OPT Market Development Specialist Jobs
Market Development Specialist jobs are well-suited for F-1 OPT students with backgrounds in marketing, business, or communications. Most roles qualify as specialty occupations for H-1B visa sponsorship. Your 12-month OPT window, or 24-month STEM extension if eligible, gives you real runway to prove your value and convert to long-term sponsorship.
See All OPT Market Development Specialist JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 17+ Market Development Specialist jobs
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
See all Market Development Specialist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Market Development Specialist roles.
Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Purple is a digitally-native vertical brand with a mission to help people feel and live better through innovative comfort solutions. To us, comfort means more than great products, it means empowering every employee to feel comfortable being themselves. We believe your career at Purple will be a one-of-a-kind “Career in Comfort” because our workforce is one-of-a-kind. We are committed to a culture of collaboration where every voice is heard and understood. As an innovation company at our core, we believe a diversity workforce brings better insights, solutions and products and serves as the backbone to bettering our company. Join with us as we add to our team of exceptional individuals who will help us take over the world — one mattress at a time.
Compensation
The compensation target for this role is: $63,800 - $75,000
JOB SUMMARY
At Purple, we are building a world-class Market Development team that supports the future growth of the Wholesale division by creating raving fans. We believe this team is the backbone of a strong Wholesale Organization.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
- The Market Development Specialist (MDS) role is focused on making every regional and national account as successful as possible by positioning themselves as the experts who can help maximize revenue growth and grow Purple’s Balance of Share (BOS) by giving stores the resources and training needed to sell Purple with confidence and ease.
- Travel to Wholesale partner stores and conducting store visits to train on Purple products and build relationships with Retail Sales Associates (RSAs) and store leaders every day, developing relationships and maintaining the Purple standards is a critical part of this role. When done effectively, the MDS influences how the brand is represented, the knowledge base of the sales associates who are engaging customers and selling the Purple product, how the product is merchandised and ultimately, increases profit for Purple.
- When strong relationships are in place, the MDS is welcomed into their retail partners stores and relied on to train, solve issues and build capability.
- Market Development Specialists have a passion for coaching, training, and selling, demonstrating this passion during calls and in-store visits. Influencing store teams to give Purple the best locations for beds and product accessories is a key responsibility. Executing one-to-one and group trainings, ensuring all RSAs in your assigned stores are highly knowledgeable about Purple’s products and are actively recommending them to consumers is critical to a MDS’s success.
- They communicate important initiatives from corporate to the stores and field insights to the account teams. They execute fun and engaging sales incentive programs with RSAs, rewarding top-performing sales associates to grow BOS. They work with store leadership and internal support teams to ensure Purple’s brand standards and merchandising are met in every store every time.
Required Skills, Education, Experience:
- 2-3 years of experience in Indirect Customer Sales
- Bachelor’s degree preferred.
- Passionate about coaching, training, and selling.
- Comfortable presenting in front of large groups, including leadership.
- Sales focused whether selling a product or an idea.
- Dedicated to bringing a creative & curious approach to problem solving & troubleshooting while challenging the status quo.
- Committed to Excellence: Meticulous about detail and accuracy while working effectively in a fast-paced environment. Able to demonstrate exceptional organizational skills, with the ability to meet communicated schedules & deadlines.
- A Collaborator and Team Player: who anticipates and identifies emerging issues and works with team members to assist in the development and implementation of solutions. Able to work on diverse teams or with a diverse range of people effectively.
- Flexible & Results Driven: Able to manage, adapt, and dynamically prioritize multiple work-streams with a positive attitude. Able to work under pressure and meet goals in a rapidly changing environment.
- Able to communicate clearly and thoughtfully internally and externally.
- Dedicated to the mission of Purple and passionate about your desire to improve lives.
- Proven history of success in developing and implementing market-level sales strategies.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Computer and Software expertise (Salesforce, Outlook, Microsoft Office including Excel, Word, PowerPoint). Operation of company provided laptop and tablet.
- Prior experience developing or facilitating training content is highly preferred.
- Flexibility to work weekends, holidays, and evenings to meet the needs of the business.
- Ability to travel daily within market, overnight and airline travel required.
- A valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
- Residence within your assigned market, or willingness to relocate.
- Satisfactory completion of a background check, drug screen, and motor vehicle record check.
If you’re still reading and you check these boxes, we can’t wait to hear from you! If you have some but not all, we encourage you to apply and tell us why you’re a great fit for our team.
Physical Requirements
Physical activities may occasionally include:
- Remaining in stationary position, often standing, or sitting for prolonged periods of time.
- Adjusting or moving objects up to 15 pounds in all directions.
Physical activities may constantly include:
- Communicating with others to exchange information.
- Repetitive motions that may include the wrists, hands and/or fingers.
- Assessing the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of work assigned.
Environmental Conditions may occasionally include:
- Noisy open office environment
- Frequent airline and car travel
Employment is contingent upon successfully passing a drug screening and a Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) check.
BENEFITS AND PERKS
- Medical, Dental, Vision
- 401(k) Match
- Flexible PTO
- Earn a Mattress
- Purple Swag
- Amazing Purple Products
WHY WORK AT PURPLE?
- Make your mark: We value innovative thinking. At Purple, you will be empowered to bring your ideas to life as we work together to improve people’s lives through comfort.
- Gain unique experience: Be a part of one of the fastest growing companies in Utah! The contributions you make will matter at Purple as the company continues to grow with you.
- Awesome culture: Join the tight-knit team at Purple and you can enjoy working alongside industry experts, making close friends, and annual employee appreciation events.
Purple provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
INTRODUCTION
Purple is a digitally-native vertical brand with a mission to help people feel and live better through innovative comfort solutions. To us, comfort means more than great products, it means empowering every employee to feel comfortable being themselves. We believe your career at Purple will be a one-of-a-kind “Career in Comfort” because our workforce is one-of-a-kind. We are committed to a culture of collaboration where every voice is heard and understood. As an innovation company at our core, we believe a diversity workforce brings better insights, solutions and products and serves as the backbone to bettering our company. Join with us as we add to our team of exceptional individuals who will help us take over the world — one mattress at a time.
Compensation
The compensation target for this role is: $63,800 - $75,000
JOB SUMMARY
At Purple, we are building a world-class Market Development team that supports the future growth of the Wholesale division by creating raving fans. We believe this team is the backbone of a strong Wholesale Organization.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
- The Market Development Specialist (MDS) role is focused on making every regional and national account as successful as possible by positioning themselves as the experts who can help maximize revenue growth and grow Purple’s Balance of Share (BOS) by giving stores the resources and training needed to sell Purple with confidence and ease.
- Travel to Wholesale partner stores and conducting store visits to train on Purple products and build relationships with Retail Sales Associates (RSAs) and store leaders every day, developing relationships and maintaining the Purple standards is a critical part of this role. When done effectively, the MDS influences how the brand is represented, the knowledge base of the sales associates who are engaging customers and selling the Purple product, how the product is merchandised and ultimately, increases profit for Purple.
- When strong relationships are in place, the MDS is welcomed into their retail partners stores and relied on to train, solve issues and build capability.
- Market Development Specialists have a passion for coaching, training, and selling, demonstrating this passion during calls and in-store visits. Influencing store teams to give Purple the best locations for beds and product accessories is a key responsibility. Executing one-to-one and group trainings, ensuring all RSAs in your assigned stores are highly knowledgeable about Purple’s products and are actively recommending them to consumers is critical to a MDS’s success.
- They communicate important initiatives from corporate to the stores and field insights to the account teams. They execute fun and engaging sales incentive programs with RSAs, rewarding top-performing sales associates to grow BOS. They work with store leadership and internal support teams to ensure Purple’s brand standards and merchandising are met in every store every time.
Required Skills, Education, Experience:
- 2-3 years of experience in Indirect Customer Sales
- Bachelor’s degree preferred.
- Passionate about coaching, training, and selling.
- Comfortable presenting in front of large groups, including leadership.
- Sales focused whether selling a product or an idea.
- Dedicated to bringing a creative & curious approach to problem solving & troubleshooting while challenging the status quo.
- Committed to Excellence: Meticulous about detail and accuracy while working effectively in a fast-paced environment. Able to demonstrate exceptional organizational skills, with the ability to meet communicated schedules & deadlines.
- A Collaborator and Team Player: who anticipates and identifies emerging issues and works with team members to assist in the development and implementation of solutions. Able to work on diverse teams or with a diverse range of people effectively.
- Flexible & Results Driven: Able to manage, adapt, and dynamically prioritize multiple work-streams with a positive attitude. Able to work under pressure and meet goals in a rapidly changing environment.
- Able to communicate clearly and thoughtfully internally and externally.
- Dedicated to the mission of Purple and passionate about your desire to improve lives.
- Proven history of success in developing and implementing market-level sales strategies.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Computer and Software expertise (Salesforce, Outlook, Microsoft Office including Excel, Word, PowerPoint). Operation of company provided laptop and tablet.
- Prior experience developing or facilitating training content is highly preferred.
- Flexibility to work weekends, holidays, and evenings to meet the needs of the business.
- Ability to travel daily within market, overnight and airline travel required.
- A valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
- Residence within your assigned market, or willingness to relocate.
- Satisfactory completion of a background check, drug screen, and motor vehicle record check.
If you’re still reading and you check these boxes, we can’t wait to hear from you! If you have some but not all, we encourage you to apply and tell us why you’re a great fit for our team.
Physical Requirements
Physical activities may occasionally include:
- Remaining in stationary position, often standing, or sitting for prolonged periods of time.
- Adjusting or moving objects up to 15 pounds in all directions.
Physical activities may constantly include:
- Communicating with others to exchange information.
- Repetitive motions that may include the wrists, hands and/or fingers.
- Assessing the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of work assigned.
Environmental Conditions may occasionally include:
- Noisy open office environment
- Frequent airline and car travel
Employment is contingent upon successfully passing a drug screening and a Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) check.
BENEFITS AND PERKS
- Medical, Dental, Vision
- 401(k) Match
- Flexible PTO
- Earn a Mattress
- Purple Swag
- Amazing Purple Products
WHY WORK AT PURPLE?
- Make your mark: We value innovative thinking. At Purple, you will be empowered to bring your ideas to life as we work together to improve people’s lives through comfort.
- Gain unique experience: Be a part of one of the fastest growing companies in Utah! The contributions you make will matter at Purple as the company continues to grow with you.
- Awesome culture: Join the tight-knit team at Purple and you can enjoy working alongside industry experts, making close friends, and annual employee appreciation events.
Purple provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
See all OPT Market Development Specialist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Market Development Specialist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Market Development Specialist
Target companies with active H-1B sponsorship history
Search Department of Labor disclosure data to find employers who have sponsored H-1B visas for market development or business development roles. Past sponsorship is the strongest signal that a company will do it again for the right candidate.
Lead with business impact, not immigration status
Quantify your pipeline contributions, campaign results, or market research outcomes before raising OPT. Employers sponsor candidates who solve real problems. Demonstrating measurable value makes the visa conversation feel like a formality, not a risk.
Apply during STEM OPT if your degree qualifies
Marketing analytics, data-driven business development, and quantitative market research roles may qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. That longer runway significantly reduces employer urgency around H-1B timing and makes sponsorship conversations easier.
Clarify the specialty occupation argument for your role
Market Development Specialists need to show the role requires a specific degree, not just any bachelor's. Roles tied to product marketing, technical sales, or quantitative research have clearer specialty occupation arguments than broad generalist titles.
Raise OPT timing proactively, not reactively
Tell hiring managers your OPT expiration date early in the process. Waiting until an offer stage creates panic. Giving employers three to six months of runway lets them plan LCA filing and H-1B sponsorship without feeling blindsided or rushed.
Use Migrate Mate to find OPT-friendly employers
Browse Market Development Specialist roles on Migrate Mate to identify employers who have sponsored international employees before. Focusing your applications on sponsorship-ready companies saves time and significantly improves your chances of converting OPT to full sponsorship.
Market Development Specialist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Market Development Specialist roles qualify as specialty occupations for H-1B sponsorship?
Most do, but the argument depends on how the role is scoped. Positions tied to marketing strategy, product commercialization, or quantitative market analysis, where a specific degree in marketing, business, or a related field is genuinely required, meet the specialty occupation standard. Broad generalist roles that accept any bachelor's degree are harder to support and should be evaluated carefully before accepting an offer.
Can I work as a Market Development Specialist on F-1 OPT without prior employer authorization?
Yes. F-1 OPT authorizes you to work in a job directly related to your degree field without needing employer-specific USCIS approval. A marketing or business degree typically supports Market Development Specialist roles. You do need your EAD card in hand before your first day, and your job must be in a field related to your area of study, not any job you choose.
How much time do I realistically have to find H-1B sponsorship as a Market Development Specialist on OPT?
Standard OPT gives you 12 months. If your degree is in a STEM field and your role involves quantitative work, such as marketing analytics or data-driven market research, you may qualify for a 24-month STEM extension, giving you up to 36 months total. Most employers who sponsor H-1B visas for market development roles need at least three to four months of lead time before your OPT expires.
Where can I find Market Development Specialist jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters for employers with demonstrated visa sponsorship history. Searching there rather than general job boards means you spend less time on roles where sponsorship is never going to happen, and more time on companies that already understand the process and are willing to support international employees.
Does my degree field affect whether my Market Development Specialist job qualifies under OPT?
Yes, directly. OPT requires that your job be related to your field of study. A marketing, business administration, communications, or economics degree supports most Market Development Specialist roles without issue. If your degree is in an unrelated field, like engineering or biology, you will need to document a clear connection between your coursework and the specific responsibilities of the role to satisfy the relatedness requirement.