OPT Project Administrator Jobs
Project Administrator roles involve coordinating timelines, managing documentation, and supporting cross-functional teams, making them a strong fit for OPT students with degrees in business, project management, or engineering. Most positions qualify as specialty occupations, which supports H-1B visa sponsorship down the line. Standard OPT gives you 12 months; STEM OPT can extend that to 36.
Find OPT Project Administrator JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 343+ Project Administrator jobs










See all 343+ Project Administrator Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Project Administrator roles.
Get Access To All Jobs
Description
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) seeks a PROJECT ADMINISTRATOR to coordinate administrative, personnel and logistical support for ongoing department project(s) or major sub-component(s) thereof. May provide specific technical support in area of expertise. Carries out established project objectives and directives. Work often consists of handling varied technical and/or administrative tasks. Assists researchers in research activities. May determine best approach to accomplish tasks but unusual problems are reviewed with Project Manager, Project Director or other superior.
Responsibilities:
-
Responsible for answering SON facilities office phone line, and then working with the SON facilities team, other SON departments, and other campus entities to triage/resolve caller problems/issues in a timely and efficient manner.
-
Responsible for submitting work orders to Campus Maintenance, Building Services, Grounds, Desktop Support, Key Control, Telecommunications, and a wide variety of other campus entities. This individual will also be responsible for managing and tracking these work orders through completion.
-
Prepares and processes Oracle requisitions and purchase orders as authorized.
-
Under the direction of the Manager of Facilities, Technical Operations, this individual will serve as a point of contact for scheduling SON conference rooms and classrooms. This includes the management of the SON Event Calendar.
-
Under the direction of the Manager of Facilities, Technical Operations, this individual will be responsible for maintaining the SON remote equipment listing and ensuring its accuracy.
-
Provides significant support for SON Events. This may include a variety of tasks from all stages of the event such as: participating in pre-event planning activities, physically supporting the check in process or the event itself, and breaking down/resetting the space after the event for the next group.
-
Works with the Project Administrator and Computer Technician to assist with AV support in SON classrooms and conference rooms on an as needed basis. This may include after hours or overtime work in unique situations.
-
Responsible for managing SON testing supplies. This includes pencils, calculators, and any other supplies needed for SON testing.
-
May serve as a backup for one of the SON project administrators for administering and collating testing laptops during SON exams.
-
Responsible for managing the student print/copy/scan kiosk and troubleshooting issues as they arise. This includes communicating with the vendor and tracking all issues until the kiosk is operational.
-
Responsible for entering and tracking all reported issues to ensure completion. This includes escalating issues to the Manager of Facilities, Technical Operations when needed/appropriate.
-
Participates in SON Event Planning meetings, and is responsible for providing minutes to the meeting participants within the agreed upon timelines.
-
Responsible for contacting SON Faculty and Staff when students or visitors need access or have meetings in areas of the SON they do not have authorization to.
-
May assist with room set-up/break-down for SON events or projects.
-
Assists with projects as directed such as monitoring AEDs, room usage, etc.
(Hourly Rate: $18.35 - $29.80)
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in a related field and two (2) years of progressively responsible administrative support experience required. Work experience may NOT substitute for education requirement.
The position requires someone to have a working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. To be successful in this position an individual should possess strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills. This role will require a high degree of attention to detail and accuracy.
UAB is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution dedicated to providing equal opportunities and equal access to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, sex (including pregnancy), genetic information, age, disability, and veteran's status. As required by Title IX, UAB prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to UAB's Assistant Vice President and Senior Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX notice of nondiscrimination is located at uab.edu/titleix.
Primary Location
: University
Job Category
: Clerical & Administrative
Organization
: 340000000 School of Nursing Dean's Office
Employee Status
: Regular
Shift: Day/1st Shift
Work Arrangement (final schedule to be determined by the department/hiring manager): Onsite
See all 343+ OPT Project Administrator Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Project Administrator Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Project Administrator
Target employers with active project portfolios
Companies running large infrastructure, IT, or construction projects hire Project Administrators regularly and are more likely to have established visa sponsorship processes. Look for employers with ongoing multi-year contracts rather than short-term engagements.
Clarify your OPT authorization upfront
When applying, note that you have current work authorization through OPT. Employers often confuse OPT with needing immediate H-1B visa sponsorship. Clarifying this removes a common early objection and keeps your application moving through the process.
Emphasize your degree connection to the role
Project Administrator roles qualify as specialty occupations when tied to a relevant degree field. In your application materials, explicitly connect your business, engineering, or management degree to the responsibilities listed in the job description.
Prioritize STEM-designated degree holders
If your degree qualifies for STEM OPT extension, highlight that in your applications. Employers sponsoring H-1B visas prefer candidates with a 36-month authorization window, as it gives them more time to file before the next lottery cycle.
Get PMP or CAPM certified before applying
Certifications like CAPM signal formal project management training and help justify the specialty occupation classification. They also differentiate you from candidates without credentials, which matters when employers are weighing the administrative effort of OPT paperwork.
Ask about H-1B sponsorship during the offer stage
Raise sponsorship intentions after receiving an offer, not during early interviews. At that point, the employer is already committed. Ask specifically whether they have sponsored H-1B workers before and whether they work with an immigration attorney.
Project Administrator OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Project Administrator on OPT?
Yes, Project Administrator roles are a strong match for OPT work authorization, provided the job relates to your degree field. A business, engineering, or management degree generally supports this connection. Your DSO can confirm the role qualifies before you accept an offer, which is worth doing to protect your OPT status.
Do Project Administrator jobs typically lead to H-1B sponsorship?
Many do, particularly at larger companies running multi-year projects in construction, IT, or consulting. Project Administrator roles can qualify as H-1B specialty occupations when the employer requires a specific degree for the position. Your best approach is to target employers who have sponsored H-1B workers in the past, which you can verify through public records.
How do I find Project Administrator jobs that sponsor OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters for employers open to sponsoring international candidates. Searching there gives you a curated list of Project Administrator roles where sponsorship is already part of the conversation, rather than an objection you have to overcome mid-process.
Does my degree need to match Project Administrator work exactly?
Not exactly, but there needs to be a clear connection. Degrees in business administration, industrial engineering, information systems, or construction management align naturally. If your degree is in a less obvious field, focus on coursework or concentrations that map to project coordination, scheduling, or operations. Your DSO can help you document the connection for your records.
What happens to my OPT status if my Project Administrator contract ends early?
If your employment ends before your OPT authorization expires, you enter a 60-day grace period during which you must find new qualifying employment or leave the country. Project Administrator roles on fixed-term contracts carry this risk, so it is worth asking about contract length and renewal likelihood before accepting a position.