OPT Inventory Specialist Jobs
Inventory Specialist roles are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with backgrounds in supply chain, logistics, or operations management. Most positions qualify under standard OPT work authorization, and some employers in manufacturing, retail, and distribution actively hire OPT candidates. STEM OPT extension eligibility depends on your degree field.
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About M.C. Dean
M.C. Dean is Building Intelligence. We design, build, operate, and maintain cyber-physical solutions for the nation’s most mission-critical facilities, secure environments, complex infrastructure, and global enterprises. With over 7,000 employees, our capabilities span electrical, electronic security, telecommunications, life safety, automation and controls, audiovisual, and IT systems. Headquarters in Tysons, Virginia, M.C. Dean delivers resilient, secure, and innovative power and technology solutions through engineering expertise and smart systems integration.
Why Join Us?
Our people are passionate about engineering innovation that improves lives and drives impactful change. Guided by our core values—agility, expertise, and trust—we foster a collaborative and forward-thinking work environment. At M.C. Dean, we are committed to building the next generation of technical leaders in electrical, engineering, and cybersecurity industries.
Responsibilities:
1. Monitor, Track, Trend
- Accuracy or number of discrepancies per inventory taken
- Fill requests (on-time; correct quantity; right product)
- Timeliness of reporting, i.e., late reports get notices mailed
- Adherence to regulatory and contract requirements
- Reduction in excess and obsolete inventory
- Inventory turnover per inventory item
2. Storage
- Maintain adequate, safe, accessible, secure storage location, e.g., area, aisle, shelve, order of usage such as items frequently used near the loading dock.
- Optimize space utilization
- Store in a manner that can be inspected by the customer (low clutter, organized, labeled)
- Maintain access control for each separate inventory. Authorize and deauthorize access, i.e., control who enters and accesses each inventory and monitor for unusual access.
3. Receiving
- Inspect and receive
- Understand required bar codes schema and barcoding process
4. Shipping
- Timely fill orders and communicate release; track receipt of at ship-to location.
- Inspect and ship. Follow shipping export and safety regulations (EAS; ITAR)
- Ship in appropriate container accessible and safe, i.e., make life easy for the receiver
- Track and record transfers, in-process and inspection and receiving destinations, i.e., not done until you validate it was received properly at the next location.
5. Inventory
- Analyze quantity-to-maintain based on estimated usage
- Conduct accurate physical inventories in a timely manner on the proper cycle
- Audit the counts and inventories of others
- Research discrepancies, document discrepancies, report discrepancies
- Report and dispose of obsolete or excess inventory
- Compare inventory to inventory calculation (beg. balance + received – shipped = ending balance.)
- Assess value of inventory using FIFO and report value and type of equipment as needed for insurance purposes and for charging projects including cost-plus projects.
- Periodically report inventory to customer in their format whether paper or electronic.
6. Transfers and Sales and Scrap
- Accrue sales taxes and regulatory fees for inventory sold (not transferred) to 3rd parties.
- Follow up with customer to ensure receipt in good condition, i.e., confirm receipt in good condition at right location.
- Maintain a scrap policy and document scrap sales
7. Skills and Attributes
- Attention to detail, e.g., fill in all the blanks
- IT skills. Data entry. MS Excel and Word
- Quantitative and analytical, e.g., estimate the optimal inventory levels, research discrepancies
- Ownership. Treat the inventory as if it is your own
- Have focus. SKU numbers, attributes, damage, counterfeit parts, finish the inventory, research the discrepancies
- Communicate regularly and effectively with your customers and colleagues
- Prioritize, e.g., 80/20. Don't lose or not pay attention to the valuable, critical, or long-lead items at the expense of low-risk items that are easily replaced if misplaced.
- Common sense, e.g., don't spend hours researching small items that it costs more to research than write-off
- Be positive, desire to improve the inventory process continually.
Types of Inventories to Manage:
Government Furnished Equipment
- A contract requirement.
- Can be for maintenance or task orders
- Can be any value, i.e., there is no minimum dollar threshold to track
- The government has acquired and entrusts MCD to manage the property to include its physical location, quantity, age, value, receiving, shipping, and disposition. MCD certifies the inventory.
- We must value the inventory for insurance purposes.
Contractor-Acquired Property:
- Same requirements as GFE but MCD acquires the equipment or supplies instead of the USG.
Warehouse inventory:
- Commercial or government customers provide the equipment to MCD to store, e.g., Microsoft equipment stored at CCW.
- Inventory in the warehouse can be for general use (excess material), or specific to a project or fabrication order (bulk or barcoded).
- We base our contents insurance on the value of the contents at our facilities so we must maintain the value to update our insurance company on changing values.
- Locating items can take time and, in the past, items have been lost. The warehouse inventory tracks the location (area, aisle, shelve).
- We value the inventory to transfer inventory cost to projects and to support cost-based customer billings.
Inventory Held for Resale:
- Batteries are held for resell or transfer. When batteries are resold, the transaction results in environmental fees as well as sales tax. We must accrue and pay these fees and taxes to the appropriate authorities.
- Batteries also held for maintenance contracts and task orders. When using in inventory for these projects, we transfer them to the projects at cost.
- We must value the inventory for insurance purposes.
Qualifications
Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree with 2+ Years of Experience or High School Diploma/GED with 8+
- Ideal Candidate should have supervisory/Leader.
Abilities
- Exposure to computer screens for an extended period of time.
- Sitting for extended periods of time.
- Reach by extending hands or arms in any direction.
- Have finger dexterity in order to manipulate objects with fingers rather than whole hands or arms, for example, using a keyboard.
- Listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Identify and understand the speech of another person.
Overview:
About M.C. Dean
M.C. Dean is Building Intelligence. We design, build, operate, and maintain cyber-physical solutions for the nation’s most mission-critical facilities, secure environments, complex infrastructure, and global enterprises. With over 7,000 employees, our capabilities span electrical, electronic security, telecommunications, life safety, automation and controls, audiovisual, and IT systems. Headquarters in Tysons, Virginia, M.C. Dean delivers resilient, secure, and innovative power and technology solutions through engineering expertise and smart systems integration.
Why Join Us?
Our people are passionate about engineering innovation that improves lives and drives impactful change. Guided by our core values—agility, expertise, and trust—we foster a collaborative and forward-thinking work environment. At M.C. Dean, we are committed to building the next generation of technical leaders in electrical, engineering, and cybersecurity industries.
Responsibilities:
1. Monitor, Track, Trend
- Accuracy or number of discrepancies per inventory taken
- Fill requests (on-time; correct quantity; right product)
- Timeliness of reporting, i.e., late reports get notices mailed
- Adherence to regulatory and contract requirements
- Reduction in excess and obsolete inventory
- Inventory turnover per inventory item
2. Storage
- Maintain adequate, safe, accessible, secure storage location, e.g., area, aisle, shelve, order of usage such as items frequently used near the loading dock.
- Optimize space utilization
- Store in a manner that can be inspected by the customer (low clutter, organized, labeled)
- Maintain access control for each separate inventory. Authorize and deauthorize access, i.e., control who enters and accesses each inventory and monitor for unusual access.
3. Receiving
- Inspect and receive
- Understand required bar codes schema and barcoding process
4. Shipping
- Timely fill orders and communicate release; track receipt of at ship-to location.
- Inspect and ship. Follow shipping export and safety regulations (EAS; ITAR)
- Ship in appropriate container accessible and safe, i.e., make life easy for the receiver
- Track and record transfers, in-process and inspection and receiving destinations, i.e., not done until you validate it was received properly at the next location.
5. Inventory
- Analyze quantity-to-maintain based on estimated usage
- Conduct accurate physical inventories in a timely manner on the proper cycle
- Audit the counts and inventories of others
- Research discrepancies, document discrepancies, report discrepancies
- Report and dispose of obsolete or excess inventory
- Compare inventory to inventory calculation (beg. balance + received – shipped = ending balance.)
- Assess value of inventory using FIFO and report value and type of equipment as needed for insurance purposes and for charging projects including cost-plus projects.
- Periodically report inventory to customer in their format whether paper or electronic.
6. Transfers and Sales and Scrap
- Accrue sales taxes and regulatory fees for inventory sold (not transferred) to 3rd parties.
- Follow up with customer to ensure receipt in good condition, i.e., confirm receipt in good condition at right location.
- Maintain a scrap policy and document scrap sales
7. Skills and Attributes
- Attention to detail, e.g., fill in all the blanks
- IT skills. Data entry. MS Excel and Word
- Quantitative and analytical, e.g., estimate the optimal inventory levels, research discrepancies
- Ownership. Treat the inventory as if it is your own
- Have focus. SKU numbers, attributes, damage, counterfeit parts, finish the inventory, research the discrepancies
- Communicate regularly and effectively with your customers and colleagues
- Prioritize, e.g., 80/20. Don't lose or not pay attention to the valuable, critical, or long-lead items at the expense of low-risk items that are easily replaced if misplaced.
- Common sense, e.g., don't spend hours researching small items that it costs more to research than write-off
- Be positive, desire to improve the inventory process continually.
Types of Inventories to Manage:
Government Furnished Equipment
- A contract requirement.
- Can be for maintenance or task orders
- Can be any value, i.e., there is no minimum dollar threshold to track
- The government has acquired and entrusts MCD to manage the property to include its physical location, quantity, age, value, receiving, shipping, and disposition. MCD certifies the inventory.
- We must value the inventory for insurance purposes.
Contractor-Acquired Property:
- Same requirements as GFE but MCD acquires the equipment or supplies instead of the USG.
Warehouse inventory:
- Commercial or government customers provide the equipment to MCD to store, e.g., Microsoft equipment stored at CCW.
- Inventory in the warehouse can be for general use (excess material), or specific to a project or fabrication order (bulk or barcoded).
- We base our contents insurance on the value of the contents at our facilities so we must maintain the value to update our insurance company on changing values.
- Locating items can take time and, in the past, items have been lost. The warehouse inventory tracks the location (area, aisle, shelve).
- We value the inventory to transfer inventory cost to projects and to support cost-based customer billings.
Inventory Held for Resale:
- Batteries are held for resell or transfer. When batteries are resold, the transaction results in environmental fees as well as sales tax. We must accrue and pay these fees and taxes to the appropriate authorities.
- Batteries also held for maintenance contracts and task orders. When using in inventory for these projects, we transfer them to the projects at cost.
- We must value the inventory for insurance purposes.
Qualifications
Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree with 2+ Years of Experience or High School Diploma/GED with 8+
- Ideal Candidate should have supervisory/Leader.
Abilities
- Exposure to computer screens for an extended period of time.
- Sitting for extended periods of time.
- Reach by extending hands or arms in any direction.
- Have finger dexterity in order to manipulate objects with fingers rather than whole hands or arms, for example, using a keyboard.
- Listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Identify and understand the speech of another person.
See all 92+ OPT Inventory Specialist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Inventory Specialist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as an Inventory Specialist
Target employers with established OPT hiring histories
Large retailers, third-party logistics firms, and manufacturers are the most consistent OPT hirers for inventory roles. Companies with dedicated HR teams are better equipped to handle the paperwork requirements that come with hiring F-1 students on OPT.
Clarify your STEM OPT eligibility upfront
If your degree is in supply chain management, industrial engineering, or a related STEM field, you may qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension. Confirm your CIP code with your DSO before applying, since this significantly extends your authorization window.
Lead with your authorization status in applications
State clearly that you are authorized to work on OPT and include your OPT end date. Employers unfamiliar with F-1 work authorization often assume complexity. A brief, confident explanation reduces hesitation and keeps your application moving forward.
Highlight ERP and inventory management software skills
Proficiency in SAP, Oracle, or similar ERP systems sets you apart immediately. Employers posting inventory roles consistently cite these as required skills, and demonstrating hands-on experience shortens the conversation about whether you can perform the job from day one.
Connect degree coursework directly to the role requirements
Inventory Specialist postings often list demand forecasting, cycle counting, and warehouse operations as core duties. Map your coursework or internship projects directly to those responsibilities in your resume to show a concrete, degree-backed qualification for the position.
Apply early and track your OPT end date carefully
Onboarding timelines at logistics and retail employers can run four to six weeks. If your OPT end date is approaching, prioritize applications immediately. A late start can leave you authorized on paper but unable to begin work before your status lapses.
Inventory Specialist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can F-1 OPT students work as Inventory Specialists?
Yes. Inventory Specialist roles qualify under F-1 OPT as long as the work is directly related to your degree field, typically supply chain, logistics, business, or industrial engineering. Your employer does not need to sponsor a visa during your OPT period, but you are responsible for ensuring the role aligns with your authorized field of study.
Do Inventory Specialist jobs qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
They can, depending on your degree. If you graduated with a STEM-designated degree such as supply chain management, industrial engineering, or operations research, and the employer is E-Verify registered, you may qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Confirm your degree's CIP code with your DSO before assuming eligibility.
What do employers typically look for when hiring OPT students for inventory roles?
Most employers prioritize experience with inventory management systems like SAP or Oracle, attention to detail in cycle counting and reconciliation, and familiarity with warehouse operations. A degree in supply chain, business, or engineering helps establish the connection between your academic background and the role. OPT students who can articulate that connection clearly move through hiring faster.
Where can I find Inventory Specialist jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT and visa-sponsored job searches, so you can browse Inventory Specialist listings from employers who have confirmed openings for international students. Filtering by OPT-friendly employers saves time compared to applying broadly and discovering authorization issues late in the process.
How should I handle the question about work authorization when applying for inventory roles?
Be direct. State that you are authorized to work in the U.S. on F-1 OPT, include your authorization end date, and note whether you are eligible for a STEM extension if applicable. Employers in logistics and operations are generally practical. Clear, upfront answers prevent misunderstandings and demonstrate the straightforwardness the role itself requires.