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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INTRODUCTION
Playing an essential role in the U.S. economy, Fannie Mae is foundational to housing finance. Here, your expertise can help fuel purpose-driven innovation that expands access to homeownership and affordable rental housing across the country. Join Fannie Mae to grow your career and help people find a place to call home.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
As a valued colleague on our team, you will lead the team to support customer and performance measures focusing on completeness, timeliness, quality, and customer satisfaction. You will engage with customers to understand business needs and priorities and lead efforts to deliver those outcomes. You will identify, recommend, and assist with implementing process improvements to increase customer value, as well as identify and resolve customer problems, process exceptions, and risks.
IMPACT YOU WILL MAKE
The Lead Mortgage Documents Custodian is responsible for maintaining and overseeing Fannie Mae’s custody operations framework, including standards, policies, procedures, and third-party requirements. This role partners closely with internal stakeholders and Document Custodians to ensure operational excellence, risk mitigation, and regulatory compliance across the SF Custody function.
Key Responsibilities
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Lead the partnership with Fannie Mae’s Custody Operations and the third-party Document Custodians to identify, manage, and resolve certification, operational, or custody exceptions.
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Guide the Custody Operations team in identifying custodial errors and/or possible improvements to reduce risks.
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Build and maintain relationships with Document Custodian partners. Provide advice and share custodial operations knowledge with Custodian managers and staff to strengthen governance, risk and control environments, as appropriate.
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Lead and maintain Fannie Mae’s Single-Family Custody Operations requirements, Standards, Policies, and Procedures.
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Manage the creation, maintenance, and distribution of Document Custodian Notices for external communications.
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Conduct second-level review of remediation documentation; leverage Custody Operations Manager guidance as needed, to finalize Agreed Upon Procedures (AUP) Audit internal reviews and Quality Control deliverables.
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Review and analyze Document Custodian performance and risk metrics, including:
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Certification volumes
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Service Level Agreement (SLA) trends
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Operational risk events
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Release activity
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Lost Note Affidavits
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Fannie Mae scorecard results
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Provide insights, recommendations, and escalations as needed based on Document Custodian performance and risk trends.
THE EXPERIENCE YOU BRING TO THE TEAM
Minimum Required Experiences
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5 years experience in the mortgage business
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Shows curiosity and adaptability in learning and responsibly applying new technologies, including artificial intelligence, to reimagine how we work.
Qualifications
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Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.
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Strong knowledge of custody operations, document custodianship, or mortgage loan servicing preferred.
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Experience with third-party risk management, audits, or operational risk governance.
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Strong analytical and organizational skills with attention to detail.
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Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including Legal, Risk, and external partners.
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Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Key Competencies
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Risk Management & Compliance
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Stakeholder Engagement
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Process Governance
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Data Analysis & Reporting
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Operational Excellence
Target Salary Range: $109,000 to $142,000 a year
Operations - Operations Management - Lead Associate
LI-Hybrid
Education: Bachelor's Level Degree (Required)
The future is what you make it to be. Discover compelling opportunities at Fanniemae.com/careers.
For most roles, employees are expected to work onsite on a regular basis at their designated office location. In-office work cadence is determined by your manager. Proximity within a reasonable commute to your designated office location is preferred unless the job is noted as open to remote.
Fannie Mae is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity/gender expression, marital or parental status, or any other protected factor. Fannie Mae is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment, unless to do so would cause undue hardship to the company. If you need assistance using our online system and/or you need a reasonable accommodation related to the hiring/application process, please complete this form.
The hiring range for this role is set forth below. Final salaries will generally vary within that range based on factors that include but are not limited to, skill set, depth of experience, certifications, and other relevant qualifications. This position is eligible to participate in a Fannie Mae incentive program (subject to the terms of the program). As part of our comprehensive benefits package, Fannie Mae offers a broad range of Health, Life, Voluntary Lifestyle, and other benefits and perks that enhance an employee's physical, mental, emotional, and financial well-being. See more here.
Requisition compensation: 109000 to 142000
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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.