OPT Media Director Jobs
Media Director roles are among the more OPT-friendly senior positions in advertising and marketing, many agencies and media companies sponsor H-1B visas after OPT ends. Your 12-month OPT window (or 24-month STEM extension if you hold a qualifying degree) is enough time to prove leadership value.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
SeaWorld is a world-renowned leader in the themed-park and entertainment industry. Our success is built on a passion for caring for animals and a dedication to delivering positive, memorable experiences to people from around the world. We're also committed to helping ambitious people achieve their professional best. We're always seeking exceptionally skilled and knowledgeable individuals to join our team.
Location: Orlando or Miami, FL
United Parks & Resorts Inc. (NYSE: PRKS) is a leading theme park and entertainment company with a world-class portfolio of seven brands across 13 parks in the United States and Abu Dhabi. The Company’s award-winning portfolio of iconic brands includes SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Discovery Cove, Sesame Place, Water Country USA, Adventure Island, and Aquatica.
ROLE SUMMARY
The Manager, Marketing Finance plays a critical role in overseeing the financial planning, budgeting, and reporting of all paid media investments across United Parks & Resorts. This position acts as the financial backbone of the media organization - ensuring every dollar spent across channels drives measurable business value.
The Manager will collaborate directly with the Director, Media, VP of Media, CMO, Finance, agency partners, and Park Marketing VPs to manage budgets, forecast spend, and build visibility into performance across all paid media channels (TV, OLV, OTT, Radio, Social, Search, and Display).
This role is ideal for a highly analytical finance or FP&A professional with elite Excel skills and a desire to work at the intersection of marketing, data, and strategy. Media experience is not required, but the ability to think in terms of business impact and ROI is essential.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Budgeting & Financial Stewardship
- Manage the monthly, quarterly, and annual budgeting and forecasting process for all paid media channels.
- Partner with Finance and Park Marketing teams to ensure accuracy, alignment, and transparency in all spend tracking and reporting.
- Maintain and reconcile detailed budget pacing, accruals, and variance analysis across brands and parks.
- Support budget reallocation decisions throughout the year based on performance and business priorities.
- Serve as the central liaison between Marketing, Finance, and external media agencies on all financial matters.
Planning & Coordination
- Support the development of annual and seasonal media plans, ensuring alignment between spend, mix, and performance objectives.
- Work with agency partners and internal stakeholders to ensure budgets align with campaign strategies and go-live timelines.
- Help prepare media budget summaries, presentations, and executive dashboards for senior leadership reviews.
Reporting & Analytics Support
- Assist with the creation and distribution of weekly, monthly, and quarterly media performance dashboards, integrating budget, spend, and outcome data.
- Partner with Finance and Analytics teams to tie spend to attendance, sales, and ROI outcomes.
- Support ongoing process improvement for data accuracy, standardization, and automation in budget reporting.
WHAT IT TAKES TO SUCCEED
- 3–5 years of experience in financial planning and analysis, marketing finance, or budget management, ideally supporting marketing or media functions.
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, or a related analytical field.
- Proven ability to manage complex budgets, forecasting, and financial reporting across multiple brands or business units.
- Strong analytical and Excel skills, with experience translating financial data into actionable business insights.
THE PERKS OF THE POSITION:
- Paid Time Off
- Complimentary Park Tickets and Passes
- Park Discounts on Food and Merchandise
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
- 401K Retirement plan
- Voluntary Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Disability Benefits
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Dependent and Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts
- Employee Assistance Program
- Legal Assistance Plan
EEO Employer:
SEAWORLD PARKS & ENTERTAINMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. ALL APPLICANTS WILL BE CONSIDERED WITHOUT REGARD TO AGE, RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, PREGNANCY, GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION, DISABILITY OR COVERED VETERAN STATUS.
INTRODUCTION
SeaWorld is a world-renowned leader in the themed-park and entertainment industry. Our success is built on a passion for caring for animals and a dedication to delivering positive, memorable experiences to people from around the world. We're also committed to helping ambitious people achieve their professional best. We're always seeking exceptionally skilled and knowledgeable individuals to join our team.
Location: Orlando or Miami, FL
United Parks & Resorts Inc. (NYSE: PRKS) is a leading theme park and entertainment company with a world-class portfolio of seven brands across 13 parks in the United States and Abu Dhabi. The Company’s award-winning portfolio of iconic brands includes SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Discovery Cove, Sesame Place, Water Country USA, Adventure Island, and Aquatica.
ROLE SUMMARY
The Manager, Marketing Finance plays a critical role in overseeing the financial planning, budgeting, and reporting of all paid media investments across United Parks & Resorts. This position acts as the financial backbone of the media organization - ensuring every dollar spent across channels drives measurable business value.
The Manager will collaborate directly with the Director, Media, VP of Media, CMO, Finance, agency partners, and Park Marketing VPs to manage budgets, forecast spend, and build visibility into performance across all paid media channels (TV, OLV, OTT, Radio, Social, Search, and Display).
This role is ideal for a highly analytical finance or FP&A professional with elite Excel skills and a desire to work at the intersection of marketing, data, and strategy. Media experience is not required, but the ability to think in terms of business impact and ROI is essential.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Budgeting & Financial Stewardship
- Manage the monthly, quarterly, and annual budgeting and forecasting process for all paid media channels.
- Partner with Finance and Park Marketing teams to ensure accuracy, alignment, and transparency in all spend tracking and reporting.
- Maintain and reconcile detailed budget pacing, accruals, and variance analysis across brands and parks.
- Support budget reallocation decisions throughout the year based on performance and business priorities.
- Serve as the central liaison between Marketing, Finance, and external media agencies on all financial matters.
Planning & Coordination
- Support the development of annual and seasonal media plans, ensuring alignment between spend, mix, and performance objectives.
- Work with agency partners and internal stakeholders to ensure budgets align with campaign strategies and go-live timelines.
- Help prepare media budget summaries, presentations, and executive dashboards for senior leadership reviews.
Reporting & Analytics Support
- Assist with the creation and distribution of weekly, monthly, and quarterly media performance dashboards, integrating budget, spend, and outcome data.
- Partner with Finance and Analytics teams to tie spend to attendance, sales, and ROI outcomes.
- Support ongoing process improvement for data accuracy, standardization, and automation in budget reporting.
WHAT IT TAKES TO SUCCEED
- 3–5 years of experience in financial planning and analysis, marketing finance, or budget management, ideally supporting marketing or media functions.
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, or a related analytical field.
- Proven ability to manage complex budgets, forecasting, and financial reporting across multiple brands or business units.
- Strong analytical and Excel skills, with experience translating financial data into actionable business insights.
THE PERKS OF THE POSITION:
- Paid Time Off
- Complimentary Park Tickets and Passes
- Park Discounts on Food and Merchandise
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
- 401K Retirement plan
- Voluntary Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Disability Benefits
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Dependent and Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts
- Employee Assistance Program
- Legal Assistance Plan
EEO Employer:
SEAWORLD PARKS & ENTERTAINMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. ALL APPLICANTS WILL BE CONSIDERED WITHOUT REGARD TO AGE, RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, PREGNANCY, GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION, DISABILITY OR COVERED VETERAN STATUS.
See all 1,316+ OPT Media Director Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Media Director
Target independent agencies over holding companies
Boutique and mid-size agencies often give OPT candidates faster paths to senior titles. Larger holding companies move slower on promotions and visa decisions. Smaller shops let you own strategy sooner, which builds the sponsorship case faster.
Apply before your OPT start date
Media Director roles take longer to fill than entry-level positions. Starting your search two to three months before OPT begins gives you realistic time to clear multiple interview rounds and negotiate an offer without timeline pressure.
Quantify your media spend management experience
Employers sponsoring a Media Director need to justify the hire. Concrete numbers, managed budgets, improved CPMs, audience growth percentages, give hiring managers and immigration counsel the documentation they need to support your petition.
Ask about H-1B sponsorship in the second interview round
Raise sponsorship after you have demonstrated value, not in the first conversation. By round two, the employer is evaluating fit seriously. Ask directly whether they have sponsored H-1B visas before and whether they would consider it for this role.
Prioritize companies with existing H-1B filing history
Companies that have sponsored H-1B visas before have immigration counsel in place and understand the process. This removes the biggest internal barrier. Check Department of Labor LCA disclosure data to confirm a company's sponsorship track record.
Use your STEM OPT extension if your degree qualifies
Degrees in data science, information systems, or marketing analytics may qualify for the 24-month STEM extension. That extension gives you three full years of work authorization, significantly improving your leverage when negotiating long-term sponsorship commitments.
Media Director OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Media Director on OPT?
Yes. OPT authorizes F-1 students to work in any role directly related to their field of study, including senior roles like Media Director. You must work at least 20 hours per week and your employment must align with your degree. A Media Director role is typically supported by degrees in communications, marketing, advertising, or related fields.
Do Media Director roles typically come with H-1B sponsorship?
Many do, particularly at established agencies, media companies, and large brand-side marketing teams. Media Director is a specialized leadership role that qualifies as a specialty occupation under H-1B standards. Companies that have previously filed H-1B petitions are your strongest targets. Migrate Mate surfaces Media Director roles at employers with verified sponsorship history, which saves time filtering out companies unlikely to sponsor.
What happens if my OPT expires before I find a Media Director position?
If you hold a STEM-eligible degree, apply for the 24-month extension before your initial 12-month OPT ends. This gives you additional time without a gap in authorization. If your OPT expires without a new status in place, you enter a 60-day grace period. You cannot work during that period, so the extension application should be submitted well in advance.
Does a Media Director role qualify as a STEM OPT position?
It depends on your degree and the specific responsibilities of the role. Media Director positions with significant data analytics, programmatic media, or marketing technology components can qualify under certain STEM classification codes, such as those covering market research or applied statistics. Your designated school official can confirm whether your degree and job description meet the requirements for STEM OPT authorization.
How do I find Media Director jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Most general job boards don't filter by visa sponsorship willingness, which means sorting through listings manually. Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT and visa-sponsored roles, so you can browse Media Director openings where employers are already open to candidates on work authorization. This is significantly more efficient than applying broadly and discovering sponsorship limitations late in the process.