OPT People Business Partner Jobs
People Business Partner jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with degrees in human resources, organizational psychology, or business administration. Most roles fall under CIP code 52.1001, supporting STEM OPT extension eligibility for qualifying programs. Employers in this space routinely sponsor H-1B visas for strong hires.
Find OPT People Business Partner JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 76+ People Business Partner jobs
See all 76+ People Business Partner Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new People Business Partner roles.
Get Access To All JobsFor over 20 years, Smartsheet has empowered teams to manage work seamlessly and scale solutions smarter. Now, in our most ambitious chapter yet, we are uniting human teams with AI agents. By orchestrating the work agents do best, automating manual tasks and uncovering insights at scale, we create the space for people to focus on what truly matters: judgment, creativity, and big thinking. That is magic at work, and it's what we show up for every day.
We are hiring a People Business Partner to support the execution of our talent strategy for our Product & Tech organization, serving our engineering and product teams. This role will report to the Manager, People Partnerships for Product & Technology, to execute talent initiatives and support our engineering and product leaders. This is a People Business Partner role for a professional with experience supporting engineering teams, from workforce planning and onboarding through performance management, development, and retention.
You excel at supporting engineering-centric talent initiatives by partnering with People & Culture Centers of Excellence across compensation, talent acquisition, benefits, and other People functions. You understand the unique dynamics of engineering roles, career ladders, and technical talent markets, and you support execution of programs that drive engineering effectiveness and retention.
You will partner with Product & Tech leadership to support workforce planning and organizational needs, collaborate with People & Culture COEs to ensure consistent program delivery, and help execute People solutions that support engineering excellence, team productivity, and business growth.
You will report to the Manager, People Business Partner. This is a hybrid role requiring three days per week in our Bellevue, WA office.
You Will:
- Partner with Product & Tech leadership to support workforce planning and organizational needs, ensuring alignment to business objectives and priorities.
- Support the development and implementation of engineering-aligned talent management frameworks including performance management, retention strategies, and development programs.
- Coach engineering managers on career development and management best practices; collaborate with the Employee Relations team to support performance feedback and employee relations matters.
- Collaborate with cross-functional COEs to design and implement engineering-aligned talent systems and programs that remain competitive and support retention.
- Support organizational design and workforce planning initiatives that improve team effectiveness, clarify roles, and support engineering productivity.
- Serve as strategic advisor to Product & Tech leadership on organizational effectiveness, talent optimization, compensation alignment, and talent initiatives.
- Monitor organizational health metrics specific to engineering teams, identify trends and opportunities, and support leadership in translating insights into action.
- Support People & Culture initiatives and special projects as business needs evolve.
You Have:
- 3-5+ years of progressive People & Culture Business Partnership experience, with preference for experience supporting engineering or technical teams.
- Experience supporting engineering functions, with understanding of engineering organization dynamics, technical talent acquisition, engineer career progression, and engineering-specific retention challenges.
- Proven track record in a SaaS or software company environment preferred.
- Comfort working with employee data and organizational metrics; ability to identify trends and support leadership in data-informed decision-making.
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills with the ability to partner effectively with technical leaders and diverse team members.
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Psychology or related field; or equivalent years of relatable Human Resources experience.
- Legally eligible to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis.
Get to Know Us:
At Smartsheet, your ideas are heard, your potential is supported, and your contributions have real impact. You'll have the freedom to explore, push boundaries, and grow beyond your role. We welcome diverse perspectives and nontraditional paths—because we know that impact comes from individuals who care deeply and challenge thoughtfully. When you're doing work that stretches you, excites you, and connects you to something bigger, that's magic at work. Let's build what's next, together.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
Smartsheet is an Equal Opportunity (EEO) employer committed to fostering an inclusive environment with the best employees. It is our policy to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants in accordance with applicable laws in the US, UK, Australia, Germany, Costa Rica, Japan, Bulgaria, India, and Singapore. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.
If there are preparations we can make to help ensure you have a comfortable and positive interview experience, please let us know.
LI-Remote
For over 20 years, Smartsheet has empowered teams to manage work seamlessly and scale solutions smarter. Now, in our most ambitious chapter yet, we are uniting human teams with AI agents. By orchestrating the work agents do best, automating manual tasks and uncovering insights at scale, we create the space for people to focus on what truly matters: judgment, creativity, and big thinking. That is magic at work, and it's what we show up for every day.
We are hiring a People Business Partner to support the execution of our talent strategy for our Product & Tech organization, serving our engineering and product teams. This role will report to the Manager, People Partnerships for Product & Technology, to execute talent initiatives and support our engineering and product leaders. This is a People Business Partner role for a professional with experience supporting engineering teams, from workforce planning and onboarding through performance management, development, and retention.
You excel at supporting engineering-centric talent initiatives by partnering with People & Culture Centers of Excellence across compensation, talent acquisition, benefits, and other People functions. You understand the unique dynamics of engineering roles, career ladders, and technical talent markets, and you support execution of programs that drive engineering effectiveness and retention.
You will partner with Product & Tech leadership to support workforce planning and organizational needs, collaborate with People & Culture COEs to ensure consistent program delivery, and help execute People solutions that support engineering excellence, team productivity, and business growth.
You will report to the Manager, People Business Partner. This is a hybrid role requiring three days per week in our Bellevue, WA office.
You Will:
- Partner with Product & Tech leadership to support workforce planning and organizational needs, ensuring alignment to business objectives and priorities.
- Support the development and implementation of engineering-aligned talent management frameworks including performance management, retention strategies, and development programs.
- Coach engineering managers on career development and management best practices; collaborate with the Employee Relations team to support performance feedback and employee relations matters.
- Collaborate with cross-functional COEs to design and implement engineering-aligned talent systems and programs that remain competitive and support retention.
- Support organizational design and workforce planning initiatives that improve team effectiveness, clarify roles, and support engineering productivity.
- Serve as strategic advisor to Product & Tech leadership on organizational effectiveness, talent optimization, compensation alignment, and talent initiatives.
- Monitor organizational health metrics specific to engineering teams, identify trends and opportunities, and support leadership in translating insights into action.
- Support People & Culture initiatives and special projects as business needs evolve.
You Have:
- 3-5+ years of progressive People & Culture Business Partnership experience, with preference for experience supporting engineering or technical teams.
- Experience supporting engineering functions, with understanding of engineering organization dynamics, technical talent acquisition, engineer career progression, and engineering-specific retention challenges.
- Proven track record in a SaaS or software company environment preferred.
- Comfort working with employee data and organizational metrics; ability to identify trends and support leadership in data-informed decision-making.
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills with the ability to partner effectively with technical leaders and diverse team members.
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Psychology or related field; or equivalent years of relatable Human Resources experience.
- Legally eligible to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis.
Get to Know Us:
At Smartsheet, your ideas are heard, your potential is supported, and your contributions have real impact. You'll have the freedom to explore, push boundaries, and grow beyond your role. We welcome diverse perspectives and nontraditional paths—because we know that impact comes from individuals who care deeply and challenge thoughtfully. When you're doing work that stretches you, excites you, and connects you to something bigger, that's magic at work. Let's build what's next, together.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
Smartsheet is an Equal Opportunity (EEO) employer committed to fostering an inclusive environment with the best employees. It is our policy to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants in accordance with applicable laws in the US, UK, Australia, Germany, Costa Rica, Japan, Bulgaria, India, and Singapore. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.
If there are preparations we can make to help ensure you have a comfortable and positive interview experience, please let us know.
LI-Remote
See all 76+ OPT People Business Partner Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT People Business Partner Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in People Business Partner
Lead with your OPT timeline upfront
Disclose your OPT status and end date early in recruiter conversations. HR leaders appreciate transparency, and framing your timeline clearly signals professionalism. Mention your STEM extension eligibility if your degree qualifies, which extends your runway to three years.
Target companies with HR teams of 10 or more
Larger HR functions are more likely to have established visa sponsorship processes. A company with a dedicated People team already understands the LCA and H-1B workflow, making sponsorship conversations far less intimidating for the hiring manager.
Position your HR analytics skills strategically
People Business Partners who can work in Workday, run headcount models, or interpret attrition data are easier to classify under specialty occupation for H-1B purposes. Quantitative HR skills strengthen both your candidacy and your future sponsorship petition.
Research the company's H-1B filing history before applying
Companies that have sponsored HR or People roles in the past are significantly more likely to do it again. USCIS disclosure data shows historical H-1B petitions by employer and job title, helping you prioritize applications where sponsorship is a realistic outcome.
Frame your international background as a business asset
People Business Partners advise on workforce strategy across diverse teams. Your cross-cultural fluency and firsthand experience navigating different workplace norms is directly relevant to the role. Articulate this clearly in interviews rather than leaving it implicit.
Get specific about your post-OPT plan in interviews
Employers want to know you have a clear path forward. Be ready to explain STEM extension eligibility, H-1B lottery timing, and cap-exempt alternatives like nonprofit or university employers. Showing you understand the process reduces perceived risk for the hiring team.
People Business Partner OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a People Business Partner on F-1 OPT?
Yes. People Business Partner roles qualify for F-1 OPT work authorization when they relate to your degree field, typically human resources, organizational psychology, industrial-organizational psychology, or business administration. Your employment must be directly related to your major. If your degree falls under a qualifying STEM CIP code, you may also be eligible for a 24-month STEM OPT extension, giving you up to three years of total OPT work authorization.
Do companies sponsor H-1B visas for People Business Partner roles?
Yes, though sponsorship rates vary by employer size and industry. Large technology companies, financial institutions, and consulting firms with established People functions are the most consistent sponsors for this role. The key factor is whether the employer can demonstrate that the position requires a specific bachelor's degree in a related field, which is necessary to qualify as a specialty occupation under H-1B rules. Browse sponsoring employers on Migrate Mate to identify companies actively hiring OPT candidates in this space.
Does a People Business Partner role qualify for STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree, not the job title. If your degree is in a STEM-designated field such as industrial-organizational psychology (CIP 42.2804) or management information systems (CIP 11.0401), you may qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. A general HR or business administration degree may not qualify. Check your program's CIP code against the official STEM Designated Degree Program List maintained by ICE to confirm eligibility before your initial OPT period ends.
What degree backgrounds support a People Business Partner OPT application?
The most directly qualifying degrees are human resources management, industrial-organizational psychology, organizational behavior, and business administration with an HR concentration. Some employers also accept related social science or applied psychology degrees when the coursework aligns with the role's responsibilities. The critical question is whether there is a clear and logical connection between your degree field and the core duties of the People Business Partner position, which typically include workforce planning, employee relations, and organizational development.
How should I address my OPT status when applying for People Business Partner roles?
Be direct and factual when it comes up. State your current authorization type, your OPT end date, and whether you are eligible for a STEM extension. Avoid vague language like 'I will need sponsorship eventually.' Hiring managers in People functions tend to be familiar with work authorization nuances, and a clear explanation reduces friction in the process. Searching for roles on Migrate Mate lets you filter for employers already open to OPT candidates, so you spend less time on applications unlikely to go anywhere.