OPT Instructional Designer Jobs
Instructional Designer jobs on OPT span corporate L&D teams, edtech companies, and higher education. Most roles require portfolio work and proficiency in tools like Articulate Storyline or Adobe Captivate. STEM OPT extension eligibility depends on your degree field, so confirm your classification before applying.
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Get Access To All JobsApplications will be received until August 21st, 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:
Responsible for improving student achievement by providing individualized support to schools, leading professional learning communities for teacher leaders and school leaders, designing and leading district professional learning for teachers and partnering with Directors of Schools. Will specialize in a specific content area: humanities, infusing District vision for Culturally Responsive Education (CRE).
What DPS Offers You:
- A Culture that values Equity, Accountability, Integrity, Collaboration and Fun with a shared vision that Every Learner Thrives.
- $75,457 - $90,548. Click here for more information on compensation for these roles.
- In addition to competitive compensation, DPS has other Total Reward offerings such as; time off, health and wellness benefits, and PERA Retirement. For more information visit our New Employee Resources.
What You'll Do:
- In partnership with the academics team, develops and facilitates cycles of professional learning in literacy for the District and its school teams to ensure schools meet measurable student outcomes tied to district priorities, such as rigorous standards-based instruction, culturally responsive teaching, instructional systems and data-driven instruction.
- Facilitates learning cycles across schools, including collaboratively setting learning goals, engaging in observations and coaching participants.
- Models exemplar culturally sustaining practices for teacher leaders, such as instructional planning at the unit and lesson level, data meetings and feedback conversations.
- Analyzes district local assessment data and classroom observations and uses it to inform school support.
- Works collaboratively on a team to achieve actionable and observable results at the student level; contributes to a strong team culture grounded in district values and a commitment to excellence and service to schools.
- Collaboratively develops and facilitates professional learning and coaching opportunities for teachers and leaders on evidence-based best practices for supporting the achievement of multilingual learners.
- Builds trust-based relationships and influences instructional improvement across diverse stakeholders; supports meaningful change without direct supervisory authority.
- Supports with district curriculum adoption and implementation.
- Contributes to team and organizational initiatives as needed.
What You’ll Need:
- Bachelor's Degree in Education or relevant subject area.
- Master's Degree in Relevant subject area preferred.
- Four years teaching experience in relevant subject area with at least two years of experience in coaching other teachers.
- Previous experience working in an urban district with Multilingual Learners and leading for Spanish Literacy.
- Knowledge of best practices in literacy instruction.
- 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.
- Demonstrates a commitment to continuous learning and professional growth, actively seeking feedback, reflecting on practice, and applying new learning to improve outcomes for students and educators.
- 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 21st, 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:
Responsible for improving student achievement by providing individualized support to schools, leading professional learning communities for teacher leaders and school leaders, designing and leading district professional learning for teachers and partnering with Directors of Schools. Will specialize in a specific content area: humanities, infusing District vision for Culturally Responsive Education (CRE).
What DPS Offers You:
- A Culture that values Equity, Accountability, Integrity, Collaboration and Fun with a shared vision that Every Learner Thrives.
- $75,457 - $90,548. Click here for more information on compensation for these roles.
- In addition to competitive compensation, DPS has other Total Reward offerings such as; time off, health and wellness benefits, and PERA Retirement. For more information visit our New Employee Resources.
What You'll Do:
- In partnership with the academics team, develops and facilitates cycles of professional learning in literacy for the District and its school teams to ensure schools meet measurable student outcomes tied to district priorities, such as rigorous standards-based instruction, culturally responsive teaching, instructional systems and data-driven instruction.
- Facilitates learning cycles across schools, including collaboratively setting learning goals, engaging in observations and coaching participants.
- Models exemplar culturally sustaining practices for teacher leaders, such as instructional planning at the unit and lesson level, data meetings and feedback conversations.
- Analyzes district local assessment data and classroom observations and uses it to inform school support.
- Works collaboratively on a team to achieve actionable and observable results at the student level; contributes to a strong team culture grounded in district values and a commitment to excellence and service to schools.
- Collaboratively develops and facilitates professional learning and coaching opportunities for teachers and leaders on evidence-based best practices for supporting the achievement of multilingual learners.
- Builds trust-based relationships and influences instructional improvement across diverse stakeholders; supports meaningful change without direct supervisory authority.
- Supports with district curriculum adoption and implementation.
- Contributes to team and organizational initiatives as needed.
What You’ll Need:
- Bachelor's Degree in Education or relevant subject area.
- Master's Degree in Relevant subject area preferred.
- Four years teaching experience in relevant subject area with at least two years of experience in coaching other teachers.
- Previous experience working in an urban district with Multilingual Learners and leading for Spanish Literacy.
- Knowledge of best practices in literacy instruction.
- 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.
- Demonstrates a commitment to continuous learning and professional growth, actively seeking feedback, reflecting on practice, and applying new learning to improve outcomes for students and educators.
- 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 189+ OPT Instructional Designer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as an Instructional Designer
Lead with your portfolio, not your resume
Instructional designers are hired on the strength of their work samples. Before applying, build a portfolio with two or three complete eLearning modules. Employers make faster sponsorship decisions when they can see your output quality upfront.
Target edtech and corporate L&D teams first
Large edtech companies and Fortune 500 L&D departments file OPT work authorization more routinely than small training agencies. Prioritizing these employers reduces friction in the hiring process and improves your chances of a smooth authorization experience.
Clarify your STEM OPT eligibility early
Instructional design degrees vary. If yours falls under educational technology or information systems, you may qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Confirm your CIP code with your DSO before conversations with employers turn to timeline concerns.
Highlight authoring tool certifications
Articulate 360 and Adobe Captivate offer recognized certifications. Earning one before your job search signals technical readiness to employers who otherwise see OPT authorization as a risk. It gives hiring managers a concrete reason to move forward with you.
Address your OPT timeline proactively with employers
Many hiring managers assume OPT authorization is more complicated than it is. Prepare a clear, one-paragraph explanation of your OPT start date, end date, and what the employer actually needs to do. Removing ambiguity early prevents unnecessary hesitation in the process.
Align your application to the employer's LMS stack
Instructional designer job descriptions usually list a specific LMS such as Workday Learning, Cornerstone, or Canvas. Tailoring your resume and portfolio to mirror the employer's tools demonstrates immediate value and reduces the perceived cost of sponsoring your work authorization.
Instructional Designer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as an Instructional Designer on OPT?
Yes. Instructional designer roles qualify as OPT-eligible employment as long as the work is directly related to your degree field. A degree in instructional design, educational technology, or a related discipline supports authorization. Confirm the connection between your specific degree and the job description with your DSO before accepting an offer.
Do Instructional Designer roles qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Some do. Instructional design programs housed under educational technology, learning systems, or information science departments often carry STEM-designated CIP codes. If your degree qualifies, you're eligible for a 24-month extension beyond your initial 12 months of OPT. Check your degree's CIP code with your DSO to confirm before applying to roles that require longer authorization periods.
What do employers actually need to do to hire an Instructional Designer on OPT?
Employers are not required to file any petition or pay government fees to hire OPT students. They need a valid E-Verify enrollment, which most mid-size and large companies already have. The student handles the EAD card and authorization reporting through their DSO. For employers unfamiliar with OPT, this distinction from H-1B visa sponsorship often resolves their hesitation quickly.
Where can I find Instructional Designer jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters jobs by visa sponsorship compatibility. Searching for instructional designer roles on Migrate Mate surfaces positions at employers who have an established track record of hiring international students, which significantly reduces the time spent on employers who will decline at the authorization stage.
Does my internship or practicum experience count toward OPT employment for an Instructional Designer role?
It can, but the connection must be documented. If your internship involved curriculum development, eLearning production, or training design directly tied to your degree program, it supports your OPT employment record. Keep documentation from your DSO and employer confirming the relationship between the work and your field of study, as this may be reviewed during a STEM extension application.