OPT Project Assistant Jobs
Project Assistant jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students because the role's coordination and planning work aligns directly with business, engineering, and liberal arts degrees. Most positions qualify for standard 12-month OPT, and STEM-adjacent project roles in tech or operations may qualify for the 24-month STEM extension.
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Assistant Project Manager
Job Description Summary
The Assistant Project Manager is responsible for assisting the Project Manager in overseeing and delivering Project & Development Services that meet the requirements and goals of the client. Responsible for developing project management skills with understanding of project management business.
Job Description
Essential Job Duties:
- Assist with managing all phases of a project including planning, design, construction, FF&E, technology, move management, and occupancy.
- Compile project scopes, budgets and schedules.
- Read and understand documents defining project, including but not limited to agreements, leases, work letters, project charters, surveys, budgets, schedules, drawings, and meeting minutes.
- Establish and maintain client focus through performance goals, deliverables, reports, and value-added services.
- Prepare meeting minutes, project status reports, process purchase orders, update tracking reports, and maintain files for due diligence and financials.
- Procure and manage local architects, engineers, general contractors and subcontractors, and specialty vendors.
- Ensure all project participants understand project goals, assumptions, constraints, and deliverables.
- Provide superior client service to internal and external clients.
- May have full ownership and responsibility for smaller, less complex projects.
Education/Experience/Training:
- Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, Business Administration, or related field.
- Requires 1-3 years of experience in a related role.
- Developing project management skills with understanding of project management business.
- Able to develop excellent client relations, client management and consultation skills.
- Highly organized with strong research, organizational, and analytical skills.
- Strong prioritization and problem-solving skills.
- Basic understanding of accounting principles.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to prepare, track, and manage project scopes, costs, and schedules.
- Familiarity with architectural/engineer drawings, space planning concepts, furniture systems and ancillary products, and technical systems.
- Strong software competency: Microsoft Office Suite, MS Project, Adobe Acrobat.
Cushman & Wakefield also provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health, vision, and dental insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life, and disability insurance programs, and paid and unpaid time away from work. In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, Cushman and Wakefield provide eligible employees with competitive pay, which may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, total hours worked, job type, business line, and applicability of collective bargaining agreements.
The compensation that will be offered to the successful candidate will depend on factors such as whether the position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement, the geographic area in which the work will be performed, market pay rates in that area, and the candidate’s experience and qualifications.
The company will not pay less than minimum wage for this role.
The compensation for the position is: $28.90 - $34.00.
Cushman & Wakefield is an Equal Opportunity employer to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Discrimination of any type will not be tolerated.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position at Cushman & Wakefield, please call the ADA line at 1-888-365-5406 or email Accommodations@cushwake.com. Please refer to the job title and job location when you contact us.
Job Title
Assistant Project Manager
Job Description Summary
The Assistant Project Manager is responsible for assisting the Project Manager in overseeing and delivering Project & Development Services that meet the requirements and goals of the client. Responsible for developing project management skills with understanding of project management business.
Job Description
Essential Job Duties:
- Assist with managing all phases of a project including planning, design, construction, FF&E, technology, move management, and occupancy.
- Compile project scopes, budgets and schedules.
- Read and understand documents defining project, including but not limited to agreements, leases, work letters, project charters, surveys, budgets, schedules, drawings, and meeting minutes.
- Establish and maintain client focus through performance goals, deliverables, reports, and value-added services.
- Prepare meeting minutes, project status reports, process purchase orders, update tracking reports, and maintain files for due diligence and financials.
- Procure and manage local architects, engineers, general contractors and subcontractors, and specialty vendors.
- Ensure all project participants understand project goals, assumptions, constraints, and deliverables.
- Provide superior client service to internal and external clients.
- May have full ownership and responsibility for smaller, less complex projects.
Education/Experience/Training:
- Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, Business Administration, or related field.
- Requires 1-3 years of experience in a related role.
- Developing project management skills with understanding of project management business.
- Able to develop excellent client relations, client management and consultation skills.
- Highly organized with strong research, organizational, and analytical skills.
- Strong prioritization and problem-solving skills.
- Basic understanding of accounting principles.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to prepare, track, and manage project scopes, costs, and schedules.
- Familiarity with architectural/engineer drawings, space planning concepts, furniture systems and ancillary products, and technical systems.
- Strong software competency: Microsoft Office Suite, MS Project, Adobe Acrobat.
Cushman & Wakefield also provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health, vision, and dental insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life, and disability insurance programs, and paid and unpaid time away from work. In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, Cushman and Wakefield provide eligible employees with competitive pay, which may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, total hours worked, job type, business line, and applicability of collective bargaining agreements.
The compensation that will be offered to the successful candidate will depend on factors such as whether the position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement, the geographic area in which the work will be performed, market pay rates in that area, and the candidate’s experience and qualifications.
The company will not pay less than minimum wage for this role.
The compensation for the position is: $28.90 - $34.00.
Cushman & Wakefield is an Equal Opportunity employer to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Discrimination of any type will not be tolerated.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position at Cushman & Wakefield, please call the ADA line at 1-888-365-5406 or email Accommodations@cushwake.com. Please refer to the job title and job location when you contact us.
See all 713+ OPT Project Assistant Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Project Assistant
Lead with your degree connection
Project Assistant roles require a direct tie between your job duties and your field of study for OPT authorization. Frame your application around how your degree prepared you for planning, coordination, or stakeholder management in that specific industry.
Target employers familiar with OPT
Mid-size and large companies with established HR teams are more likely to have processed OPT authorization before. Browse Migrate Mate to identify employers in your field who have a track record of hiring international students into project support roles.
Clarify your OPT timeline upfront
Project Assistants are often hired for defined project cycles. Make clear how much OPT time you have remaining and whether you qualify for a STEM extension, so employers can plan around your authorization window without surprises mid-project.
Emphasize tools and methodologies on your resume
Employers hiring Project Assistants look for familiarity with project management tools and frameworks. Listing specific skills signals immediate productivity and reduces the perceived cost of hiring someone who needs visa authorization to start work.
Address the sponsorship question directly
Many employers confuse OPT with H-1B visa sponsorship. Be ready to explain that OPT is already authorized work authorization requiring nothing from the employer except normal onboarding. A short, confident explanation removes the most common hiring hesitation.
Apply early relative to your OPT start date
Project teams often need assistants to start on a fixed schedule tied to project kick-offs. Starting your search at least 60 to 90 days before your OPT start date gives employers enough runway to move through hiring without feeling constrained by your authorization timeline.
Project Assistant OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Project Assistant role qualify for OPT work authorization?
Yes, as long as the position is directly related to your field of study. A business administration graduate working as a Project Assistant in operations or consulting would qualify. An engineering graduate in a project support role within a technical team would also qualify. USCIS requires the job duties, not just the title, to connect to your degree.
Can I qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension as a Project Assistant?
It depends on your degree and the employer. If you hold a STEM-designated degree and the Project Assistant role is at an E-Verify employer in a qualifying field, such as engineering operations or data-driven project management, you may be eligible for the STEM extension. The role itself must still be directly tied to your STEM field of study.
How do I explain OPT work authorization to a Project Assistant employer who hasn't hired international students before?
Keep it simple: OPT is a federal work authorization program that allows F-1 students to work in their field of study for up to 12 months after graduation, with no action required from the employer beyond standard I-9 verification. You can show your Employment Authorization Document as proof. Most employers who hire Project Assistants already complete I-9s for every hire, so the process is familiar even if the document isn't.
Where can I find Project Assistant jobs that are open to OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters for employers open to candidates on work authorization. Searching there saves time compared to applying broadly and discovering late in the process that a company doesn't hire on OPT. Project Assistant roles across business, tech, nonprofits, and consulting are regularly listed.
What happens if my Project Assistant contract ends before my OPT expires?
Your OPT authorization remains valid through its expiration date, so you can job search and accept another qualifying role without losing status. However, you are allowed a maximum of 90 days of unemployment during standard OPT. Starting your next job search as soon as you know the contract end date is important to stay within that limit.