Production Specialist Jobs for OPT Students
Production Specialist jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students in manufacturing, operations, and supply chain. Most roles qualify under STEM OPT extension eligibility when tied to an engineering or technical degree, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization to build hands-on industry experience.
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Get Access To All JobsThe Fresh Market & You:
Our mission is to make everyday eating extraordinary for our guests, and we are looking for a new team member who will commit to helping us deliver on this mission.
Our added benefits for joining The Fresh Market team
- Team Member discount of 30%
- Early Earn Wage Access (You can access up to 50% (max $500) of your earned wages on-demand per pay period)
- 401K contribution and company match
- Financial Wellness Program
- Personal time off and additional time off purchase plans are available
- Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, and Life Insurance for individual, spouse, partner, and family
- Discounts on pet insurance, daycare, event tickets, and many more.
About the Position:
Do you have a passion for production and enjoy working early shifts? If so, this may be the perfect job for you. We’re looking for team members who can work as our Production Specialists. You’ll be an ideal fit if you’re detailed-oriented, work well in teams, and make our guests your top priority.
What You'll Do:
- Handle production for key items to support Deli-CMS, Meat-Seafood, Bakery, and Produce departments
- Maintain knowledge of products/weekly ad items throughout the store and work across departments to assist guests in finding products and complete meal solutions
- Ensure excellent product is ready for our guests by inspecting our store products for proper rotation, cleaning, sanitation procedures, completing reports as necessary
- Follow all The Fresh Market standards, policies, and protocols
- Present self in a professional manner, including adhering to uniform standards
Availability:
To meet the needs of our stores, guests, and teams, this position requires the willingness to work a schedule of 3 am – 11 am with days off typically being Sunday and Wednesday of each week.
The Fresh Market offers a shift differential between the hours of 12 am – 5 am of an additional $2.00 an hr.
At times the needs may change and as a full-time team member, The Fresh Market has the expectation that you are able to meet the needs of our stores, guests, and teams, this position requires the willingness to work a flexible schedule, including weekends, days, evenings, and holidays.
Qualifications
At a minimum, what you’ll need:
- A passion for providing extraordinary service
- At least 18 years of age
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience in the retail, restaurant, or hospitality industries
- High School Diploma or equivalent
- Production Planning Software experience
Physical and Work Conditions:
- Repetitive hand/arm movements, grasping, bending, reaching, ability to lift, push or pull up to 50 pounds by oneself, exposure to extreme temperatures
- Ability to use tools equipment: knives, ladders, stepstools, box cutters, pallet jacks, and other equipment
- Required to spend long periods of time on feet and stand or walk without a break (for up to 4 hours or as required by law)
- Required to wear approved hat, hair net, and/or beard guard, and personal protective equipment
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS: Consistent with applicable laws, TFM will make reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and team members, unless doing so would result in an undue hardship to TFM. This guiding principle applies to all aspects of employment, including hiring and job assignment, compensation, discipline, termination, and access to benefits and training.
We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer:
The Fresh Market is a proud, equal-opportunity employer that is committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. Reasonable Accommodation: Consistent with applicable laws, The Fresh Market will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and team members, unless doing so would result in an undue hardship to The Fresh Market. This guiding principle applies to all aspects of employment, including hiring and job assignment, compensation, discipline, termination, and access to benefits and training. The statements in this job posting describe the general nature and level of work expected in this role but are not all-inclusive. The Fresh Market looks forward to talking with interested candidates to share additional details about the applicable responsibilities, duties, and skills required.
The Fresh Market & You:
Our mission is to make everyday eating extraordinary for our guests, and we are looking for a new team member who will commit to helping us deliver on this mission.
Our added benefits for joining The Fresh Market team
- Team Member discount of 30%
- Early Earn Wage Access (You can access up to 50% (max $500) of your earned wages on-demand per pay period)
- 401K contribution and company match
- Financial Wellness Program
- Personal time off and additional time off purchase plans are available
- Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, and Life Insurance for individual, spouse, partner, and family
- Discounts on pet insurance, daycare, event tickets, and many more.
About the Position:
Do you have a passion for production and enjoy working early shifts? If so, this may be the perfect job for you. We’re looking for team members who can work as our Production Specialists. You’ll be an ideal fit if you’re detailed-oriented, work well in teams, and make our guests your top priority.
What You'll Do:
- Handle production for key items to support Deli-CMS, Meat-Seafood, Bakery, and Produce departments
- Maintain knowledge of products/weekly ad items throughout the store and work across departments to assist guests in finding products and complete meal solutions
- Ensure excellent product is ready for our guests by inspecting our store products for proper rotation, cleaning, sanitation procedures, completing reports as necessary
- Follow all The Fresh Market standards, policies, and protocols
- Present self in a professional manner, including adhering to uniform standards
Availability:
To meet the needs of our stores, guests, and teams, this position requires the willingness to work a schedule of 3 am – 11 am with days off typically being Sunday and Wednesday of each week.
The Fresh Market offers a shift differential between the hours of 12 am – 5 am of an additional $2.00 an hr.
At times the needs may change and as a full-time team member, The Fresh Market has the expectation that you are able to meet the needs of our stores, guests, and teams, this position requires the willingness to work a flexible schedule, including weekends, days, evenings, and holidays.
Qualifications
At a minimum, what you’ll need:
- A passion for providing extraordinary service
- At least 18 years of age
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience in the retail, restaurant, or hospitality industries
- High School Diploma or equivalent
- Production Planning Software experience
Physical and Work Conditions:
- Repetitive hand/arm movements, grasping, bending, reaching, ability to lift, push or pull up to 50 pounds by oneself, exposure to extreme temperatures
- Ability to use tools equipment: knives, ladders, stepstools, box cutters, pallet jacks, and other equipment
- Required to spend long periods of time on feet and stand or walk without a break (for up to 4 hours or as required by law)
- Required to wear approved hat, hair net, and/or beard guard, and personal protective equipment
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS: Consistent with applicable laws, TFM will make reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and team members, unless doing so would result in an undue hardship to TFM. This guiding principle applies to all aspects of employment, including hiring and job assignment, compensation, discipline, termination, and access to benefits and training.
We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer:
The Fresh Market is a proud, equal-opportunity employer that is committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. Reasonable Accommodation: Consistent with applicable laws, The Fresh Market will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and team members, unless doing so would result in an undue hardship to The Fresh Market. This guiding principle applies to all aspects of employment, including hiring and job assignment, compensation, discipline, termination, and access to benefits and training. The statements in this job posting describe the general nature and level of work expected in this role but are not all-inclusive. The Fresh Market looks forward to talking with interested candidates to share additional details about the applicable responsibilities, duties, and skills required.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as a Production Specialist
Target manufacturers with established OPT hiring processes
Large manufacturers and defense contractors regularly hire OPT students for production roles. Companies with existing international workforces are more familiar with I-983 STEM OPT reporting requirements, making the onboarding process smoother for both you and your employer.
Clarify your STEM OPT eligibility before applying
Production Specialist roles often qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension if your degree is in engineering, industrial technology, or a related field. Confirm your CIP code with your DSO before interviews so you can answer employer questions about your authorization period confidently.
Highlight technical certifications alongside your degree
Employers reviewing OPT candidates often weigh certifications heavily. Lean Six Sigma, OSHA 10, or forklift certification signals hands-on readiness and reduces perceived risk for hiring managers unfamiliar with sponsoring international students in production environments.
Address the I-983 training plan requirement early
STEM OPT requires your employer to sign an I-983 training plan linking your role to your degree. Bring this up proactively in final-stage conversations. Most HR teams at larger manufacturers have seen it before, but smaller shops may need a brief explanation.
Prioritize roles with direct ties to your technical degree
USCIS requires a clear connection between your OPT job and your field of study. For production roles, emphasize responsibilities involving process optimization, quality control, or technical systems that map directly to your engineering or applied science coursework during interviews.
Use your OPT timeline as a negotiating asset
STEM OPT gives employers up to three years before any H-1B sponsorship decision is needed. Frame this as low-pressure hiring, not a short-term commitment. Many production managers respond well when they understand the full authorization window available before longer-term visa decisions arise.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Do Production Specialist jobs qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Many do, but it depends on your degree field. If you graduated with a degree in industrial engineering, manufacturing engineering, or a related STEM field, most Production Specialist roles qualify for the 24-month extension. The key is demonstrating that your day-to-day responsibilities, such as process improvement or quality systems work, directly relate to your area of study. Your DSO must approve the extension before your initial OPT period expires.
What does the I-983 training plan requirement mean for production roles?
The I-983 is a formal document your employer must sign under STEM OPT that outlines how your production role connects to your degree. For Production Specialist positions, this typically covers learning goals around manufacturing processes, quality control methods, or operational efficiency. It also requires your employer to report your employment status to your school every six months. Most large manufacturers are familiar with this requirement, though smaller employers may need guidance.
How do I find Production Specialist jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters production and operations roles by sponsorship willingness, so you are not wasting applications on employers who have never hired international students. Standard job boards do not surface OPT-relevant filters, making it difficult to identify which production employers are genuinely open to work authorization situations like yours.
Can I work for a staffing agency as a Production Specialist on OPT?
Technically yes, but with important caveats. On standard OPT, third-party placements are allowed if the work is directly related to your degree and you are not self-employed. On STEM OPT, staffing agency arrangements face stricter scrutiny because USCIS requires the I-983 training plan to be signed by the employer who actually supervises your day-to-day work, which may not be the staffing agency itself. Confirm the arrangement with your DSO before accepting.
What should I say when a production employer asks about my work authorization timeline?
Be direct and specific. Explain that you are authorized to work immediately on OPT and, if you qualify for the STEM extension, that your work authorization can extend up to three years total without any H-1B petition required during that window. Mention that the only employer obligation during STEM OPT is signing the I-983 training plan and submitting brief status updates to your university. Framing it around the low administrative burden often reassures production managers who are unfamiliar with the process.
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