OPT People Operations Specialist Jobs
People Operations Specialist roles sit at the intersection of HR systems, employee experience, and compliance work, making them a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with business, HR, or psychology degrees. Most positions qualify as specialty occupations, and many employers in this space have established OPT and H-1B visa sponsorship pipelines.
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Get Access To All JobsCompany Overview for Formosa Plastics Corporation, U.S.A.
Founded in 1978, Formosa Plastics Corporation, U.S.A. (Formosa Plastics) is a growing, vertically-integrated supplier of plastic resins and petrochemicals. With annual revenues of more than $5 billion, we employ over 2,800 people who operate 20 production units in six business divisions - Olefins, Polyolefins, Vinyl, Specialty Polyvinyl Chloride, Chlor-Alkali, and Oil & Gas.
Formosa Plastics offers a full line of polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene and polypropylene resins, caustic soda and other petrochemicals that deliver the consistency, performance and quality that customers demand. We market our polypropylene and polyethylene resins under the Formolene® tradename; we market our suspension PVC and specialty (dispersion) PVC resins under the Formolon® tradename. We also produce and sell caustic soda, ethylene dichloride, commercial bleach and hydrochloric acid.
We are committed to supplying the highest quality products and services to our customers, providing a safe and healthy workplace for our employees and contributing to the quality of life in the communities where we operate. This commitment is made possible through our dedicated people, consistent products, continued protection of the environment and ongoing investments in new product development, quality control systems and safe, modern and energy-efficient production facilities.
Formosa Plastics is a privately held company headquartered in Livingston, New Jersey. Our core business, producing plastic resins and petrochemicals, takes place at three wholly-owned chemical manufacturing subsidiaries located in Delaware City, Delaware, Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Point Comfort, Texas.
POSITION OBJECTIVE
This position will support the organization's Ceridian Dayforce HCM (Human Capital Management) system by functioning as a technology and process consultant for Human Resources (HR). The HR Specialist will partner with HR teammates, HRIS and cross-functional stakeholders to meet HR objectives. The HR Specialist will specialize in payroll, performance and compensation functions and serve as the PIC for HCM build outs for these areas. The HR Specialist assumes a proactive and reactive approach to research and analysis.
MAJOR AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY
HCM Representative: Serve as the subject matter expert on HCM system (currently Ceridian- Dayforce). Responsible for communicating any system changes to necessary parties; Translate business objectives, and user needs into clearly written technical requirements.
System Integrity: Work with HRIS to configure and maintain the HCM Application to maintain optimum functionality. Serve as the PIC for HCM upgrades, patches, testing, and other technical issues as needed for payroll, performance and compensation. Perform regular audits, develop best practices, maintain relevant documentation, and educate end-users. Serve as a client administrator for system adjustments. Coordinate system changes with New Jersey and Baton Rouge.
Reporting: Design, develop and interpret reports while adhering to internal standards to ensure reuse and maintainability. Assist Payroll and HR teams with creating advanced reports in supporting their day-to-day responsibilities and creating ad hoc reports as required.
Payroll: Maintain an error-free payroll for all FPC TX employees by accurately processing payroll and establishing deadlines. Work closely with Department representatives to make sure proper payroll paperwork is in place. Serve as the PIC for payroll functions. Proactively read, interpret, analyze and leverage data and metrics (e.g., HR data analytics, business unit metrics) to answer questions, identify trends, and solve problems.
Collaboration & Training: Maintains strong partnerships with HR, Benefits, Payroll, and other stakeholders. Develop job aids to assist with training team on HCM system.
QUALIFICATIONS
TECHNICAL JOB CRITERIA
- Previous Related Experience Required
A minimum of one (1) to three (3) years’ in with Ceridian Dayforce system, dependent upon education, with concentration in payroll, compensation and performance. Five to ten (10) years of Human Resources experience required, depending upon education achieved, with a concentration of payroll experience preferred or a combination of Payroll with Information Technology or Accounting experience could be considered.
-
Technical Skills Required to Perform This Job
-
Strong functional knowledge of Human Resources business processes (compensation, benefits, payroll benefits and supporting operations).
-
Up to date on all Federal, State and Local employment laws
-
Education
A Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Business Management, Business Administration, or Human Resources Management is required, along with a minimum of one (1) year of direct experience with Dayforce and five (5) years of payroll experience. Alternatively, a high school diploma or equivalent may be considered with a minimum of three (3) years of direct experience with Ceridian/Dayforce and ten (10) years of Human Resources experience, with a strong concentration in payroll. A combination of payroll experience with a background in Information Technology or Accounting may also be considered.
-
Other Certification/Training Required
-
Will require training in Company Policies and Procedures after hire.
- Current employees must meet all technical and safety training requirements for current position, as specified in the Master Training Plan.
- SHRM-CP or SHRM SCP certification or HRCI Certifications preferred
Check Out Our Benefits
Health Coverage and Perks
- Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance plans
- Flexible spending accounts for health, dependent care
- Short-term Disability
- Long-term Disability
- Group Term Life, Dependent and Supplemental Life Insurance
- Tuition Reimbursement
Work/Life Balance
- 10 Paid Holidays
- Paid Time Off for a balanced life (Vacation, Sick and Personal Time)
- FlexTime Available
Competitive Compensation
- Competitive salary, incentive/bonus, 401(k) plan with company match
- Cash Balance, Pension Plan
Company Overview for Formosa Plastics Corporation, U.S.A.
Founded in 1978, Formosa Plastics Corporation, U.S.A. (Formosa Plastics) is a growing, vertically-integrated supplier of plastic resins and petrochemicals. With annual revenues of more than $5 billion, we employ over 2,800 people who operate 20 production units in six business divisions - Olefins, Polyolefins, Vinyl, Specialty Polyvinyl Chloride, Chlor-Alkali, and Oil & Gas.
Formosa Plastics offers a full line of polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene and polypropylene resins, caustic soda and other petrochemicals that deliver the consistency, performance and quality that customers demand. We market our polypropylene and polyethylene resins under the Formolene® tradename; we market our suspension PVC and specialty (dispersion) PVC resins under the Formolon® tradename. We also produce and sell caustic soda, ethylene dichloride, commercial bleach and hydrochloric acid.
We are committed to supplying the highest quality products and services to our customers, providing a safe and healthy workplace for our employees and contributing to the quality of life in the communities where we operate. This commitment is made possible through our dedicated people, consistent products, continued protection of the environment and ongoing investments in new product development, quality control systems and safe, modern and energy-efficient production facilities.
Formosa Plastics is a privately held company headquartered in Livingston, New Jersey. Our core business, producing plastic resins and petrochemicals, takes place at three wholly-owned chemical manufacturing subsidiaries located in Delaware City, Delaware, Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Point Comfort, Texas.
POSITION OBJECTIVE
This position will support the organization's Ceridian Dayforce HCM (Human Capital Management) system by functioning as a technology and process consultant for Human Resources (HR). The HR Specialist will partner with HR teammates, HRIS and cross-functional stakeholders to meet HR objectives. The HR Specialist will specialize in payroll, performance and compensation functions and serve as the PIC for HCM build outs for these areas. The HR Specialist assumes a proactive and reactive approach to research and analysis.
MAJOR AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY
HCM Representative: Serve as the subject matter expert on HCM system (currently Ceridian- Dayforce). Responsible for communicating any system changes to necessary parties; Translate business objectives, and user needs into clearly written technical requirements.
System Integrity: Work with HRIS to configure and maintain the HCM Application to maintain optimum functionality. Serve as the PIC for HCM upgrades, patches, testing, and other technical issues as needed for payroll, performance and compensation. Perform regular audits, develop best practices, maintain relevant documentation, and educate end-users. Serve as a client administrator for system adjustments. Coordinate system changes with New Jersey and Baton Rouge.
Reporting: Design, develop and interpret reports while adhering to internal standards to ensure reuse and maintainability. Assist Payroll and HR teams with creating advanced reports in supporting their day-to-day responsibilities and creating ad hoc reports as required.
Payroll: Maintain an error-free payroll for all FPC TX employees by accurately processing payroll and establishing deadlines. Work closely with Department representatives to make sure proper payroll paperwork is in place. Serve as the PIC for payroll functions. Proactively read, interpret, analyze and leverage data and metrics (e.g., HR data analytics, business unit metrics) to answer questions, identify trends, and solve problems.
Collaboration & Training: Maintains strong partnerships with HR, Benefits, Payroll, and other stakeholders. Develop job aids to assist with training team on HCM system.
QUALIFICATIONS
TECHNICAL JOB CRITERIA
- Previous Related Experience Required
A minimum of one (1) to three (3) years’ in with Ceridian Dayforce system, dependent upon education, with concentration in payroll, compensation and performance. Five to ten (10) years of Human Resources experience required, depending upon education achieved, with a concentration of payroll experience preferred or a combination of Payroll with Information Technology or Accounting experience could be considered.
-
Technical Skills Required to Perform This Job
-
Strong functional knowledge of Human Resources business processes (compensation, benefits, payroll benefits and supporting operations).
-
Up to date on all Federal, State and Local employment laws
-
Education
A Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Business Management, Business Administration, or Human Resources Management is required, along with a minimum of one (1) year of direct experience with Dayforce and five (5) years of payroll experience. Alternatively, a high school diploma or equivalent may be considered with a minimum of three (3) years of direct experience with Ceridian/Dayforce and ten (10) years of Human Resources experience, with a strong concentration in payroll. A combination of payroll experience with a background in Information Technology or Accounting may also be considered.
-
Other Certification/Training Required
-
Will require training in Company Policies and Procedures after hire.
- Current employees must meet all technical and safety training requirements for current position, as specified in the Master Training Plan.
- SHRM-CP or SHRM SCP certification or HRCI Certifications preferred
Check Out Our Benefits
Health Coverage and Perks
- Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance plans
- Flexible spending accounts for health, dependent care
- Short-term Disability
- Long-term Disability
- Group Term Life, Dependent and Supplemental Life Insurance
- Tuition Reimbursement
Work/Life Balance
- 10 Paid Holidays
- Paid Time Off for a balanced life (Vacation, Sick and Personal Time)
- FlexTime Available
Competitive Compensation
- Competitive salary, incentive/bonus, 401(k) plan with company match
- Cash Balance, Pension Plan
See all 738+ OPT People Operations Specialist Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a People Operations Specialist
Target companies with HR tech infrastructure
Employers running Workday, BambooHR, or similar HRIS platforms tend to have structured People Ops teams with dedicated headcount. These organizations are more likely to have sponsorship processes in place than smaller companies building HR from scratch.
Frame your degree as a direct match
People Operations roles often require a degree in HR, business administration, industrial-organizational psychology, or a related field. Explicitly connect your academic background to the role in your resume and cover letter to strengthen the specialty occupation case.
Prioritize roles with HRIS or data responsibilities
Job postings that list HRIS management, people analytics, or HR data reporting are more defensible as specialty occupations. These technical responsibilities make it easier for an employer to justify H-1B visa sponsorship after your OPT period ends.
Ask about sponsorship timelines before accepting
OPT gives you up to 12 months, with a possible 24-month STEM extension if your degree qualifies. Confirm upfront whether the employer has sponsored H-1B visas before and whether they participate in the lottery each April.
Highlight compliance and process improvement work
Employers filing H-1B petitions for People Ops roles need to document specialized duties. Experience with I-9 compliance, onboarding workflows, or HR policy development strengthens the specialty occupation argument USCIS evaluates during sponsorship.
Use Migrate Mate to filter for OPT-friendly employers
Not every People Operations posting comes from a company open to OPT candidates. Migrate Mate surfaces roles from employers actively willing to work with F-1 students, saving you from applying to positions where sponsorship was never on the table.
People Operations Specialist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a People Operations Specialist role qualify as a specialty occupation for OPT and H-1B purposes?
It can, but the job description matters. USCIS looks for roles requiring a specific bachelor's degree or higher in a directly related field, such as human resources, business administration, or industrial-organizational psychology. Generalist positions where any bachelor's degree satisfies the requirement are harder to defend. Roles with specialized duties like HRIS administration, compensation analysis, or HR compliance strengthen the case considerably.
Can I work as a People Operations Specialist on F-1 OPT without a STEM extension?
Yes. Standard OPT gives you 12 months of work authorization after graduation, which is enough to begin a People Ops role. If your degree is in a STEM-designated field, such as industrial-organizational psychology or information systems with an HR focus, you may qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension, giving you up to 36 months total to find an employer willing to sponsor an H-1B.
How do I find People Operations Specialist jobs where the employer is open to OPT candidates?
Most job postings don't state OPT sponsorship willingness upfront, which means a lot of wasted applications. Migrate Mate filters specifically for employers open to F-1 OPT students, so you can focus on People Ops roles where your work authorization status isn't a barrier. This is especially useful given how competitive HR roles can be for international candidates.
What happens to my OPT authorization if my People Operations role ends before my OPT expires?
F-1 OPT allows up to 90 days of cumulative unemployment during the standard 12-month period. If you lose your People Operations role, the clock starts running immediately, not from when you notify your DSO. Report the employment change to your DSO promptly and begin searching for a new qualifying position. Unemployment beyond 90 days puts your F-1 status at risk.
Do People Operations Specialist roles at startups typically sponsor H-1B visas after OPT?
Sponsorship at early-stage startups is less predictable than at mid-size or enterprise companies with established HR functions. Startups may be willing but lack the legal infrastructure or budget to file H-1B petitions reliably. When evaluating People Ops roles at startups, ask specifically whether they have sponsored visas before, not just whether they are open to it in principle.