OPT Partnerships Manager Jobs
Partnerships Manager roles are a strong fit for OPT students with backgrounds in business development, marketing, or communications. Most positions qualify as specialty occupations under OPT. With a 12-month standard OPT period and up to 24-month STEM extensions available in some cases, understanding which employers actively support work authorization matters early.
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Get Access To All JobsSUMMARY OF JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Manage and seek out partnerships with community organizations and business sponsors. Responsible for overall underwriting revenue, market strategy and positioning of the station in the community.
- Meet with existing and prospective clients to determine marketing and business needs.
- Present proposals, maintain and extend relationships.
- Cultivate relationships and partnerships with arts agencies and community partners to extend the visibility and impact of WKMS and Murray State.
- Lead, plan and assist in the execution of underwriting and marketing campaigns, display advertising and other materials to position WKMS in the community and showcase its mission.
- Represent the station at community events and/or speaking engagements.
- Write on-air underwriting copy.
- Manage digital and on-air inventory, including all underwriting creative spots.
- Meet or exceed revenue goals calibrated to station budget.
- Meet all FCC guidelines and best practices from Greater Public/NPR.
- Enter underwriting contracts as necessary.
- Assist with researching and applying for grants as needed.
- Other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Bachelor’s degree required.
MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND SKILL REQUIREMENTS
Two years of sales experience or comparable experience required.
PREFERRED EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS
Experience in radio sales, public media underwriting, and/or nonprofit sponsorships is preferred.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
WORK HOURS
HOURLY RATE/ANNUAL SALARY $45,662 (Additional pay dependent upon qualifications)
STAFF GRADE 112
POSTING DETAILS
Posting Date 05/06/2026
Closing Date 05/27/2026
Open Until Filled No
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS
Along with the application, the following items must be included:
- Letter of application
- Resume
SUMMARY OF JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Manage and seek out partnerships with community organizations and business sponsors. Responsible for overall underwriting revenue, market strategy and positioning of the station in the community.
- Meet with existing and prospective clients to determine marketing and business needs.
- Present proposals, maintain and extend relationships.
- Cultivate relationships and partnerships with arts agencies and community partners to extend the visibility and impact of WKMS and Murray State.
- Lead, plan and assist in the execution of underwriting and marketing campaigns, display advertising and other materials to position WKMS in the community and showcase its mission.
- Represent the station at community events and/or speaking engagements.
- Write on-air underwriting copy.
- Manage digital and on-air inventory, including all underwriting creative spots.
- Meet or exceed revenue goals calibrated to station budget.
- Meet all FCC guidelines and best practices from Greater Public/NPR.
- Enter underwriting contracts as necessary.
- Assist with researching and applying for grants as needed.
- Other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Bachelor’s degree required.
MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND SKILL REQUIREMENTS
Two years of sales experience or comparable experience required.
PREFERRED EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS
Experience in radio sales, public media underwriting, and/or nonprofit sponsorships is preferred.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
WORK HOURS
HOURLY RATE/ANNUAL SALARY $45,662 (Additional pay dependent upon qualifications)
STAFF GRADE 112
POSTING DETAILS
Posting Date 05/06/2026
Closing Date 05/27/2026
Open Until Filled No
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS
Along with the application, the following items must be included:
- Letter of application
- Resume
See all 4,117+ OPT Partnerships Manager Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Partnerships Manager
Lead with your business development results
Partnerships managers are hired for revenue impact. Quantify your outcomes: deals closed, pipeline generated, partner revenue attributed. Concrete numbers signal you can deliver from day one, which makes sponsorship conversations easier for employers to justify.
Target companies with established partnership programs
Companies with existing BD or alliances teams have defined hiring pipelines and are more likely to sponsor. Look for roles listing 'channel partnerships,' 'strategic alliances,' or 'ecosystem development' as these teams typically have structured onboarding and sponsorship history.
Address OPT timing proactively in your application
Don't wait for employers to ask. In your cover letter, briefly state your OPT authorization period and STEM extension eligibility if applicable. Removing ambiguity early keeps the focus on your qualifications rather than visa uncertainty during interviews.
Build a portfolio of cross-functional collaboration examples
Partnerships roles sit at the intersection of sales, product, and marketing. Interviewers want evidence you can manage stakeholders across teams. Prepare two or three specific examples where you coordinated across departments to close or manage a partner relationship.
Network within industry-specific partnership communities
Partnerships professionals gather in vertical communities around SaaS, fintech, and healthcare. Attending these events or joining practitioner groups builds referral pipelines and surfaces roles at companies already comfortable with OPT hires before they reach public job boards.
Use Migrate Mate to filter for OPT-friendly employers
Not every company is open to sponsoring OPT students. Migrate Mate curates roles from employers with active sponsorship history, saving you time and reducing the risk of going deep into an interview process only to hit an authorization wall at the offer stage.
Partnerships Manager OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Partnerships Manager roles typically qualify for OPT work authorization?
Yes. Partnerships Manager positions generally qualify as specialty occupations because they require at minimum a bachelor's degree in business, marketing, communications, or a related field. USCIS evaluates OPT eligibility based on the direct relationship between your degree and the role, so a business or marketing background aligns well with this job title.
Can STEM OPT students apply for Partnerships Manager jobs?
It depends on your degree field. Partnerships Manager roles are not inherently STEM-designated, so a STEM extension is only available if your underlying degree qualifies. Students with degrees in fields like management information systems, data analytics, or computer science who move into partnerships roles at tech companies sometimes qualify, but you should confirm your specific degree's STEM eligibility with your DSO before applying.
How do I find Partnerships Manager jobs that sponsor OPT students?
Migrate Mate lists Partnerships Manager roles from employers with documented sponsorship history, so you're not cold-applying to companies that will decline at the offer stage. Filtering by sponsorship willingness early saves significant time, especially given that the OPT authorization window is fixed and losing weeks in dead-end processes has real consequences.
What should I say when an employer asks about my visa status during a Partnerships Manager interview?
Be direct and prepared. State that you're authorized to work on OPT, specify how much time remains on your authorization, and note whether you're eligible for a STEM extension. If the role is at a company that sponsors H-1B visa, mention that path exists as a longer-term option. Employers respond better to candidates who come in prepared with a clear explanation than to those who are vague or caught off guard.
Are Partnerships Manager roles more common at startups or large companies for OPT students?
Both hire, but the experience differs. Large companies like enterprise software firms and financial institutions often have formal partnership programs with dedicated BD teams, structured onboarding, and established sponsorship processes. Startups frequently offer faster responsibility growth and are sometimes more flexible on sponsorship, though their HR infrastructure for managing OPT paperwork varies significantly. Evaluate both, but confirm sponsorship willingness early regardless of company size.