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.
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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 184+ OPT Program Director Jobs
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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.