OPT Operations Lead Jobs
Operations Lead roles are actively filled by employers who sponsor OPT work authorization, particularly in tech, logistics, and healthcare. Your 12-month OPT window (or 24-month STEM extension if your degree qualifies) gives you enough runway to prove your value and transition to long-term sponsorship.
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Get Access To All JobsPAY RANGE
The pay range is $73,000.00 - $132,000.00. Pay is based on several factors which vary based on position. These include labor markets and in some instances may include education, work experience and certifications. In addition to your pay, Target cares about and invests in you as a team member, so that you can take care of yourself and your family. Target offers eligible team members and their dependents comprehensive health benefits and programs, which may include medical, vision, dental, life insurance and more, to help you and your family take care of your whole selves. Other benefits for eligible team members include 401(k), employee discount, short term disability, long term disability, paid sick leave, paid national holidays, and paid vacation. Find competitive benefits from financial and education to well-being and beyond at https://corporate.target.com/careers/benefits.
About us:
Working at Target means helping all families discover the joy of everyday life. We bring that vision to life through our values and culture. Learn more about Target here.
Working at Target means helping all families discover the joy of everyday life. We bring that vision to life through our values and culture. Learn more about Target here. Target Merchandising is evolving at an incredible pace. We are constantly reimagining how this $100 billion retailer offers the innovative, guest-inspiring items that Target is known and loved for. Our goal is to deliver exceptional value, quality and style to elevate Target as the premier retailer in a competitive global marketplace. Through intelligent and progressive business strategies that make the most of Target’s resources and partnerships worldwide, Merchandising works across product categories to create a localized shopping experience online and in our stores. Are you a creative problem solver who loves to see your work translate into real results? Can you collaborate effectively, develop & execute a plan efficiently and positively influence how Target chooses and presents the right product in the right place at the right price? If so, you will have success on one of our dynamic teams.
As the voice of Small Formats within the broader Merchandising organization, the PIM Ops Small Format Team, now a part of Specialized Store Support, builds and influences strategies that thread the needle for Small Format store inventory, fueling profitable growth while prioritizing operational efficiency. The Small Format Team serves as inventory experts within BUs and CFTs, format experts for Core PIM and PIM Ops, problem solvers for store and field teams, and finally, strategy connectors within broader Merchandising and GSCL.
The Sr. Analyst on the PIM Ops Small Formats Team will emphasize connection with Core PIM, co-developing replenishment strategies catered to the Small Format portfolio, and guide execution of these strategies. As a collaborative partner for PIM Ops and Store Operations, the Sr. Analyst troubleshoots escalations and implements targeted support maintenance to improve financial and operational outcomes. As the Sr. Analyst, you will develop and implement strategic inventory maintenance routines to support Small Format stores. You will act as a data-driven decision maker - conduct detailed data analysis to determine root cause drivers of inventory opportunities, and react with short-term rapid improvement strategies as well as long-term sustainable solutions.
Key Responsibilities:
- Support the business for Target’s Small Format stores, developing and implementing strategic inventory maintenance routines to support KPIs
- Field support requests, as well as intake feedback directly from store and inventory leadership
- Both guide and execute strategy
- Hold frequent cross-functional connections
- Create and optimize inventory management best practice routines
- Process documentation and playbook creation
- Frequent leader updates, both written and presented
- KPI reporting to provide visibility to results
About you:
- Four-year degree or equivalent experience
- 2+ years of work experience in inventory management
- Extensive understanding of Target’s inventory replenishment systems
- Excellent prioritization – Able to balance store-level requests with broader tasks
- Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills
- Strong collaborator with demonstrated ability to build strong interpersonal relationships across team, leaders, and partners
- Comfortable with both individual execution and executing through others
- Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
- Curious and innovative, with a continuous improvement mindset
This position will operate as a Hybrid/Flex for Your Day work arrangement based on Target’s needs. A Hybrid/Flex for Your Day work arrangement means the team member’s core role will need to be performed both onsite at the Target HQ MN location the role is assigned to and virtually, depending upon what your role, team and tasks require for that day. Work duties cannot be performed outside of the country of the primary work location, unless otherwise prescribed by Target. Click here if you are curious to learn more about Minnesota.
Benefits Eligibility
Please paste this url into your preferred browser to learn about benefits eligibility for this role: https://tgt.biz/BenefitsForYou_D
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
In compliance with state and federal laws, Target will make reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please reach out to candidate.accommodations@HRHelp.Target.com. Non-accommodation-related requests, such as application follow-ups or technical issues, will not be addressed through this channel.
PAY RANGE
The pay range is $73,000.00 - $132,000.00. Pay is based on several factors which vary based on position. These include labor markets and in some instances may include education, work experience and certifications. In addition to your pay, Target cares about and invests in you as a team member, so that you can take care of yourself and your family. Target offers eligible team members and their dependents comprehensive health benefits and programs, which may include medical, vision, dental, life insurance and more, to help you and your family take care of your whole selves. Other benefits for eligible team members include 401(k), employee discount, short term disability, long term disability, paid sick leave, paid national holidays, and paid vacation. Find competitive benefits from financial and education to well-being and beyond at https://corporate.target.com/careers/benefits.
About us:
Working at Target means helping all families discover the joy of everyday life. We bring that vision to life through our values and culture. Learn more about Target here.
Working at Target means helping all families discover the joy of everyday life. We bring that vision to life through our values and culture. Learn more about Target here. Target Merchandising is evolving at an incredible pace. We are constantly reimagining how this $100 billion retailer offers the innovative, guest-inspiring items that Target is known and loved for. Our goal is to deliver exceptional value, quality and style to elevate Target as the premier retailer in a competitive global marketplace. Through intelligent and progressive business strategies that make the most of Target’s resources and partnerships worldwide, Merchandising works across product categories to create a localized shopping experience online and in our stores. Are you a creative problem solver who loves to see your work translate into real results? Can you collaborate effectively, develop & execute a plan efficiently and positively influence how Target chooses and presents the right product in the right place at the right price? If so, you will have success on one of our dynamic teams.
As the voice of Small Formats within the broader Merchandising organization, the PIM Ops Small Format Team, now a part of Specialized Store Support, builds and influences strategies that thread the needle for Small Format store inventory, fueling profitable growth while prioritizing operational efficiency. The Small Format Team serves as inventory experts within BUs and CFTs, format experts for Core PIM and PIM Ops, problem solvers for store and field teams, and finally, strategy connectors within broader Merchandising and GSCL.
The Sr. Analyst on the PIM Ops Small Formats Team will emphasize connection with Core PIM, co-developing replenishment strategies catered to the Small Format portfolio, and guide execution of these strategies. As a collaborative partner for PIM Ops and Store Operations, the Sr. Analyst troubleshoots escalations and implements targeted support maintenance to improve financial and operational outcomes. As the Sr. Analyst, you will develop and implement strategic inventory maintenance routines to support Small Format stores. You will act as a data-driven decision maker - conduct detailed data analysis to determine root cause drivers of inventory opportunities, and react with short-term rapid improvement strategies as well as long-term sustainable solutions.
Key Responsibilities:
- Support the business for Target’s Small Format stores, developing and implementing strategic inventory maintenance routines to support KPIs
- Field support requests, as well as intake feedback directly from store and inventory leadership
- Both guide and execute strategy
- Hold frequent cross-functional connections
- Create and optimize inventory management best practice routines
- Process documentation and playbook creation
- Frequent leader updates, both written and presented
- KPI reporting to provide visibility to results
About you:
- Four-year degree or equivalent experience
- 2+ years of work experience in inventory management
- Extensive understanding of Target’s inventory replenishment systems
- Excellent prioritization – Able to balance store-level requests with broader tasks
- Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills
- Strong collaborator with demonstrated ability to build strong interpersonal relationships across team, leaders, and partners
- Comfortable with both individual execution and executing through others
- Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
- Curious and innovative, with a continuous improvement mindset
This position will operate as a Hybrid/Flex for Your Day work arrangement based on Target’s needs. A Hybrid/Flex for Your Day work arrangement means the team member’s core role will need to be performed both onsite at the Target HQ MN location the role is assigned to and virtually, depending upon what your role, team and tasks require for that day. Work duties cannot be performed outside of the country of the primary work location, unless otherwise prescribed by Target. Click here if you are curious to learn more about Minnesota.
Benefits Eligibility
Please paste this url into your preferred browser to learn about benefits eligibility for this role: https://tgt.biz/BenefitsForYou_D
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
In compliance with state and federal laws, Target will make reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please reach out to candidate.accommodations@HRHelp.Target.com. Non-accommodation-related requests, such as application follow-ups or technical issues, will not be addressed through this channel.
See all 1,822+ OPT Operations Lead Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Operations Lead
Target employers with a STEM OPT extension track record
Prioritize companies that have previously sponsored STEM OPT extensions and H-1B visas for operations roles. A company that has done it before is far more likely to do it again than one encountering the process for the first time.
Frame your OPT timeline as an asset, not a liability
Operations leads are evaluated on process improvement outcomes. Come to interviews with specific metrics from past roles so employers see immediate value rather than fixating on the sponsorship timeline ahead.
Get your E-Verify confirmation sorted before day one
Operations Lead roles often involve managing vendor contracts and staff, which means employers must confirm your work authorization early. Verify your employer is E-Verify enrolled before accepting an offer to avoid compliance delays.
Apply to mid-size and enterprise companies over early-stage startups
Established companies with dedicated HR and legal teams are structurally better positioned to handle OPT and H-1B sponsorship. Early-stage startups rarely have the bandwidth or budget to navigate immigration paperwork for the first time.
Negotiate sponsorship intent before the offer stage
Raise the visa sponsorship question during the final interview round, not after receiving an offer. Asking at that stage gives you leverage and prevents wasting time on employers who cannot or will not commit to long-term sponsorship.
Highlight cross-functional coordination experience prominently
Operations Lead roles require managing stakeholders across engineering, finance, and supply chain. Employers sponsoring OPT students want proven cross-functional ability, since that complexity justifies the cost and effort of sponsorship.
Operations Lead OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as an Operations Lead on OPT without a job offer already in hand?
Yes. OPT authorizes you to work in any role directly related to your degree field, including Operations Lead positions, without needing a job offer before your OPT is approved. Your EAD card is what authorizes employment. You can browse verified OPT-eligible Operations Lead openings on Migrate Mate while your EAD is still processing.
Does an Operations Lead role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree, not the job title. If you graduated from a STEM-designated program such as industrial engineering, systems engineering, supply chain management, or computer science, and the Operations Lead role directly applies that field of study, you likely qualify for the 24-month STEM extension. Your DSO must confirm the connection between your degree and the role.
How do I prove my Operations Lead job is related to my degree when reporting to my DSO?
Provide your DSO with your official job description, your employment offer letter, and a brief written explanation of how the role uses the knowledge and skills from your degree program. Be specific: tie responsibilities like process optimization, data analysis, or systems management directly to coursework or your field of study. Vague explanations can create compliance issues.
What happens to my OPT if I get laid off from an Operations Lead position?
You have a 90-day unemployment buffer across your entire OPT period, not per job. If you are laid off, that 90-day clock starts immediately. Report the change to your DSO right away and begin your job search. Time spent unemployed beyond 90 cumulative days violates your OPT status, so acting quickly matters.
Are there Operations Lead roles that are less likely to require H-1B sponsorship long-term?
Employers in manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare operations tend to have more consistent demand for operations talent and a stronger history of sponsoring work visas compared to early-stage tech startups. Government contractors, multinational corporations, and companies with dedicated immigration counsel are especially reliable. Filter for these employer types when searching on Migrate Mate.