OPT Principal Jobs
Principal roles in education and professional services do qualify for OPT work authorization, but STEM OPT extension eligibility depends on your specific degree field and employer. Most school principal positions fall outside STEM OPT scope, so planning your 12-month timeline carefully is critical before applying.
Find OPT Principal JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 7,996+ Principal jobs
See all 7,996+ Principal Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Principal roles.
Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
THIS POSTING WILL BE USED FOR ONGOING RECRUITMENT AND MAY CLOSE AT ANY TIME. APPLICANT LISTS MAY BE SCREENED MORE THAN ONCE.
THIS POSITION REQUIRES FULL-TIME, ON-SITE PRESENCE IN SANTA FE.
The Department of Finance and Administration, State Budget Division, oversees and administers the New Mexico state budget. State Budget Division provides high quality, timely and easy to understand analysis and recommendations for agency budgets, legislation and performance issues. In addition, the division prepares and presents the Governor’s annual budget recommendation to the New Mexico Legislature. The division also monitors and oversees expenditures by state agencies during the fiscal year, which runs from July 1 to June 30 each year. Chapter 6, Article 3, Section 1 through 25 of the New Mexico Statutes Annotated 1978 governs the division.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
This level serves as team lead, coordinating analysis, initiatives, collaboration and recommendations across multiple agencies with policy and budget commonalities but who are under the day-to-day caseload assignments of other DFA SBD Analysts. Principal level staff take on the most complex agencies or most complex funding operations in state government. Principal Analyst serves as a technical lead and mentor to analysts.
- Develops Executive budget and policy recommendations for assigned agencies through the use or development of monitoring strategies. Presents these recommendations to SBD management, DFA Cabinet Secretary and the Governor's Office.
- Reviews and analyzes agencies' budget adjustment requests, budget projections and personnel transactions for compliance with the State Budget Act, the Financial Control Act, the Accountability in Government Act and other statutes for accuracy and fiscal integrity.
- Provides testimony for Executive budget recommendation throughout legislative process.
- Develops veto options/recommendations for the Governor.
- Conducts trainings on appropriation request, operating budget and performance measure trainings on an annual basis for state agencies.
- Directs agencies through the development and implementation of request and budget cycles.
- Monitors and ensures the accurate implementation of annual operations budgets for assigned state appropriated agencies.
- Serves on legislative sub-committees and participates in high-level negotiations with legislative and agency staff.
- Prepares Financial Impact Reports.
- Develops and maintains oversight of state agencies' annual performance measures to ensure compliance with Accounting in Government Act, including establishing targets.
CUSTOMERS
Provides specific one-on-one training with agency Chief Financial Officers, Administrative Service Directors and other financial staff concerning state budget operations and technical support for the state financial software system. Develops policy recommendations on all assigned legislation and for all assigned agencies. Policy recommendations may also pertain to policy proposals developed by assigned agencies or through other venues. These recommendations are presented to SBD management, DFA Cabinet Secretary and the Governor's Office.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Statistics, Political Science or related field and five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in experience performing budget preparation and/or policy analysis in the DFA State Budget Division, financial document preparation and management, policy/program analysis, fiscal/financial analysis, legislative analysis, budgeting, auditing, budget monitoring, governmental accounting, and/or federal grant reporting. Any combination of education from an accredited college or university and/or direct experience in this occupation totaling nine (9) years may substitute for the required education and experience.
EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS
State issued ID or Driver's License.
Pre-employment criminal background check is required, and employment offer will not be extended prior to results.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is performed in an office setting with exposure to Visual/Video Display Terminal (VDT) and extensive personal computer and phone usage. Some sitting, standing, bending and reaching may be required. Office setting, extensive personal computer and telephone usage with extended periods of sitting. Frequent late hours, weekends, on-call and callback work may be required. Travel may be required. Incumbent will frequently work under time constraints and is expected to maintain the highest level of professional conduct, ethics and confidentiality.
Extended hours during Legislation Sessions.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Do you know what Total Compensation is? Click here
Agency Contact Information: Dr. Andrew Miner (505) 819-1772 Email
For information on Statutory Requirements for this position, click the Classification Description link on the job advertisement.
Bargaining Unit Position
This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
INTRODUCTION
THIS POSTING WILL BE USED FOR ONGOING RECRUITMENT AND MAY CLOSE AT ANY TIME. APPLICANT LISTS MAY BE SCREENED MORE THAN ONCE.
THIS POSITION REQUIRES FULL-TIME, ON-SITE PRESENCE IN SANTA FE.
The Department of Finance and Administration, State Budget Division, oversees and administers the New Mexico state budget. State Budget Division provides high quality, timely and easy to understand analysis and recommendations for agency budgets, legislation and performance issues. In addition, the division prepares and presents the Governor’s annual budget recommendation to the New Mexico Legislature. The division also monitors and oversees expenditures by state agencies during the fiscal year, which runs from July 1 to June 30 each year. Chapter 6, Article 3, Section 1 through 25 of the New Mexico Statutes Annotated 1978 governs the division.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
This level serves as team lead, coordinating analysis, initiatives, collaboration and recommendations across multiple agencies with policy and budget commonalities but who are under the day-to-day caseload assignments of other DFA SBD Analysts. Principal level staff take on the most complex agencies or most complex funding operations in state government. Principal Analyst serves as a technical lead and mentor to analysts.
- Develops Executive budget and policy recommendations for assigned agencies through the use or development of monitoring strategies. Presents these recommendations to SBD management, DFA Cabinet Secretary and the Governor's Office.
- Reviews and analyzes agencies' budget adjustment requests, budget projections and personnel transactions for compliance with the State Budget Act, the Financial Control Act, the Accountability in Government Act and other statutes for accuracy and fiscal integrity.
- Provides testimony for Executive budget recommendation throughout legislative process.
- Develops veto options/recommendations for the Governor.
- Conducts trainings on appropriation request, operating budget and performance measure trainings on an annual basis for state agencies.
- Directs agencies through the development and implementation of request and budget cycles.
- Monitors and ensures the accurate implementation of annual operations budgets for assigned state appropriated agencies.
- Serves on legislative sub-committees and participates in high-level negotiations with legislative and agency staff.
- Prepares Financial Impact Reports.
- Develops and maintains oversight of state agencies' annual performance measures to ensure compliance with Accounting in Government Act, including establishing targets.
CUSTOMERS
Provides specific one-on-one training with agency Chief Financial Officers, Administrative Service Directors and other financial staff concerning state budget operations and technical support for the state financial software system. Develops policy recommendations on all assigned legislation and for all assigned agencies. Policy recommendations may also pertain to policy proposals developed by assigned agencies or through other venues. These recommendations are presented to SBD management, DFA Cabinet Secretary and the Governor's Office.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Statistics, Political Science or related field and five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in experience performing budget preparation and/or policy analysis in the DFA State Budget Division, financial document preparation and management, policy/program analysis, fiscal/financial analysis, legislative analysis, budgeting, auditing, budget monitoring, governmental accounting, and/or federal grant reporting. Any combination of education from an accredited college or university and/or direct experience in this occupation totaling nine (9) years may substitute for the required education and experience.
EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS
State issued ID or Driver's License.
Pre-employment criminal background check is required, and employment offer will not be extended prior to results.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is performed in an office setting with exposure to Visual/Video Display Terminal (VDT) and extensive personal computer and phone usage. Some sitting, standing, bending and reaching may be required. Office setting, extensive personal computer and telephone usage with extended periods of sitting. Frequent late hours, weekends, on-call and callback work may be required. Travel may be required. Incumbent will frequently work under time constraints and is expected to maintain the highest level of professional conduct, ethics and confidentiality.
Extended hours during Legislation Sessions.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Do you know what Total Compensation is? Click here
Agency Contact Information: Dr. Andrew Miner (505) 819-1772 Email
For information on Statutory Requirements for this position, click the Classification Description link on the job advertisement.
Bargaining Unit Position
This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
See all 7,996+ OPT Principal Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Principal Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Principal
Confirm your OPT timeline before applying
Most principal roles take months to fill. Check your OPT start and end dates before applying so you're not mid-hiring process when your authorization expires. Build buffer time into your job search, especially for district-level positions with long decision cycles.
Identify whether the role qualifies as STEM OPT
Principal roles in education administration generally do not qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. If your degree is in a STEM field, explore corporate or higher education leadership roles where STEM OPT eligibility is far more likely to apply.
Highlight your degree's relevance to the leadership role
OPT requires your job to be directly related to your degree field. Principal candidates should clearly connect their academic background in education, administration, or organizational leadership to the position's core responsibilities in every application document.
Target employers already familiar with work authorization
Larger school districts, private school networks, and university systems are more likely to have handled OPT documentation before. Smaller independent schools may require more education about the process, so factor that into your outreach and interview conversations.
Address OPT proactively, not defensively
When the topic of work authorization arises, be direct and prepared. Explain your current OPT status, its duration, and what next steps look like for H-1B visa sponsorship if applicable. Confidence and preparation build employer trust far more than vague answers do.
Understand the H-1B pathway from a principal role
If you're pursuing H-1B sponsorship after OPT, confirm the principal role meets specialty occupation standards. Educational leadership roles supported by a relevant master's degree typically qualify, but the employer must be willing to file a petition on your behalf.
Principal OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a principal on OPT?
Yes, you can work as a principal on OPT if the role is directly related to your degree field. A principal position supported by a degree in educational leadership, school administration, or organizational management satisfies the OPT employment requirement. The connection between your academic background and the job responsibilities needs to be clear and documentable.
Does a principal role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
In most cases, no. Principal positions in K-12 or private school settings fall under education administration, which is not a qualifying STEM field. If your degree is in a STEM discipline and you're pursuing leadership roles in technology, research, or higher education institutions, STEM OPT may apply. Verify your specific degree's CIP code against the official STEM Designated Degree Program list before assuming eligibility.
Will employers sponsor an H-1B visa for a principal role after my OPT ends?
It depends on the employer type and role structure. Public school districts and many private institutions do sponsor H-1B visas for administrative leadership roles, particularly when the position requires a relevant master's degree. Larger networks and university systems are better positioned to handle the process. Discussing sponsorship expectations early in the interview process avoids complications later.
How do I find principal jobs open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is the best starting point. It lists principal and school leadership roles from employers familiar with OPT and visa sponsorship, saving you from applying to positions where work authorization is an immediate dealbreaker. Filtering by authorization-friendly employers significantly improves your response rate and avoids wasted applications during a time-sensitive OPT window.
What documentation does my employer need to verify my OPT employment?
Your employer will need a copy of your EAD card and your Form I-20 with the OPT authorization page. Some districts or HR departments may also request your visa stamp or passport biographic page for their records. Keep digital copies of all OPT documents readily accessible, and notify your DSO promptly if your job title, employer, or work location changes during your OPT period.