OPT Project Development Manager Jobs
Project Development Manager jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with backgrounds in engineering, business, or urban planning. Most roles qualify as STEM OPT extensions when tied to technical project portfolios. Your 12-month OPT window, or up to 36 months with a STEM extension, gives employers a meaningful runway to evaluate you.
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INTRODUCTION
Schneider Electric™ creates connected technologies that reshape industries, transform cities and enrich lives. Our 144,000 employees thrive in more than 100 countries. From the simplest of switches to complex operational systems, our technology, software and services improve the way our customers manage and automate their operations. Help us deliver solutions that ensure Life Is On everywhere, for everyone and at every moment.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Project Development Manager I is responsible for development of the performance contracting projects in achieving the project’s objectives. S/he works closely with the Customer, Project Sales Lead, Project Sponsor(s), and Development Team to define the project objectives and create and execute a plan for maximizing the customer current operations through strategic alignment with their vision and mission. The Project Development Manager I has a working knowledge of the technical and organizational environments in which the project scopes of work will be implemented. The Project Development Manager I must be an excellent collaborator with all the functions associated with the development of complex projects. The Project Development Manager I exhibits strong leadership qualities, is a strategic thinker and can adapt to scope changes to bring value to our customers. The Project Development Manager I is responsible for developing client relationship through technical leadership and customer client satisfaction.
Primary Duties: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each primary duty satisfactorily.
Scope: Small to Medium sized projects with traditional scope complexity, medium need for internal and external coordination. Traditional customer vertical markets of: K-12 education, post-secondary, small/medium municipal and county government.
- Project Safety
- Develop safety strategy for the project and communicate safety requirements to all project team members and subcontractors
- Ensure safety strategy, safety audits and required job hazard analysis and risk assessments are performed
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Ensure all personnel and subcontractors are familiar and adhere to Schneider Electric safe work practices and alignment with customer safety requirements
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Customer Satisfaction
- Collaborate with customer to identify and understand the customer’s mission and vision
- Develop a project strategy that aligns with the customer’s mission and vision and operational needs
- Ensure customer satisfaction by identifying and exceeding project expectations
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Facilitate the technical communication and presentation in customer project
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Leadership Management
- Demonstrate servant leadership with project team to provide team with direction and tools to be successful
- Innovation leader driving creative solutions and new ideas to exceed customers’ expectations and deliver on project goals
- Develop project charter and communication cadence for collaboration of project efforts
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Provide technical leadership on the review of scopes of work, review of project deliverables and customer stakeholder management
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Technical Project Management
- Responsible for developing scope, coordinating technical strategy, project financials, customer reports and final contract
- Lead the effort in defining project scope and acquiring scope of work estimates that meet or exceed the customer and regional goals and objectives
- Review and ensure project estimates are accurate and the project scope is executable within the budget
- Direct the methodologies of performing energy savings calculations and identify any risk associated with the projections
- Review savings projections to ensure plausibility and identify any financial risk
- Prepare final project costs in financial tools for turnkey construction of scope of work
- Coordinate technical and management reviews
- Prepare technical reports
- Organize, develop and negotiate Design Professional Agreements (DPA)
- Responsible for the coordination of efforts, quality control and completion construction contract
- Complete the RITE Review documents and facilitate Signature level authority as indicated by the Authorization Level Document
- Monitor the project and report the project status to the management team on a regular basis
- Manage the timely resolution of issues, including the escalation of issues that are outside the project team’s scope of responsibility. Track risks and ensure execution of corrective action plans until project closure
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Other duties may be assigned
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Business and Strategy Management
- Collaborate with Sales, Construction and Performance Assurance for alignment of project goals, strategy, scope, costs and project requirements
- Develop the Project Plan, Schedule and Budget for the Development Phase of the Project
- Collaborate with internal and external teams on budget, phasing and scope of work deliverables to meet the project plan
- Coordinate internal and external teams for facility audits and site access on customer sites
- Lead with Sales Lead, customer kickoff meetings and scope debriefs
- Identify and coordinate internal and external resources required to achieve project objectives
- Identify schedule and budget constraints and opportunities to achieve project strategy
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Education/Certification Required: 4-year college degree or technical degree, and/or relative experience required. Professional Engineering license, or ability to obtain is beneficial; PMP certification is recommended, CEM certification and LEED accreditation are pluses.
Experience Required: Relative engineering and project management experience (3-6 years related work experience preferred). In addition, the candidate will demonstrate a thorough knowledge of performance contracting, project development process and energy use in building systems. An understanding of energy performance contracts or energy focused design-build projects in lower and higher education or municipal facilities is highly beneficial.
Skills:
- Strong communication (written and verbal) and project management / organization skills required, but not limited to the ability to:
- handle multiple demands and assignments
- prioritize tasks effectively and efficiently
- manage resource procurement and utilization
- influence and persuade internal and external Customers
- listen effectively and solicit input from others
- Excellent time management and organization skills required
- Proficient in Microsoft Office programs, including knowledge of MS Project, Word, and Excel required
- Financial acumen and understanding preferred
- Passionate about customer service and team success required
- Leadership skills: team building, empower and delegate authority, ability to build rapport and consensus required
- Good understanding of contract procedures and tactics preferred
- Knowledge of contract law, codes, standards, and industry construction knowledge preferred
- Ability to lead scope development analysis new technologies, innovations and/or solutions preferred
- Ability to manage change management and continuous improvement preferred
Travel: Travel will vary, but may require travel greater than 25% of the time.
Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the primary duties of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary duties.
Moving over rough or uneven surfaces; recurring bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, or similar activities; recurring lifting of moderately heavy to light items. Transporting of items such as a laptop computer and luggage; driving an automobile, etc.
Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the primary duties of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary duties.
While performing the primary functions of the job, the employee is regularly exposed to a general office environment. During periods of project site visits, the employee will be exposed to outside weather conditions as well as mechanical equipment rooms, which could consist of confined spaces and loud noises. Employee may work in different environments while on various job sites. This job requires work to be performed on project sites and thus will require greater than 25% travel to project sites. Travel will occur using an automobile or by airplane to destinations.
Let us learn about you! Apply today.
COMPANY CULTURE
Looking to make an IMPACT with your career?
When you are thinking about joining a new team, culture matters. At Schneider Electric, our values and behaviors are the foundation for creating a great culture to support business success. We believe that our IMPACT values – Inclusion, Mastery, Purpose, Action, Curiosity, Teamwork – starts with us.
IMPACT is also your invitation to join Schneider Electric where you can contribute to turning sustainability ambition into actions, no matter what role you play. It is a call to connect your career with the ambition of achieving a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable world.
We are looking for IMPACT Makers; exceptional people who turn sustainability ambitions into actions at the intersection of automation, electrification, and digitization. We celebrate IMPACT Makers and believe everyone has the potential to be one.
Become an IMPACT Maker with Schneider Electric – apply today!
€40 billion global revenue
+9% organic growth
150,000+ employees in 100+ countries
You must submit an online application to be considered for any position with us. This position will be posted until filled.
Schneider Electric aspires to be the most inclusive and caring company in the world, by providing equitable opportunities to everyone, everywhere, and ensuring all employees feel uniquely valued and safe to contribute their best. We mirror the diversity of the communities in which we operate, and ‘inclusion’ is one of our core values. We believe our differences make us stronger as a company and as individuals and we are committed to championing inclusivity in everything we do.
At Schneider Electric, we uphold the highest standards of ethics and compliance, and we believe that trust is a foundational value. Our Trust Charter is our Code of Conduct and demonstrates our commitment to ethics, safety, sustainability, quality and cybersecurity, underpinning every aspect of our business and our willingness to behave and respond respectfully and in good faith to all our stakeholders.
Schneider Electric is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities in the areas of recruiting, hiring, training, transferring, and promoting all qualified individuals regardless of race, religion, color, gender, disability, national origin, ancestry, age, military status, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other legally protected characteristic or conduct.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Project Development Manager
Lead with your technical project experience
Project Development Managers are expected to manage complex deliverables from conception to completion. Highlight specific projects you've led or contributed to, including scope, stakeholders, and outcomes. Employers need evidence you can own a project lifecycle independently.
Clarify your STEM OPT eligibility upfront
If your degree is in engineering, computer science, or a related STEM field, you likely qualify for a 24-month STEM extension. Mentioning this early removes a common employer hesitation and signals you've thought through your authorization timeline already.
Target employers with active project pipelines
Construction firms, infrastructure developers, tech companies, and energy organizations regularly hire for this role. Companies with multi-year project roadmaps are more motivated to sponsor long-term because turnover mid-project is costly to them operationally.
Earn a PMP or CAPM certification before applying
Project Management Professional credentials signal credibility to hiring managers and reduce perceived risk in sponsoring an OPT candidate. Even a CAPM, which has lower experience requirements, meaningfully strengthens your application against candidates with longer work histories.
Address sponsorship directly in your cover letter
Employers often assume OPT sponsorship is complicated. A brief, confident explanation that you're authorized for 12 months with potential STEM extension, and that H-1B visa sponsorship comes later, removes ambiguity and prevents early-stage rejections based on misunderstanding.
Quantify project outcomes on your resume
Generic descriptions like 'managed projects' won't stand out. Use metrics: budget controlled, timeline adherence percentage, team size, or efficiency improvements delivered. Quantified results help employers assess your readiness for independent project ownership quickly and confidently.
Project Development Manager OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Project Development Manager on F-1 OPT?
Yes. Project Development Manager roles qualify for F-1 OPT as long as the position is directly related to your field of study. If your degree is in engineering, business, urban planning, or a related discipline, this role typically satisfies that requirement. You can work for any employer willing to hire you without needing USCIS approval for each job change during your OPT period.
Does a Project Development Manager role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree, not the job title itself. If you hold a qualifying STEM degree, such as engineering, computer science, or information systems, and the Project Development Manager role involves applying that technical knowledge, your employer can sign the required training plan (Form I-983) to support your 24-month STEM extension. Roles in tech, infrastructure, and energy development are especially strong fits for this designation.
How do I find Project Development Manager jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Browse Migrate Mate to find Project Development Manager openings from employers who are actively open to sponsoring F-1 OPT and visa candidates. Filtering by sponsorship willingness saves significant time compared to applying broadly and discovering late in the process that an employer won't support work authorization. Focusing your search this way also improves your conversion rate from application to interview.
Will employers sponsor H-1B after my OPT ends for this type of role?
Many employers in construction, technology, infrastructure, and energy do sponsor H-1B visas for Project Development Managers because replacing mid-project leadership is expensive and disruptive. Your best indicator is whether the company has sponsored H-1B candidates in the past, which is publicly searchable through USCIS disclosure data. Prioritize employers with a documented sponsorship history when evaluating opportunities.
What degree backgrounds qualify an OPT student for Project Development Manager jobs?
Employers most commonly accept degrees in civil or mechanical engineering, construction management, urban planning, business administration, or environmental science for this role. The key requirement is that your coursework and skills are demonstrably relevant to managing project development workflows. Degrees in engineering or technical fields also open the door to STEM OPT, which significantly extends your authorized work period and improves your candidacy for sponsorship conversations.