OPT Program Director Jobs
Program Director jobs on OPT require employers willing to sponsor H-1B visa or provide OPT extension support. Most roles fall under specialty occupation criteria through a relevant advanced degree. STEM OPT extension is uncommon for this title unless the position sits within a qualifying STEM field.
See All OPT Program Director JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 707+ Program Director jobs
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
See all 707+ Program Director Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Program Director roles.
Get Access To All JobsThank you for considering a career at Mercy College of Ohio!
Scheduled Weekly Hours:
40
Work Shift:
Days/Afternoons (United States of America)
The PA Program Director has primary responsibility for the organization, administration, fiscal management, and strategic leadership of the Physician Assistant (PA) Program, including supervision of the Medical Director, principal faculty, instructional faculty, and program staff. The Program Director ensures effective communication and collaboration among internal and external stakeholders, while overseeing continuous programmatic review, outcomes assessment, and data-driven improvement of the curriculum. The Program Director ensures ongoing compliance with ARC-PA Standards and policies, including timely submission of accreditation reports and related documentation and maintenance of continuing accreditation status.
Essential Job Duties
- Ensure the delivery of high-quality didactic education and supervised clinical practice experiences at all approved sites for students to meet program competencies, learning outcomes, and accreditation requirements for continuous programmatic review and analysis.
- Oversight of PA program assessment plan/adherence to ODHE, HLC and ARC-PA standards/criteria including required reports, site visits and other accreditation responsibilities.
- The Program Director ensures effective communication across all stakeholders, including faculty, staff, students, institutional administration, clinical affiliates, the PA Advisory Committee, and ARC-PA.
- Supervises the medical director, principal and instructional faculty in activities that directly relate to the PA Program.
- Work closely with the Dean of Health Sciences in the maintenance of the Physician Assistant Program as well as its continued strategic and operational activities. Collaborate with the Enrollment Management team to facilitate the admission process for the PA students utilizing the centralized application system (CASPA) including recruitment, marketing materials, website, catalog language, etc. Development, oversight, and stewardship of the program budget to ensure adequate resources are allocated to support the program’s operations and responsibilities to its students. Teaching, scholarship, service, and other expectations, as outlined for a full-time program director/faculty member.
- This document is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, or working conditions associated with the job. Employees may be required to perform other job related duties as required by their supervisor, subject to reasonable accommodation.
Employment Qualifications
Required Minimum Education:
Graduate Degree (Masters)
Specialty/Major: Physician Assistant
Preferred Education:
Post Graduate Degree (Ph.D)
Specialty/Major: Earned doctorate (PhD, EdD, DHSc, etc. relevant to PA Profession/Job position)
Licensure/Certification Required:
Good standing and current National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) certification and State of OH license or license eligible or emeritus NCCPA certification status.
Licensure/Certification Preferred:
PA licensure in the State of Ohio
Minimum Years and Type of Experience Required:
3-5 years as a Physician Assistant, 3-5 years as a PA program faculty member with successful administrative role within a Master of Physician Assistant Studies program. Experience with ARC-PA accreditation process; ability to teach and to manage an academic department; ability to communicate effectively with internal and external constituencies. This position requires that the incumbent qualify for rank at the Assistant Professor or above level.
Minimum Years and Type of Experience Preferred:
Knowledge of ODHE, HLC and higher education compliance policies. Record of health-related scholarly activity; strong project management experience; record of service to institution/community.
Mercy College of Ohio is an equal opportunity employer.
As a Mercy College of Ohio associate, you're part of a Mission that matters. We support your well-being—personally and professionally. Our benefits are built to grow with you and meet your unique needs, every step of the way.
What we offer
- Competitive pay, incentives, referral bonuses and 403(b) with employer contributions (when eligible)
- Medical, dental, vision, prescription coverage, HSA/FSA options, life insurance, mental health resources and discounts
- Paid time off, parental and FMLA leave, short- and long-term disability, backup care for children and elders
- Tuition assistance, professional development and continuing education support
Benefits may vary based on the market and employment status.
Department:
It is our policy to abide by all Federal and State laws, as well as, the requirements of 41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a). Accordingly, all applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetic information, or protected veteran status, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. If you’d like to view a copy of the affirmative action plan or policy statement for Mercy Health– Youngstown, Ohio or Bon Secours – Franklin, Virginia; Petersburg, Virginia; and Emporia, Virginia, which are Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer, please email recruitment@mercy.com. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation as part of the employment selection process, please contact The Talent Acquisition Team at recruitment@mercy.com.
Thank you for considering a career at Mercy College of Ohio!
Scheduled Weekly Hours:
40
Work Shift:
Days/Afternoons (United States of America)
The PA Program Director has primary responsibility for the organization, administration, fiscal management, and strategic leadership of the Physician Assistant (PA) Program, including supervision of the Medical Director, principal faculty, instructional faculty, and program staff. The Program Director ensures effective communication and collaboration among internal and external stakeholders, while overseeing continuous programmatic review, outcomes assessment, and data-driven improvement of the curriculum. The Program Director ensures ongoing compliance with ARC-PA Standards and policies, including timely submission of accreditation reports and related documentation and maintenance of continuing accreditation status.
Essential Job Duties
- Ensure the delivery of high-quality didactic education and supervised clinical practice experiences at all approved sites for students to meet program competencies, learning outcomes, and accreditation requirements for continuous programmatic review and analysis.
- Oversight of PA program assessment plan/adherence to ODHE, HLC and ARC-PA standards/criteria including required reports, site visits and other accreditation responsibilities.
- The Program Director ensures effective communication across all stakeholders, including faculty, staff, students, institutional administration, clinical affiliates, the PA Advisory Committee, and ARC-PA.
- Supervises the medical director, principal and instructional faculty in activities that directly relate to the PA Program.
- Work closely with the Dean of Health Sciences in the maintenance of the Physician Assistant Program as well as its continued strategic and operational activities. Collaborate with the Enrollment Management team to facilitate the admission process for the PA students utilizing the centralized application system (CASPA) including recruitment, marketing materials, website, catalog language, etc. Development, oversight, and stewardship of the program budget to ensure adequate resources are allocated to support the program’s operations and responsibilities to its students. Teaching, scholarship, service, and other expectations, as outlined for a full-time program director/faculty member.
- This document is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, or working conditions associated with the job. Employees may be required to perform other job related duties as required by their supervisor, subject to reasonable accommodation.
Employment Qualifications
Required Minimum Education:
Graduate Degree (Masters)
Specialty/Major: Physician Assistant
Preferred Education:
Post Graduate Degree (Ph.D)
Specialty/Major: Earned doctorate (PhD, EdD, DHSc, etc. relevant to PA Profession/Job position)
Licensure/Certification Required:
Good standing and current National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) certification and State of OH license or license eligible or emeritus NCCPA certification status.
Licensure/Certification Preferred:
PA licensure in the State of Ohio
Minimum Years and Type of Experience Required:
3-5 years as a Physician Assistant, 3-5 years as a PA program faculty member with successful administrative role within a Master of Physician Assistant Studies program. Experience with ARC-PA accreditation process; ability to teach and to manage an academic department; ability to communicate effectively with internal and external constituencies. This position requires that the incumbent qualify for rank at the Assistant Professor or above level.
Minimum Years and Type of Experience Preferred:
Knowledge of ODHE, HLC and higher education compliance policies. Record of health-related scholarly activity; strong project management experience; record of service to institution/community.
Mercy College of Ohio is an equal opportunity employer.
As a Mercy College of Ohio associate, you're part of a Mission that matters. We support your well-being—personally and professionally. Our benefits are built to grow with you and meet your unique needs, every step of the way.
What we offer
- Competitive pay, incentives, referral bonuses and 403(b) with employer contributions (when eligible)
- Medical, dental, vision, prescription coverage, HSA/FSA options, life insurance, mental health resources and discounts
- Paid time off, parental and FMLA leave, short- and long-term disability, backup care for children and elders
- Tuition assistance, professional development and continuing education support
Benefits may vary based on the market and employment status.
Department:
It is our policy to abide by all Federal and State laws, as well as, the requirements of 41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a). Accordingly, all applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetic information, or protected veteran status, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. If you’d like to view a copy of the affirmative action plan or policy statement for Mercy Health– Youngstown, Ohio or Bon Secours – Franklin, Virginia; Petersburg, Virginia; and Emporia, Virginia, which are Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer, please email recruitment@mercy.com. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation as part of the employment selection process, please contact The Talent Acquisition Team at recruitment@mercy.com.
See all 707+ OPT Program Director Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Program Director Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Program Director
Target mission-driven and funded organizations
Nonprofits, research institutions, and government-funded agencies hire Program Directors regularly and have established HR processes for OPT. These employers are more accustomed to visa timelines than early-stage startups with no immigration infrastructure.
Lead with your degree field, not just your title
Program Director is a broad title. Employers and USCIS care whether your degree aligns with the role's core function. Frame your background around the discipline your program manages, whether that's public health, education, technology, or international development.
Address OPT status early in the process
Senior roles involve lengthy hiring processes. Bring up your work authorization status before final-round interviews to avoid late-stage rejections. Employers invested in a candidate are far more willing to discuss sponsorship than ones who feel surprised by it.
Quantify your program outcomes before applying
Program Directors are hired to deliver results. Prepare two or three concrete examples with measurable impact before your first interview. Employers sponsoring a visa need confidence the investment is worth it, and numbers build that case faster than any other evidence.
Clarify whether STEM OPT applies to your situation
If your degree is in a STEM-designated field and the role involves substantial technical or analytical work, you may qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension. Confirm your CIP code with your DSO before relying on this as part of your job search strategy.
Use Migrate Mate to filter for sponsoring employers
Not every Program Director opening comes with visa support. Migrate Mate surfaces roles from employers actively hiring OPT students, saving you the effort of filtering out positions that will not consider candidates requiring sponsorship.
Program Director OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Program Director on OPT?
Yes, if the role qualifies as a specialty occupation tied to your degree field. Program Director positions that require a specific bachelor's or advanced degree in a relevant discipline, such as public health, education administration, or computer science, generally meet this standard. Roles that accept any degree regardless of field are harder to support under OPT or future H-1B visa sponsorship.
Does a Program Director role qualify for STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree's CIP code and how the role is classified by the employer. If your degree is in a STEM-designated field and the Program Director position centers on technical, scientific, or analytical work, the employer may be able to support a STEM OPT extension. Confirm your eligibility with your designated school official before assuming this option is available.
What types of employers hire Program Directors on OPT?
Universities, research centers, nonprofits, public health agencies, and technology companies are the most consistent sources of Program Director roles with OPT-friendly hiring practices. These organizations typically have HR teams familiar with work authorization requirements. You can browse employers currently hiring on Migrate Mate, which filters for companies open to sponsoring OPT candidates.
How does my OPT end date affect the Program Director hiring process?
Program Director searches often run 60 to 90 days or longer because of the seniority level involved. If your OPT expires within three to four months, prioritize employers with existing H-1B sponsorship infrastructure who can move quickly. Starting your search with enough runway to complete a full hiring process significantly reduces the risk of a gap in work authorization.
Will employers sponsor H-1B for a Program Director role?
Many will, but sponsorship is not automatic. Employers need to file a Labor Condition Application and submit an H-1B petition, which takes time and legal resources. Organizations that have sponsored visas before are more likely to do so again. When evaluating opportunities, prioritize employers with a track record of H-1B filings, which you can identify through public disclosure data from the Department of Labor.