OPT Production Control Manager Jobs
Production Control Manager jobs on OPT require coordinating manufacturing schedules, inventory, and supplier workflows under tight deadlines. Your F-1 OPT work authorization covers full-time roles in this field, and STEM OPT extension may apply if your degree is in industrial engineering, supply chain, or a related discipline.
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Get Access To All JobsPosition Summary:
The role of a Plant Production Control & Logistics Manager is to manage logistics activities of a plant and deploy the Shape's Production Control & Logistics (PC&L) policy. The main missions of the role are to:
- Lead all material handling functions in the plant.
- Lead all shipping and receiving functions in the plant.
- Manage the flow of material through the plant using Shape PC&L and SES tools.
- Ensure adequate staffing, training, and development of team members.
- Implement and manage the PC&L tools including inventory layouts, Leveling boards, TPA's, production instruction kanban, kanban launchers, flat warehouse area, AMR routes.
- Monitor logistics performance and implement necessary improvement actions in coordination with other plant functions (Quality, SES, planning …).
- Participate in the development of the Division PC&L network.
Position Skills and Experience Requirements:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty effectively. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
- BS in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, or similar degree
- Experience in production in an industrial environment, preferably automotive
- Very strong Excel skills
- Very strong written and verbal communication skills
Position Summary:
The role of a Plant Production Control & Logistics Manager is to manage logistics activities of a plant and deploy the Shape's Production Control & Logistics (PC&L) policy. The main missions of the role are to:
- Lead all material handling functions in the plant.
- Lead all shipping and receiving functions in the plant.
- Manage the flow of material through the plant using Shape PC&L and SES tools.
- Ensure adequate staffing, training, and development of team members.
- Implement and manage the PC&L tools including inventory layouts, Leveling boards, TPA's, production instruction kanban, kanban launchers, flat warehouse area, AMR routes.
- Monitor logistics performance and implement necessary improvement actions in coordination with other plant functions (Quality, SES, planning …).
- Participate in the development of the Division PC&L network.
Position Skills and Experience Requirements:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty effectively. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
- BS in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, or similar degree
- Experience in production in an industrial environment, preferably automotive
- Very strong Excel skills
- Very strong written and verbal communication skills
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Production Control Manager
Target manufacturers with established OPT hiring programs
Large manufacturers in aerospace, automotive, and electronics regularly hire OPT students into production control roles. Companies with existing international talent pipelines understand work authorization requirements and are far more likely to consider F-1 candidates without friction.
Highlight your ERP system experience prominently
Production control hiring managers screen for SAP, Oracle, or similar ERP proficiency before reviewing anything else. List every system you've used, including coursework or internship exposure. Specific platform experience signals you can contribute without a lengthy ramp-up period.
Quantify your impact on production efficiency
Employers evaluating OPT candidates want evidence you've improved throughput, reduced downtime, or cut inventory costs. Use specific percentages or metrics from internships, co-ops, or academic projects. Concrete numbers make your application stand out against domestic candidates with similar backgrounds.
Apply before your OPT clock runs out
Production control hiring cycles often run six to eight weeks from application to offer. Subtract that buffer from your OPT end date and set a firm application deadline now. Starting too late forces rushed decisions and limits your negotiating position on start dates.
Clarify your STEM OPT eligibility early in conversations
If your degree qualifies for a 24-month STEM OPT extension, mention it once employers express interest. Industrial engineering, operations research, and supply chain management degrees typically qualify. This significantly extends your work authorization window and improves your sponsorship candidacy.
Pursue roles with H-1B sponsorship track records
Some employers sponsor H-1B visas routinely for production control managers while others never do. Researching a company's sponsorship history before applying saves wasted effort. Focus your energy on employers who have a demonstrated pattern of sponsoring production and operations roles.
Production Control Manager OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Production Control Manager on F-1 OPT?
Yes. Production Control Manager roles fall within operations, supply chain, and industrial engineering fields, which align with OPT's requirement that your employment relate to your degree. If your degree is in industrial engineering, supply chain management, or a related STEM field, you may also qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension, giving you up to three years of total work authorization.
Does a Production Control Manager role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree, not just the job title. If your degree is in an approved STEM field like industrial engineering, operations research, or manufacturing engineering, and your employer agrees to the required training plan and E-Verify enrollment, the role can qualify. Your DSO must confirm your degree's STEM designation on SEVP's approved program list before you apply for the extension.
How do I find Production Control Manager jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate lists production and operations management roles from employers open to hiring F-1 OPT candidates. Filtering by OPT-friendly employers saves significant time compared to cold-applying and discovering sponsorship limitations late in the process. Most OPT students waste weeks applying to companies that quietly screen out work authorization requirements, so starting with a targeted source matters.
What happens to my OPT authorization if I'm laid off from a Production Control Manager job?
You have a 90-day unemployment buffer during your OPT period. If you're laid off, that clock starts immediately, so beginning your job search right away is important. STEM OPT extensions carry a stricter 150-day combined limit across the full extension period. Report any employment changes to your DSO promptly, since delays in reporting can create compliance problems with your F-1 status.
Will employers in manufacturing actually sponsor H-1B visas for Production Control Managers?
Many mid-to-large manufacturers in aerospace, automotive, and consumer goods do sponsor H-1B visas for production and operations roles, particularly when the candidate has specialized ERP experience or a technical engineering degree. Smaller contract manufacturers rarely have the legal infrastructure to sponsor. Researching a company's H-1B filing history before applying is the most reliable way to gauge their willingness.