Hvac Project Manager Jobs for OPT Students
HVAC Project Manager jobs on OPT are available at mechanical contractors, construction firms, and facilities management companies. Most roles require an engineering or construction management degree, which aligns well with OPT eligibility. Your 12-month standard OPT window, or 24-month STEM extension with a qualifying degree, gives employers a meaningful runway to evaluate sponsorship.
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Get Access To All JobsWhat You Will Do
Responsible for construction management of assigned projects. Determines resource levels to attain schedule milestones and monitors workforce levels to ensure conformance with the construction plan. Controls change/scope creep, ensuring that all scope changes are quickly and properly documented and that change orders are approved prior to the performance of work. Implements the site safety and security procedures and project work rules and plays an active role in the development of the safety program. Develops and maintains Customer and Subcontractor relationships. Works with the Area Team Operations Leader and Regional Resource Team as needed, to provide sales support activities early in the audit process to provide input on vendor/partners selection, scope enhancements, value engineering, risk assessment etc. as needed. Works with the Area Team Operations Leader and Regional Resource Team manager to ensure the profitable execution of assigned projects. Ensures that assigned projects are done accurately, on-time, billed, within budget and within scope of the contract. Maintains profitability goals and positive cash flow for assigned projects.
How You Will Do It
- Providing direction and coordination of field activities related to and retrofit installations.
- Self-performs cost estimating, project scheduling and construction management of assigned projects.
- Manages the profitable execution of assigned projects. Ensures that assigned projects are done accurately, on-time, billed, within budget and within scope of the contract. Maintains profitability goals and positive cash flow for assigned projects.
- Understands project scope and customer expectations. Utilizes resource planning techniques to gain high productivity from team members.
- Plans, schedules and controls project activities.
- Develops and adheres to a Project Execution Plan for each assigned project.
- Effectively communicates the status of assigned projects to management team.
- Fosters and maintains good working relationships with subcontractors.
- Ensures compliance with state, local and federal legal requirements.
- Ensures compliance with project scope, and ensures work is performed at a high level of quality.
- Ensure business is conducted with the highest ethical standards.
- Champions and drives the Safety Program for employees and subcontractors at all levels.
- Performs audit and M&V activities as needed.
- Able to travel as needed, up to 75%.
Required
- A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Construction, Civil, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, Construction Management or Architecture or an Associate’s Degree with equivalent work related experience and minimum of five (5) years of direct project management experience in the Building Construction Industry.
- Management experience with projects related to HVAC controls, BAS management, Fire management, and Security management systems is desired.
- Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills. Must have the ability to communicate technical material to a non-technical audience.
- The ability to travel. This will vary on project assignment. Projects may exist outside of assigned geography.
- Proficient in Project Management software and financial accounting systems. Strong Personal Computer working capabilities in MS Office (Excel, Word, Power Point), Adobe Writer, Visio and basic Windows environment.
Who We Are
Johnson Controls is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, status as a qualified individual with a disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. For more information, please view EEO is the Law. If you are an individual with a disability and you require an accommodation during the application process, please visit www.johnsoncontrols.com/tomorrowneedsyou.
HIRING SALARY RANGE: $76,400 - $104,600 (Salary to be determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data.) This position includes a competitive benefits package. The posted salary range reflects the target compensation for this role. However, we recognize that exceptional candidates may bring unique skills and experiences that exceed the typical profile. If you believe your background warrants consideration beyond the stated range, we encourage you to apply. To support an efficient and fair hiring process, we may use technology assisted tools, including artificial intelligence (AI), to help identify and evaluate candidates. All hiring decisions are ultimately made by human reviewers. For details, please visit the About Us tab on the Johnson Controls Careers site at https://jobs.johnsoncontrols.com/about-us.
What You Will Do
Responsible for construction management of assigned projects. Determines resource levels to attain schedule milestones and monitors workforce levels to ensure conformance with the construction plan. Controls change/scope creep, ensuring that all scope changes are quickly and properly documented and that change orders are approved prior to the performance of work. Implements the site safety and security procedures and project work rules and plays an active role in the development of the safety program. Develops and maintains Customer and Subcontractor relationships. Works with the Area Team Operations Leader and Regional Resource Team as needed, to provide sales support activities early in the audit process to provide input on vendor/partners selection, scope enhancements, value engineering, risk assessment etc. as needed. Works with the Area Team Operations Leader and Regional Resource Team manager to ensure the profitable execution of assigned projects. Ensures that assigned projects are done accurately, on-time, billed, within budget and within scope of the contract. Maintains profitability goals and positive cash flow for assigned projects.
How You Will Do It
- Providing direction and coordination of field activities related to and retrofit installations.
- Self-performs cost estimating, project scheduling and construction management of assigned projects.
- Manages the profitable execution of assigned projects. Ensures that assigned projects are done accurately, on-time, billed, within budget and within scope of the contract. Maintains profitability goals and positive cash flow for assigned projects.
- Understands project scope and customer expectations. Utilizes resource planning techniques to gain high productivity from team members.
- Plans, schedules and controls project activities.
- Develops and adheres to a Project Execution Plan for each assigned project.
- Effectively communicates the status of assigned projects to management team.
- Fosters and maintains good working relationships with subcontractors.
- Ensures compliance with state, local and federal legal requirements.
- Ensures compliance with project scope, and ensures work is performed at a high level of quality.
- Ensure business is conducted with the highest ethical standards.
- Champions and drives the Safety Program for employees and subcontractors at all levels.
- Performs audit and M&V activities as needed.
- Able to travel as needed, up to 75%.
Required
- A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Construction, Civil, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, Construction Management or Architecture or an Associate’s Degree with equivalent work related experience and minimum of five (5) years of direct project management experience in the Building Construction Industry.
- Management experience with projects related to HVAC controls, BAS management, Fire management, and Security management systems is desired.
- Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills. Must have the ability to communicate technical material to a non-technical audience.
- The ability to travel. This will vary on project assignment. Projects may exist outside of assigned geography.
- Proficient in Project Management software and financial accounting systems. Strong Personal Computer working capabilities in MS Office (Excel, Word, Power Point), Adobe Writer, Visio and basic Windows environment.
Who We Are
Johnson Controls is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, status as a qualified individual with a disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. For more information, please view EEO is the Law. If you are an individual with a disability and you require an accommodation during the application process, please visit www.johnsoncontrols.com/tomorrowneedsyou.
HIRING SALARY RANGE: $76,400 - $104,600 (Salary to be determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data.) This position includes a competitive benefits package. The posted salary range reflects the target compensation for this role. However, we recognize that exceptional candidates may bring unique skills and experiences that exceed the typical profile. If you believe your background warrants consideration beyond the stated range, we encourage you to apply. To support an efficient and fair hiring process, we may use technology assisted tools, including artificial intelligence (AI), to help identify and evaluate candidates. All hiring decisions are ultimately made by human reviewers. For details, please visit the About Us tab on the Johnson Controls Careers site at https://jobs.johnsoncontrols.com/about-us.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as a Hvac Project Manager
Target employers with H-1B sponsorship history
Mechanical contractors and large construction firms that have sponsored H-1B visas before are far more likely to do it again. Prioritize companies with 50+ employees where a dedicated HR team handles visa paperwork without it falling on the hiring manager.
Lead with your OPT timeline, not your visa status
Frame your authorization as a 12-month window, extendable to 36 months with a STEM degree. Employers respond better to timelines than visa categories. HVAC project managers are in demand, so a clear runway makes sponsorship conversations easier to open.
Get your PMP or LEED credential during OPT
Earning a Project Management Professional or LEED certification while on OPT signals long-term commitment and immediately raises your value to employers. These credentials are portable across employers, which matters if your sponsorship situation requires switching companies.
Understand which degree fields qualify for STEM OPT
Mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and construction management degrees often qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Confirm your CIP code with your DSO before interviewing, so you can accurately tell employers how long you are authorized to work.
Negotiate an employment agreement that references sponsorship
Before signing an offer, ask directly whether the company has sponsored H-1B petitions and whether they would commit to initiating yours before your OPT expires. Getting this in writing protects you and signals the employer is serious about retaining you.
Highlight project scope and dollar value in your resume
HVAC Project Manager roles require demonstrating you can manage complex, high-value work. Quantify the projects you have managed by scope, team size, and completion rate. Employers evaluating visa sponsorship want evidence that retaining you is worth the investment.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Can F-1 OPT students work as HVAC Project Managers in the United States?
Yes. HVAC Project Manager is a role that typically requires a degree in mechanical engineering, construction management, or a related field, which directly satisfies the practical training requirement of OPT. Your work must be related to your degree field, so confirm the connection with your DSO before accepting an offer.
Does an HVAC Project Manager role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree, not the job title. If your bachelor's or master's degree is in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or a qualifying STEM field under the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List, you may be eligible for the 24-month extension. Confirm your CIP code with your international student office before applying for the extension.
How do I find HVAC Project Manager jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters for employers open to work authorization. Searching there is more efficient than general job boards because you avoid applying to roles where OPT is a dealbreaker. Focus on mechanical contractors, MEP engineering firms, and large construction companies with established HR departments.
Do HVAC companies typically sponsor H-1B visas after OPT ends?
Some do, particularly larger mechanical contractors, MEP engineering firms, and facilities management companies with significant federal or commercial project portfolios. Smaller regional contractors rarely have the HR infrastructure to manage sponsorship. Ask about sponsorship history directly during the interview process, not after you have accepted an offer.
What happens if my HVAC Project Manager OPT expires before my employer files for H-1B?
If your employer files an H-1B petition by April 1 and you are selected in the lottery, you are eligible for a cap-gap extension that bridges the gap between OPT expiration and October 1. If you are not selected, your work authorization ends when OPT expires and you must stop working immediately. Planning your timeline with your employer well before the April deadline is essential.
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