to power safe and fair decisions. Established in 2014, Checkr’s innovative technology and robust data platform help customers assess risk and ensure safety and compliance to build trusted workplaces and communities. Checkr has over 100,000 customers including DoorDash, Coinbase, Lyft, Instacart, and Airtable. We’re a team that thrives on solving complex problems with innovative solutions that advance our mission. Checkr is recognized on Forbes Cloud 100 2025 List and is a Y Combinator 2024 Breakthrough Company. Checkr is looking for a Head of Internal Communications as we prepare for an exciting next phase of growth. We seek a leader who understands the technology industry, thrives in a high growth environment, and can easily toggle between being a strategic leader and a doer. As the Head of Internal Communications you will report directly to the Chief Operating Officer and work closely with other C-Suite members as well as our broader leadership team. You will help Checkr teammates understand our vision, goals, projects and executive updates by leading strategic internal and executive communications programs. The ideal candidate will be a skilled storyteller with a knack for interpersonal skills and a passion for creating experiences. The role will build a strong culture of collaboration to create experiences that engage, connect and inspire the community of employees!
Responsibilities:
- Develop and execute a strategic internal and executive communications plan: You will align messaging with the company’s vision, mission, and product positioning.
- Work cross-functionally: You will partner with Human Resources, Marketing, Product, R&D and Leadership to execute communication initiatives from concept to delivery.
- Produce employee communications delivered across a variety of channels.
- Manage the company’s internal communications: maintain the editorial calendar, write stories, shoot videos, and contribute to the intranet.
- Support leadership and company meetings: You will help craft the messaging and program through agenda, speaker selection and logistics.
- Develop the strategic narrative and thought leadership strategy (leveraging executive leaders, customers, our mission partners, proprietary research etc.)
- Work cross-functionally with Product Marketing, Demand Generation & Brand Studio teams to ensure that our narrative is effectively and consistently represented across all channels
- Partner with our C-Suite on thought leadership and brand evangelism
What you bring:
- Experience: 10+ years of experience writing in a corporate environment. You’ve managed a variety of corporate communications channels
- Strong executive communications experience: You can write and tailor content for specific audiences that demonstrates a deep understanding of messaging, positioning and stakeholder needs. You are comfortable working with executives at all levels.
- Fearless when embracing technology: You are a sophisticated user of AI and other technology solutions to scale your impact and enhance company-wide communication.
- Organized and creative: You can adapt and change directions in an instant. You’re comfortable working at a fast pace and can meet tight deadlines.
- An A-player mindset with a strong bias for action: you raise the bar, move with urgency, stay resilient through ambiguity, and take ownership to deliver meaningful outcomes.
What you get:
- A fast-paced and collaborative environment
- Learning and development allowance
- Competitive compensation and opportunity for advancement
- 100% medical, dental, and vision coverage
- Up to 25K reimbursement for fertility, adoption, and parental planning services
- Flexible PTO policy
- Monthly wellness stipend
Pay Transparency Disclosure
One of Checkr’s core values is Transparency. To live by that value, we’ve made the decision to disclose salary ranges in all of our job postings. We use geographic cost of labor as an input to develop ranges for our roles and as such, each location where we hire may have a different range. If this role is remote, we have listed the top to the bottom of the possible range, but we will specify the target range for an exact location when you are selected for a recruiting discussion. For more information on our compensation philosophy, see our website.
On-target Earnings OR Base Salary range (San Francisco, CA) $246,000—$289,000 USD
At Checkr, we believe a hybrid work environment strengthens collaboration, drives innovation, and encourages connection. Our hub locations are Denver, CO, San Francisco, CA, Nashville, TN, and Santiago, Chile. Individuals are expected to work from the office 3 days a week. In-office perks are provided, such as lunch five times a week, a commuter stipend, and an abundance of snacks and beverages. A relocation stipend may be available for those willing to relocate to a Checkr hub location.
Equal Employment Opportunities at Checkr
Checkr is committed to building the best product and company, which requires hiring talented and qualified individuals with a diverse set of perspectives and lived experiences. Checkr believes in hiring people of all backgrounds, including those whose histories are impacted by the justice system in accordance with local, state, and/or federal laws, including the San Francisco’s Fair Chance Ordinance.
Applicant Privacy Policy
If you are a California resident or are located in Alberta or British Columbia, our Applicant Privacy Policy applies to our collection and processing of your personal information when you apply for a role with us or otherwise participate in our recruitment process.
Legitimate Checkr emails will always include our official domain name after the @ symbol (e.g., name@checkr.com or name@ext.checkr.com).
About Checkr
Checkr is building the data platform to power safe and fair decisions. Established in 2014, Checkr’s innovative technology and robust data platform help customers assess risk and ensure safety and compliance to build trusted workplaces and communities. Checkr has over 100,000 customers including DoorDash, Coinbase, Lyft, Instacart, and Airtable. We’re a team that thrives on solving complex problems with innovative solutions that advance our mission. Checkr is recognized on Forbes Cloud 100 2025 List and is a Y Combinator 2024 Breakthrough Company. Checkr is looking for a Head of Internal Communications as we prepare for an exciting next phase of growth. We seek a leader who understands the technology industry, thrives in a high growth environment, and can easily toggle between being a strategic leader and a doer. As the Head of Internal Communications you will report directly to the Chief Operating Officer and work closely with other C-Suite members as well as our broader leadership team. You will help Checkr teammates understand our vision, goals, projects and executive updates by leading strategic internal and executive communications programs. The ideal candidate will be a skilled storyteller with a knack for interpersonal skills and a passion for creating experiences. The role will build a strong culture of collaboration to create experiences that engage, connect and inspire the community of employees!
Responsibilities:
- Develop and execute a strategic internal and executive communications plan: You will align messaging with the company’s vision, mission, and product positioning.
- Work cross-functionally: You will partner with Human Resources, Marketing, Product, R&D and Leadership to execute communication initiatives from concept to delivery.
- Produce employee communications delivered across a variety of channels.
- Manage the company’s internal communications: maintain the editorial calendar, write stories, shoot videos, and contribute to the intranet.
- Support leadership and company meetings: You will help craft the messaging and program through agenda, speaker selection and logistics.
- Develop the strategic narrative and thought leadership strategy (leveraging executive leaders, customers, our mission partners, proprietary research etc.)
- Work cross-functionally with Product Marketing, Demand Generation & Brand Studio teams to ensure that our narrative is effectively and consistently represented across all channels
- Partner with our C-Suite on thought leadership and brand evangelism
What you bring:
- Experience: 10+ years of experience writing in a corporate environment. You’ve managed a variety of corporate communications channels
- Strong executive communications experience: You can write and tailor content for specific audiences that demonstrates a deep understanding of messaging, positioning and stakeholder needs. You are comfortable working with executives at all levels.
- Fearless when embracing technology: You are a sophisticated user of AI and other technology solutions to scale your impact and enhance company-wide communication.
- Organized and creative: You can adapt and change directions in an instant. You’re comfortable working at a fast pace and can meet tight deadlines.
- An A-player mindset with a strong bias for action: you raise the bar, move with urgency, stay resilient through ambiguity, and take ownership to deliver meaningful outcomes.
What you get:
- A fast-paced and collaborative environment
- Learning and development allowance
- Competitive compensation and opportunity for advancement
- 100% medical, dental, and vision coverage
- Up to 25K reimbursement for fertility, adoption, and parental planning services
- Flexible PTO policy
- Monthly wellness stipend
Pay Transparency Disclosure
One of Checkr’s core values is Transparency. To live by that value, we’ve made the decision to disclose salary ranges in all of our job postings. We use geographic cost of labor as an input to develop ranges for our roles and as such, each location where we hire may have a different range. If this role is remote, we have listed the top to the bottom of the possible range, but we will specify the target range for an exact location when you are selected for a recruiting discussion. For more information on our compensation philosophy, see our website.
On-target Earnings OR Base Salary range (San Francisco, CA) $246,000—$289,000 USD
At Checkr, we believe a hybrid work environment strengthens collaboration, drives innovation, and encourages connection. Our hub locations are Denver, CO, San Francisco, CA, Nashville, TN, and Santiago, Chile. Individuals are expected to work from the office 3 days a week. In-office perks are provided, such as lunch five times a week, a commuter stipend, and an abundance of snacks and beverages. A relocation stipend may be available for those willing to relocate to a Checkr hub location.
Equal Employment Opportunities at Checkr
Checkr is committed to building the best product and company, which requires hiring talented and qualified individuals with a diverse set of perspectives and lived experiences. Checkr believes in hiring people of all backgrounds, including those whose histories are impacted by the justice system in accordance with local, state, and/or federal laws, including the San Francisco’s Fair Chance Ordinance.
Applicant Privacy Policy
If you are a California resident or are located in Alberta or British Columbia, our Applicant Privacy Policy applies to our collection and processing of your personal information when you apply for a role with us or otherwise participate in our recruitment process.
Legitimate Checkr emails will always include our official domain name after the @ symbol (e.g., name@checkr.com or name@ext.checkr.com).
How to Get Visa 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.
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.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently 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.
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