OPT Public Health Jobs
Public health roles in epidemiology, health policy, biostatistics, and community health frequently qualify for OPT work authorization, including the 24-month STEM extension for quantitative-heavy positions. Most employers in government agencies, nonprofits, and research institutions are familiar with OPT and actively hire international candidates.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The New Mexico Department of Justice (NMDOJ) has broad statutory authority over civil legal matters and proceedings involving the state, fighting public corruption at all levels, and representing and administering a wide variety of laws that benefit the people of New Mexico. These broad responsibilities are addressed by various bureaus within the NMDOJ, including Government Counsel and Accountability, Government Litigation, Environmental Protection, Consumer Affairs, as well as by the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) (administratively attached to the NMDOJ).
The Civil Investigations Bureau of the NMDOJ provides investigative support for these bureaus and the OCA, handling civil investigations across the state as directed by the Attorney General. Among other matters, the Civil Investigations Bureau looks into alleged violations of New Mexico's Sunshine Laws -- the Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) and the Open Meetings Act (OMA), violations of regulatory standards by individuals licensed/certified by state boards and commissions, violations of environmental protection laws by businesses and individuals, unfair and deceptive business practices in violation of consumer protection laws, and the violation of laws and rules relating to child and family welfare.
This posting will be used for ongoing recruitment and may close at any time. Applicant lists may be screened more than once.
As a valued New Mexico Department of Justice employee, you will receive a hiring bonus of forty (40) hours of leave at your start date to be used at any time. This is in addition to standard leave accrual for employees.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Public Safety Investigator position conducts investigations for the Civil Investigations Bureau of the NMDOJ. The position will exercise independent judgment under general supervision, as well as a high degree of professionalism and confidentiality while interacting with agency leadership, elected officials, government agencies, legal professionals, law enforcement, community partners, and the public.
The Public Safety Investigator position:
- Reviews and responds to complaints and allegations of violations of laws and rules.
- Helps coordinate complex, financial and analytical investigations.
- Initiates and serves subpoenas on targets, victims, and witnesses and for documents and other evidentiary items; serves notices and other legal documents as required.
- Interviews and obtains statements and affidavits from targets, victims, and witnesses.
- Conducts interviews, research, surveillance activities.
- Collects and analyzes information and related evidence and other facts relating to organizational entities and individuals being investigated; may include interview statements, agreements, financial records, confidential records, other documentary evidence, physical aspects, social media, telephone and email and other communication records, police records, and other public and law enforcement information.
- Creates concise written reports, charts, graphs, and spreadsheets to reflect information gathered through investigations, interviews, research, review of public records, and review of other evidence.
- Reviews reports of investigation to ensure completeness and proper application of governing laws and regulations.
- Cooperates with regulatory and law enforcement agencies.
- Testifies in administrative and civil hearings and other proceedings concerning investigative findings.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Any combination of education from an accredited college or university in a related field and/or direct experience in this occupation totaling four (4) years may substitute for the required education.
EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS
Candidate must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License and current Defensive Driving Course Certification from the State of New Mexico; or must obtain a Defensive Driving Course Certification within six (6) months of hire as a condition of continued employment.
Incumbent must submit to and pass an extensive background investigation.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is performed primarily in an office setting with frequent and extended use of computers, telephones, and video conferencing systems. The role may involve frequent interaction with agency staff, management, and executive leadership, often in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities and time-sensitive requests.
Occasional travel, particularly between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, may be required to support agency operations and meetings. Travel is conducted during regular office hours in a state vehicle.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Do you know what Total Compensation is? Click here
Agency Contact Information: Jessica Cooper, JCooper@nmdoj.gov, Email
For information on Statutory Requirements for this position, click the Classification Description link on the job advertisement.
Bargaining Unit Position
This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
INTRODUCTION
The New Mexico Department of Justice (NMDOJ) has broad statutory authority over civil legal matters and proceedings involving the state, fighting public corruption at all levels, and representing and administering a wide variety of laws that benefit the people of New Mexico. These broad responsibilities are addressed by various bureaus within the NMDOJ, including Government Counsel and Accountability, Government Litigation, Environmental Protection, Consumer Affairs, as well as by the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) (administratively attached to the NMDOJ).
The Civil Investigations Bureau of the NMDOJ provides investigative support for these bureaus and the OCA, handling civil investigations across the state as directed by the Attorney General. Among other matters, the Civil Investigations Bureau looks into alleged violations of New Mexico's Sunshine Laws -- the Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) and the Open Meetings Act (OMA), violations of regulatory standards by individuals licensed/certified by state boards and commissions, violations of environmental protection laws by businesses and individuals, unfair and deceptive business practices in violation of consumer protection laws, and the violation of laws and rules relating to child and family welfare.
This posting will be used for ongoing recruitment and may close at any time. Applicant lists may be screened more than once.
As a valued New Mexico Department of Justice employee, you will receive a hiring bonus of forty (40) hours of leave at your start date to be used at any time. This is in addition to standard leave accrual for employees.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Public Safety Investigator position conducts investigations for the Civil Investigations Bureau of the NMDOJ. The position will exercise independent judgment under general supervision, as well as a high degree of professionalism and confidentiality while interacting with agency leadership, elected officials, government agencies, legal professionals, law enforcement, community partners, and the public.
The Public Safety Investigator position:
- Reviews and responds to complaints and allegations of violations of laws and rules.
- Helps coordinate complex, financial and analytical investigations.
- Initiates and serves subpoenas on targets, victims, and witnesses and for documents and other evidentiary items; serves notices and other legal documents as required.
- Interviews and obtains statements and affidavits from targets, victims, and witnesses.
- Conducts interviews, research, surveillance activities.
- Collects and analyzes information and related evidence and other facts relating to organizational entities and individuals being investigated; may include interview statements, agreements, financial records, confidential records, other documentary evidence, physical aspects, social media, telephone and email and other communication records, police records, and other public and law enforcement information.
- Creates concise written reports, charts, graphs, and spreadsheets to reflect information gathered through investigations, interviews, research, review of public records, and review of other evidence.
- Reviews reports of investigation to ensure completeness and proper application of governing laws and regulations.
- Cooperates with regulatory and law enforcement agencies.
- Testifies in administrative and civil hearings and other proceedings concerning investigative findings.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Any combination of education from an accredited college or university in a related field and/or direct experience in this occupation totaling four (4) years may substitute for the required education.
EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS
Candidate must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License and current Defensive Driving Course Certification from the State of New Mexico; or must obtain a Defensive Driving Course Certification within six (6) months of hire as a condition of continued employment.
Incumbent must submit to and pass an extensive background investigation.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is performed primarily in an office setting with frequent and extended use of computers, telephones, and video conferencing systems. The role may involve frequent interaction with agency staff, management, and executive leadership, often in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities and time-sensitive requests.
Occasional travel, particularly between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, may be required to support agency operations and meetings. Travel is conducted during regular office hours in a state vehicle.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Do you know what Total Compensation is? Click here
Agency Contact Information: Jessica Cooper, JCooper@nmdoj.gov, Email
For information on Statutory Requirements for this position, click the Classification Description link on the job advertisement.
Bargaining Unit Position
This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Public Health
Confirm your degree qualifies for STEM OPT
Public health degrees from programs with CIP codes in biostatistics, epidemiology, or health informatics often qualify for the 24-month STEM extension. Verify your specific CIP code with your DSO before targeting roles requiring longer authorization windows.
Target government and research employers first
Federal agencies like the CDC, NIH, and state health departments regularly hire OPT students and have dedicated HR processes for work authorization. These employers are significantly more OPT-familiar than small private practices or boutique consulting firms.
Lead with your technical skills, not your visa status
Hiring managers in public health respond to GIS mapping, R, Python, SAS, or epidemiological modeling skills. Frame your application around analytical capabilities first. Address OPT authorization matter-of-factly in the screening call, not in your cover letter.
Apply to nonprofits and NGOs with global health mandates
Organizations like think tanks, foundations, and international health NGOs routinely sponsor or support international candidates because their work itself is globally focused. They are structurally more comfortable with OPT than domestically oriented employers in the same field.
Time your applications around your OPT start date
Public health hiring cycles at agencies and research institutions can run eight to twelve weeks. Submit applications two to three months before your OPT start date so authorization is active before your expected first day of employment.
Highlight any fieldwork, practicum, or capstone with real-world impact
Public health employers weight applied experience heavily. Practicum placements, community intervention projects, or thesis research involving real populations are direct substitutes for years of work experience and strengthen your case significantly in competitive candidate pools.
Public Health OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do public health jobs typically qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your specific degree program's CIP code, not the job title itself. Degrees in biostatistics, epidemiology, and health informatics commonly qualify. General public health or MPH degrees may or may not qualify depending on the university's designation. Check your program's CIP code with your DSO before assuming eligibility, and confirm the role involves work directly related to your qualifying degree field.
Which types of public health employers are most open to hiring OPT students?
Federal and state agencies, academic medical centers, and internationally focused nonprofits are consistently the most OPT-comfortable public health employers. The CDC, NIH, and state health departments have established HR processes for work authorization. Smaller local health departments or private consulting firms may be less familiar with OPT and require more upfront education during the hiring process. Migrate Mate filters public health jobs by sponsorship willingness so you can focus your search efficiently.
Can I work in public health on OPT if my undergraduate degree is in a related science field?
Yes, as long as your employment is directly related to your degree field. A biology or chemistry undergraduate on post-completion OPT can work in public health roles that draw on those disciplines, such as laboratory-based epidemiology or environmental health. The connection between your degree and the job responsibilities must be demonstrable. Your DSO can help you assess whether a specific role qualifies before you accept an offer.
How do I handle the OPT employer reporting requirement for public health positions?
Within 10 days of starting a public health role, you must report your employer's name, address, and your job title to your DSO, who updates your SEVIS record. The same applies if you change employers, lose a job, or experience a gap in employment longer than 90 days. Public health contract and fellowship positions count as valid OPT employment as long as the work is related to your degree field.
Are public health fellowships and government internships valid OPT employment?
Yes. Government fellowships, paid research positions, and agency-based practicums all count as valid OPT employment provided the work relates to your degree and you are compensated. Unpaid positions can count toward OPT but only for up to 20 hours per week, and you cannot exceed 90 cumulative days of unemployment during your OPT period. Always confirm compensation structure before accepting a fellowship to avoid inadvertent unemployment accumulation.