OPT Paid Media Specialist Jobs
Paid Media Specialist roles sit squarely within specialty occupation territory, making them a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with degrees in marketing, advertising, or a related field. Most positions are with companies already familiar with work authorization, and STEM OPT extensions apply if your degree qualifies.
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Get Access To All JobsLas Vegas, Nevada
The SHOW comes alive at MGM Resorts International
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to work in a place full of excitement, diversity, and entertainment? Are you enthusiastic about being a team player in one of the most fascinating industries in the world? At MGM Resorts, we seek individuals like YOU to create unique and show-stopping experiences for our guests.
THE JOB:
The Paid Media Manager manages the day-to-day execution and optimization of paid media campaigns for assigned properties, specialized areas (e.g., programmatic, paid social), and/or business verticals. This role serves as the primary owner of campaign performance and agency/business partner workflows while ensuring alignment with broader marketing objectives.
THE DAY-TO-DAY:
- Manage Specialist(s) and ensure accuracy in duties performed; educate and mentor direct report(s).
- Execute and optimize integrated paid media campaigns across digital and traditional channels (e.g.: direct digital buys, paid search, programmatic display, paid social, and traditional [TV, OOH, etc.]).
- Negotiate and execute media buys within approved strategy and budget parameters.
- Assist leadership team with strategic recommendations and own tactical framework for their campaigns.
- Monitor campaign performance and recommend tactical optimizations to achieve KPIs; develop insights and action plans.
- Manage campaign-level budgets and accounting workflows to ensure accuracy and compliance.
- Manage relationships with media agency/business partners, including timelines and deliverables.
- Enforce consistent application of paid media frameworks, tool usage, pixel governance/brand safety requirements, best practices, etc. across campaigns and teams.
- Partner with Analytics, Brand, Creative, and Social teams on holistic media planning.
- Present performance results and strategic recommendations to senior marketing leadership.
- Proactively identify new opportunities, tools, and best practices to advance media strategy and performance.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE:
- Have a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, or related field
- Have 3+ Years of prior relevant experience in Marketing with an emphasis on integrated or digital media
- 6+ Years of Prior Relevant Experience in Managing paid media campaigns - Preferred
- Google AdWords, Trade Desk Edge Academy and Facebook Blueprint Certifications - Preferred
THE PERKS & BENEFITS:
- Wellness incentive programs to help you stay healthy physically and mentally
- Access to company hotel, food and beverage, retail, and entertainment discounts as well as discounts with company partners on things like travel, electronics, online shopping, and more
- Free meals in our employee dining room
- Free parking
- Health & Income Protection benefits(for eligible employees)
- Professional and personal development through programs and networking opportunities as well as volunteer opportunities in the community
Are you ready to JOIN THE SHOW? Apply today!
Las Vegas, Nevada
The SHOW comes alive at MGM Resorts International
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to work in a place full of excitement, diversity, and entertainment? Are you enthusiastic about being a team player in one of the most fascinating industries in the world? At MGM Resorts, we seek individuals like YOU to create unique and show-stopping experiences for our guests.
THE JOB:
The Paid Media Manager manages the day-to-day execution and optimization of paid media campaigns for assigned properties, specialized areas (e.g., programmatic, paid social), and/or business verticals. This role serves as the primary owner of campaign performance and agency/business partner workflows while ensuring alignment with broader marketing objectives.
THE DAY-TO-DAY:
- Manage Specialist(s) and ensure accuracy in duties performed; educate and mentor direct report(s).
- Execute and optimize integrated paid media campaigns across digital and traditional channels (e.g.: direct digital buys, paid search, programmatic display, paid social, and traditional [TV, OOH, etc.]).
- Negotiate and execute media buys within approved strategy and budget parameters.
- Assist leadership team with strategic recommendations and own tactical framework for their campaigns.
- Monitor campaign performance and recommend tactical optimizations to achieve KPIs; develop insights and action plans.
- Manage campaign-level budgets and accounting workflows to ensure accuracy and compliance.
- Manage relationships with media agency/business partners, including timelines and deliverables.
- Enforce consistent application of paid media frameworks, tool usage, pixel governance/brand safety requirements, best practices, etc. across campaigns and teams.
- Partner with Analytics, Brand, Creative, and Social teams on holistic media planning.
- Present performance results and strategic recommendations to senior marketing leadership.
- Proactively identify new opportunities, tools, and best practices to advance media strategy and performance.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE:
- Have a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, or related field
- Have 3+ Years of prior relevant experience in Marketing with an emphasis on integrated or digital media
- 6+ Years of Prior Relevant Experience in Managing paid media campaigns - Preferred
- Google AdWords, Trade Desk Edge Academy and Facebook Blueprint Certifications - Preferred
THE PERKS & BENEFITS:
- Wellness incentive programs to help you stay healthy physically and mentally
- Access to company hotel, food and beverage, retail, and entertainment discounts as well as discounts with company partners on things like travel, electronics, online shopping, and more
- Free meals in our employee dining room
- Free parking
- Health & Income Protection benefits(for eligible employees)
- Professional and personal development through programs and networking opportunities as well as volunteer opportunities in the community
Are you ready to JOIN THE SHOW? Apply today!
See all OPT Paid Media Specialist Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Paid Media Specialist
Lead with platform certifications
Google Ads and Meta Blueprint certifications signal job-ready skills before an interview starts. Hiring managers in paid media move fast, and credentials that prove hands-on platform experience reduce friction around your OPT status early in the process.
Target performance-focused teams
In-house growth teams and performance marketing agencies are more likely to sponsor than generalist marketing departments. They hire for measurable ROI skills, which means your technical expertise often outweighs the administrative overhead of OPT work authorization.
Show ROAS and CPA results upfront
Quantify your campaign results before the interview, not during it. Employers weighing OPT authorization costs need a clear reason to proceed. Specific return on ad spend and cost per acquisition figures from previous work or internships make that case immediately.
Apply before your OPT clock starts
Paid media hiring moves quickly, and onboarding timelines can stretch two to four weeks. Submit applications before your EAD arrives so offers can be structured around your actual start date without putting you in a gap between graduation and employment.
Check if your degree qualifies for STEM OPT
Degrees in data-driven marketing, information systems, or statistics often qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. That extra runway changes the sponsorship conversation significantly, as employers get more time before needing to file an H-1B visa petition.
Target mid-size companies with dedicated paid media budgets
Companies spending actively on paid search and social tend to have structured marketing teams with recurring hiring needs. They are less bureaucratic than large enterprises about OPT paperwork and more motivated than early-stage startups to hire proven paid media talent.
Paid Media Specialist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Paid Media Specialist roles qualify as specialty occupations for OPT purposes?
Yes. Paid Media Specialist positions routinely qualify as specialty occupations because they require a bachelor's degree or higher in marketing, advertising, communications, or a directly related field. USCIS evaluates this on a case-by-case basis, but roles involving strategic ad buying, performance analysis, and campaign management across platforms like Google Ads or Meta consistently meet the standard. Your offer letter should reflect those specialized responsibilities.
Can I use my F-1 OPT EAD to work as a Paid Media Specialist without employer sponsorship?
Yes. During your OPT period, your Employment Authorization Document allows you to work for any employer in a role related to your degree without the employer needing to file a petition. The employer does not sponsor your OPT itself. Sponsorship only becomes relevant if you need an H-1B or other visa after OPT expires. That said, it is worth confirming the employer is familiar with OPT before accepting an offer.
How do I find Paid Media Specialist jobs that are open to OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters for employers with a history of hiring international candidates. Searching there surfaces paid media roles where OPT work authorization is already understood, which saves time compared to applying broadly and screening for sponsorship willingness manually. Filtering by role type and industry on Migrate Mate narrows results to the positions most likely to move forward with OPT candidates.
Does a STEM OPT extension apply to Paid Media Specialist roles?
It depends on your degree, not the job title. If you graduated with a degree in a STEM-designated field such as marketing analytics, information systems, or statistics, you may qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension even if the role itself is in paid media. Your university's Designated School Official confirms eligibility. The extension requires your employer to be E-Verify enrolled and submit a formal training plan.
What should I do if my OPT expires before my employer files an H-1B petition?
If you applied for H-1B before your OPT expired and your case is pending, the cap-gap rule automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that year. If your employer missed the filing window, you would need to stop working until another status is available. Planning the H-1B timeline well in advance of your OPT end date is essential, and targeting employers who already have H-1B filing experience reduces that risk significantly.