OPT Planner Jobs
Planner roles in urban planning, supply chain, and event management regularly appear on OPT-friendly job boards. Many employers in these fields sponsor H-1B visas for strong candidates. Your 12-month OPT window, extendable to 36 months with a STEM extension, gives you real time to establish yourself.
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Get Access To All JobsPosition Summary
Under general supervision, supports the County’s planning and land use objectives by contributing to the development, implementation, and administration of comprehensive plans, land use regulations, and related programs. This position promotes community engagement in planning efforts and helps ensure compliance with applicable ordinances through education, coordination, and regulatory support.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Reviews land divisions and adjustments, evaluating for compliance with current land use regulations and coordinating with GIS staff as needed, and makes administrative determinations within established policies and procedures.
- Provides information and technical assistance to members of the general public, property owners, surveyors, developers, title companies, and their representatives.
- Responds to and assists in resolving complex or sensitive inquiries and complaints related to land use and zoning.
- Performs communication and networking with local, regional, state, and federal entities as necessary to facilitate the daily work of the Planning and Zoning Department. These communication-related activities primarily involve local communities, utility districts, fire districts, and the economic development community.
- Generate supplemental information regarding land use and community development issues via informational written materials and updates to the website.
- Perform regulatory review of the Franklin County Unified Land Use Regulations for the purpose of recommending changes.
- Monitor and report on financial status of escrow accounts established for approved developments.
- Performs follow-up and review of approved permits, such as Second Dwelling Agreements, Medical Hardships, Conditional Use Permits, Zoning Permits, coordinating as necessary with the Zoning Code Enforcement Officer. Makes recommendations regarding compliance issues.
- Attends various meetings, presents reports, and provides administrative support to the Planning and Zoning Commission, County Commission, Board of Zoning adjustment, and other Councils and Committees.
- Prepares and maintains various reports and records.
- Provides support to the Planning Director and may assist with departmental operations in their absence, as assigned.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
REQUIRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Ability to Learn:
- County and department policies and procedures.
- County codes, ordinances, and zoning regulations.
- Standard surveying practices.
- Reading, interpreting, and identifying required modifications to surveys and plats.
Skills in:
- Communicating clearly both verbally and in writing.
- Reading, analyzing, and interpreting general business periodicals, professional journals, technical documents, and governmental regulations.
- Exercising discretion and judgment with only general supervision.
- Developing and implementing new plans and strategies for economic development, planning and zoning, and other issues throughout Franklin County.
- Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.
- Writing and presenting concise and comprehensive reports, manuals, and other correspondence.
- Understanding principles, practices, and laws regarding land use planning.
- Understanding and utilizing basic GIS Mapping products.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Bachelor’s degree in Planning, Geography, Architecture, or related field; AND three (3) years of related experience. Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
Must possess a valid State driver’s license.
May be required to obtain and maintain Public Notary certification.
Physical Requirements
Normal physical job duties are working in a standard office environment. May be required to lift or move equipment up to 50 lbs.
Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working at a computer.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
None
REPORTING RELATIONSHIP
Reports to the Planning Director
The intent of this job description is to provide a representation summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of specific duties and responsibilities of any position. Incumbents may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically represented in this description.
Will be subject to a criminal background check, drug screen, and any job-specific requirements as deemed necessary.
Position Summary
Under general supervision, supports the County’s planning and land use objectives by contributing to the development, implementation, and administration of comprehensive plans, land use regulations, and related programs. This position promotes community engagement in planning efforts and helps ensure compliance with applicable ordinances through education, coordination, and regulatory support.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Reviews land divisions and adjustments, evaluating for compliance with current land use regulations and coordinating with GIS staff as needed, and makes administrative determinations within established policies and procedures.
- Provides information and technical assistance to members of the general public, property owners, surveyors, developers, title companies, and their representatives.
- Responds to and assists in resolving complex or sensitive inquiries and complaints related to land use and zoning.
- Performs communication and networking with local, regional, state, and federal entities as necessary to facilitate the daily work of the Planning and Zoning Department. These communication-related activities primarily involve local communities, utility districts, fire districts, and the economic development community.
- Generate supplemental information regarding land use and community development issues via informational written materials and updates to the website.
- Perform regulatory review of the Franklin County Unified Land Use Regulations for the purpose of recommending changes.
- Monitor and report on financial status of escrow accounts established for approved developments.
- Performs follow-up and review of approved permits, such as Second Dwelling Agreements, Medical Hardships, Conditional Use Permits, Zoning Permits, coordinating as necessary with the Zoning Code Enforcement Officer. Makes recommendations regarding compliance issues.
- Attends various meetings, presents reports, and provides administrative support to the Planning and Zoning Commission, County Commission, Board of Zoning adjustment, and other Councils and Committees.
- Prepares and maintains various reports and records.
- Provides support to the Planning Director and may assist with departmental operations in their absence, as assigned.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
REQUIRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Ability to Learn:
- County and department policies and procedures.
- County codes, ordinances, and zoning regulations.
- Standard surveying practices.
- Reading, interpreting, and identifying required modifications to surveys and plats.
Skills in:
- Communicating clearly both verbally and in writing.
- Reading, analyzing, and interpreting general business periodicals, professional journals, technical documents, and governmental regulations.
- Exercising discretion and judgment with only general supervision.
- Developing and implementing new plans and strategies for economic development, planning and zoning, and other issues throughout Franklin County.
- Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.
- Writing and presenting concise and comprehensive reports, manuals, and other correspondence.
- Understanding principles, practices, and laws regarding land use planning.
- Understanding and utilizing basic GIS Mapping products.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Bachelor’s degree in Planning, Geography, Architecture, or related field; AND three (3) years of related experience. Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
Must possess a valid State driver’s license.
May be required to obtain and maintain Public Notary certification.
Physical Requirements
Normal physical job duties are working in a standard office environment. May be required to lift or move equipment up to 50 lbs.
Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working at a computer.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
None
REPORTING RELATIONSHIP
Reports to the Planning Director
The intent of this job description is to provide a representation summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of specific duties and responsibilities of any position. Incumbents may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically represented in this description.
Will be subject to a criminal background check, drug screen, and any job-specific requirements as deemed necessary.
See all 565+ OPT Planner Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Planner
Target industries with consistent sponsorship track records
Supply chain, logistics, urban planning, and management consulting firms file H-1B petitions for Planners regularly. Search Department of Labor LCA disclosure data to identify which companies have sponsored Planner roles in the past two years.
Connect your degree directly to the Planner role
H-1B sponsorship for Planner positions requires proving the role is a specialty occupation tied to a specific degree field. In applications and interviews, make the connection between your academic background and the planning function explicit.
Apply early relative to your OPT expiration date
H-1B cap-subject petitions are filed in April for an October 1 start date. If your OPT expires before October 1, confirm the employer can bridge your status or apply cap-exempt to avoid an authorization gap.
Highlight certifications relevant to planning disciplines
Credentials like AICP for urban planning or APICS certifications for supply chain planning signal professional seriousness to sponsoring employers. They also strengthen the specialty occupation argument USCIS evaluates during H-1B adjudication.
Ask about sponsorship policy before the final interview round
Bring up OPT work authorization and long-term sponsorship after a recruiter expresses genuine interest, not in your cover letter. Frame it as confirming logistics, not requesting a favor, and confirm whether the company has sponsored Planners before.
Use Migrate Mate to focus your search on sponsoring employers
Migrate Mate filters Planner roles to employers with demonstrated sponsorship histories, saving you from applying to positions where OPT or H-1B support is unlikely. This significantly improves your interview-to-offer conversion rate.
Planner OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Planner jobs qualify for OPT work authorization?
Yes, Planner roles qualify for OPT as long as the position is directly related to your field of study. Urban planners, supply chain planners, and financial planners each draw on distinct degree fields, so the relevance requirement is typically straightforward to meet. Confirm the connection with your DSO before accepting an offer.
Can I get a STEM OPT extension as a Planner?
It depends on your degree, not your job title. If you hold a STEM-designated degree, such as industrial engineering, operations research, or a quantitative supply chain program, and your Planner role uses those technical skills, you likely qualify for the 24-month STEM extension. Check the DHS STEM OPT designated degree program list to confirm your CIP code.
Which types of employers are most likely to sponsor Planners for H-1B visas?
Large logistics and supply chain companies, consulting firms, municipal governments contracting through staffing agencies, and Fortune 500 operations teams sponsor Planner roles with relative frequency. Smaller employers and non-profits are less likely to have the legal infrastructure in place. Browse Migrate Mate to find Planner openings filtered by employers with documented sponsorship histories.
Does a Planner role count as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Planning roles can qualify as specialty occupations, but it is not automatic. The key is demonstrating that the position normally requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific field, not just any degree. Urban planning, supply chain analytics, and financial planning roles with technical requirements are stronger candidates than general coordination or scheduling positions with broad degree preferences.
What should I do if my OPT expires before my employer files my H-1B?
If your OPT authorization ends before an H-1B petition is approved, you need a bridge strategy. Options include applying for a cap-gap extension if you filed before April 1, asking the employer to file under a cap-exempt institution, or pursuing an alternative status like H-1B1 visa or O-1 visa if eligible. Consult an immigration attorney as soon as your timeline becomes clear.