OPT Program Associate Jobs
Program Associate roles are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students, particularly those with backgrounds in public policy, international relations, nonprofit management, or social sciences. Most positions qualify as professional-level work under OPT guidelines. Your 12-month OPT window (or 24-month STEM extension if eligible) gives you meaningful time to build experience and pursue H-1B visa sponsorship.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Fairview is seeking a Physician Assistant to join us as our Program Director - Associate CMIO – Inpatient. This role will provide clinical and informatics leadership to information technology (“IT”) projects within the inpatient setting. The Program Director - Associate CMIO - Inpatient will work with clinical, operational, and IT leaders across the enterprise for inpatient sites to provide strategy and guidance.
Admin FTE for this role is 0.6 and would be in addition to clinical pro-rated FTE.
Responsibilities:
- Clinical visioning and strategic planning for the electronic health record (“EHR”) and other health information technology (“HIT”)
- Determining optimal standardized workflows and encourage systematization for the benefit of Fairview and the patients we serve
- Leading IT prioritization and governance in the inpatient setting to optimize our IT investments and outcomes for the organization
- Advancing digital and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities
- Designing, configuring and optimizing EHR/HIT, data, and digital assets as partners with IT and operations
- Increasing the organization’s data and AI literacy and use of data for decision-making at various consumption points (e.g., health IT, clinical decision support, data assets)
- Working with clinical, operational, and IT leaders across the inpatient area to continue to deliver decision support to the inpatient setting (including alerts, ordersets, risk calculators, documentation guidance, clinical AI, app-based decision support)
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Graduate of an accredited PA training program
- Current licensure with the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice
- Certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)
- Ability to obtain and/or maintain DEA certification for the State of Minnesota
- Meet threshold criteria/qualifications for Credentialing and Privileges
- At least 3 years of experience with inpatient-based care
- At least 3 years of experience with clinical and research information systems
- At least 3 years of experience with CDS (including alerts, health maintenance, ordersets, risk calculators, documentation guidance, clinical artificial intelligence, app-based decision support)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Education:
- Clinical informatics training or certification through AMIA or another recognized clinical informatics program or certification
- Preferred advanced degree or training in medical informatics or a master’s degree in computer science, Data Science, Health-related Science, Mathematics, Statistics, or other quantitative discipline
- Epic Physician Builder Certification or ability to obtain within 1 year
Experience:
- Preferred 5 or more years of post-training clinical experience following completion of APP training
- Preferred familiarity with the Epic EHR system, including its embedded AI capabilities, and working with health IT
- Project management
- Operational decision-making meetings
- Advanced experience applying predictive, generative, large language model–based, or agentic AI in clinical workflows and evaluating its clinical and operational impact
COMPENSATION
$147,784.00 - $213,470.40 Annual
INTRODUCTION
Fairview is seeking a Physician Assistant to join us as our Program Director - Associate CMIO – Inpatient. This role will provide clinical and informatics leadership to information technology (“IT”) projects within the inpatient setting. The Program Director - Associate CMIO - Inpatient will work with clinical, operational, and IT leaders across the enterprise for inpatient sites to provide strategy and guidance.
Admin FTE for this role is 0.6 and would be in addition to clinical pro-rated FTE.
Responsibilities:
- Clinical visioning and strategic planning for the electronic health record (“EHR”) and other health information technology (“HIT”)
- Determining optimal standardized workflows and encourage systematization for the benefit of Fairview and the patients we serve
- Leading IT prioritization and governance in the inpatient setting to optimize our IT investments and outcomes for the organization
- Advancing digital and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities
- Designing, configuring and optimizing EHR/HIT, data, and digital assets as partners with IT and operations
- Increasing the organization’s data and AI literacy and use of data for decision-making at various consumption points (e.g., health IT, clinical decision support, data assets)
- Working with clinical, operational, and IT leaders across the inpatient area to continue to deliver decision support to the inpatient setting (including alerts, ordersets, risk calculators, documentation guidance, clinical AI, app-based decision support)
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Graduate of an accredited PA training program
- Current licensure with the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice
- Certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)
- Ability to obtain and/or maintain DEA certification for the State of Minnesota
- Meet threshold criteria/qualifications for Credentialing and Privileges
- At least 3 years of experience with inpatient-based care
- At least 3 years of experience with clinical and research information systems
- At least 3 years of experience with CDS (including alerts, health maintenance, ordersets, risk calculators, documentation guidance, clinical artificial intelligence, app-based decision support)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Education:
- Clinical informatics training or certification through AMIA or another recognized clinical informatics program or certification
- Preferred advanced degree or training in medical informatics or a master’s degree in computer science, Data Science, Health-related Science, Mathematics, Statistics, or other quantitative discipline
- Epic Physician Builder Certification or ability to obtain within 1 year
Experience:
- Preferred 5 or more years of post-training clinical experience following completion of APP training
- Preferred familiarity with the Epic EHR system, including its embedded AI capabilities, and working with health IT
- Project management
- Operational decision-making meetings
- Advanced experience applying predictive, generative, large language model–based, or agentic AI in clinical workflows and evaluating its clinical and operational impact
COMPENSATION
$147,784.00 - $213,470.40 Annual
See all 173+ OPT Program Associate Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Program Associate
Target mission-driven organizations with established HR infrastructure
Nonprofits, research institutes, and advocacy organizations regularly hire Program Associates and often have experience sponsoring H-1B visa or O-1 visas. Larger organizations with dedicated HR teams are far more likely to navigate the sponsorship process than small startups.
Frame your degree as directly relevant to the role
Program Associate positions typically require a bachelor's degree in a related field. Make your application materials explicitly connect your degree in public policy, international relations, or social sciences to the program areas the organization works in.
Start your sponsorship conversation early, not at offer stage
Ask about visa sponsorship during the second-round interview, not after you receive an offer. Raising it early signals professionalism and gives the employer time to consult legal counsel before making a hiring decision that depends on it.
Quantify your program contributions during interviews
Employers hiring for Program Associate roles want evidence of project management and measurable impact. Citing specific outcomes, such as grant deliverables completed or community members served, strengthens your case and differentiates you from domestic candidates.
Understand how your OPT timeline affects the H-1B cap
H-1B petitions are filed in April for an October start date. Map your OPT expiration against this calendar. If your OPT ends before October, ask your employer about cap-gap coverage, which extends your authorization while a timely-filed petition is pending.
Highlight language skills and international program experience
Many Program Associate roles involve international partnerships, multilingual communities, or cross-border initiatives. Proficiency in a second language or direct overseas program experience makes you a uniquely competitive candidate that domestic applicants often cannot replicate.
Program Associate OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Program Associate jobs qualify for OPT work authorization?
Yes, most Program Associate positions qualify for OPT as long as the work is directly related to your degree field. A role in education program coordination would qualify for a student with a degree in education or public policy, for example. Your DSO can confirm whether a specific offer aligns with your authorized field of study before you accept.
Can I work as a Program Associate at a nonprofit on OPT?
Yes, nonprofits are valid OPT employers. The organization does not need to be a for-profit company, and there is no restriction on employer type under OPT rules. Nonprofits, government agencies, research institutions, and advocacy organizations all count, provided the work is full-time and directly related to your degree. Some nonprofits also have experience sponsoring H-1B visas, making them strong long-term options.
Does a Program Associate role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree, not the job title. If you hold a STEM-designated degree, such as data science, public health analytics, or computer science, and the Program Associate role involves work that applies that training, you may qualify for the 24-month STEM extension. The role itself does not need to be explicitly technical, but your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and agree to a formal training plan.
How do I find Program Associate jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters job listings by sponsorship and work authorization compatibility. Searching for Program Associate roles there surfaces employers already familiar with OPT and visa requirements, which saves time and reduces the frustration of applying to roles where immigration status is a barrier.
Will employers sponsor an H-1B for a Program Associate position?
Some will, particularly larger nonprofits, foundations, think tanks, and government contractors that regularly hire international talent. Program Associate roles generally qualify as specialty occupations under H-1B rules because they require at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field. Your strongest candidates are organizations that have sponsored before, which you can identify by reviewing past H-1B filings in public Department of Labor disclosure data.