Public Policy Manager Jobs for OPT Students
Public Policy Manager roles qualify for F-1 OPT when the position requires a bachelor's degree or higher in public policy, political science, economics, or a related field. Most roles sit inside government affairs teams, nonprofits, or think tanks, and your 12-month OPT window (up to 36 months for STEM-adjacent programs) applies from your first day.
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About the Team
The Global Public Policy team’s work spans a broad and diverse range of functions and workstreams, including government affairs and government relations; policy, product, and issue area expertise; risk and crisis management and mitigation; outreach, coalitions, and partnerships; and philanthropy. The mission of the Global Public Policy team is to prevent, manage, and mitigate political, legislative, and regulatory threats and to promote a political, legislative, and regulatory environment that supports growth and innovation for our business.
- Serve as a bridge between Global Public Policy and Monetization teams to integrate public policy considerations into product development and risk management
- Provides actionable intelligence and insights; convert political developments into strategic guidance to the business to increase awareness of public policy challenges and risks; advise on risk mitigation strategies
- Manage internal coordination with the business and cross-functional stakeholders for government and regulatory escalations
- Identify, monitor, analyze, and communicate relevant policy trends, legislative proposals and issues of importance to the company and its products.
- Inform and support public policy strategies and engagements and ensure the Global Public Policy team is updated on important product and business developments.
- Develop and maintain relations with key internal stakeholders including legal, product, communications, policy, and safety.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, International Affairs, Government, Public Affairs, related field, or equivalent practical experience.
- In-depth experience in Public Policy or Government Affairs experience, technology policy, and/or policy advocacy experience.
- Strong presentation, and analytical skills, including the ability to translate the business and innovation implications of public policy developments to global teams.
- Outstanding judgment, persuasion, mediation, and advocacy skills, creativity, and the ability to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
- Exceptional listening, problem-solving, and communications skills, including the ability to distill complex policy issues into easy to digest explanations and compelling messages.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with diverse teams and navigate varying priorities among multiple stakeholders toward shared goals.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in the digital advertising industry and with advertising technology is strongly preferred.
About TikTok
TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. At TikTok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. TikTok's global headquarters are in Los Angeles and Singapore, and we also have offices in New York City, London, Dublin, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo.
Why Join Us
Inspiring creativity is at the core of TikTok's mission. Our innovative product is built to help people authentically express themselves, discover and connect – and our global, diverse teams make that possible. Together, we create value for our communities, inspire creativity and bring joy – a mission we work towards every day. We strive to do great things with great people. We lead with curiosity, humility, and a desire to make impact in a rapidly growing tech company. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn and innovate as one team. We're resilient and embrace challenges as they come. By constantly iterating and fostering an "Always Day 1" mindset, we achieve meaningful breakthroughs for ourselves, our company, and our users. When we create and grow together, the possibilities are limitless. Join us.
Diversity & Inclusion
TikTok is committed to creating an inclusive space where employees are valued for their skills, experiences, and unique perspectives. Our platform connects people from across the globe and so does our workplace. At TikTok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. To achieve that goal, we are committed to celebrating our diverse voices and to creating an environment that reflects the many communities we reach. We are passionate about this and hope you are too.
TikTok Accommodation
TikTok is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our recruitment processes for candidates with disabilities, pregnancy, sincerely held religious beliefs or other reasons protected by applicable laws. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation, please reach out to us at https://tinyurl.com/RA-request
Job Information
【For Pay Transparency】 Compensation Description (Annually)
- Washington, DC The base salary range for this position in the selected city is 135360 - 239400 annually.
Compensation may vary outside of this range depending on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies and experience, and location. Base pay is one part of the Total Package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work, and this role may be eligible for additional discretionary bonuses/incentives, and restricted stock units.
Benefits may vary depending on the nature of employment and the country work location. Employees have day one access to medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) savings plan with company match, paid parental leave, short-term and long-term disability coverage, life insurance, wellbeing benefits, among others. Employees also receive 10 paid holidays per year, 10 paid sick days per year and 17 days of Paid Personal Time (prorated upon hire with increasing accruals by tenure).
The Company reserves the right to modify or change these benefits programs at any time, with or without notice.
Responsibilities
About the Team
The Global Public Policy team’s work spans a broad and diverse range of functions and workstreams, including government affairs and government relations; policy, product, and issue area expertise; risk and crisis management and mitigation; outreach, coalitions, and partnerships; and philanthropy. The mission of the Global Public Policy team is to prevent, manage, and mitigate political, legislative, and regulatory threats and to promote a political, legislative, and regulatory environment that supports growth and innovation for our business.
- Serve as a bridge between Global Public Policy and Monetization teams to integrate public policy considerations into product development and risk management
- Provides actionable intelligence and insights; convert political developments into strategic guidance to the business to increase awareness of public policy challenges and risks; advise on risk mitigation strategies
- Manage internal coordination with the business and cross-functional stakeholders for government and regulatory escalations
- Identify, monitor, analyze, and communicate relevant policy trends, legislative proposals and issues of importance to the company and its products.
- Inform and support public policy strategies and engagements and ensure the Global Public Policy team is updated on important product and business developments.
- Develop and maintain relations with key internal stakeholders including legal, product, communications, policy, and safety.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, International Affairs, Government, Public Affairs, related field, or equivalent practical experience.
- In-depth experience in Public Policy or Government Affairs experience, technology policy, and/or policy advocacy experience.
- Strong presentation, and analytical skills, including the ability to translate the business and innovation implications of public policy developments to global teams.
- Outstanding judgment, persuasion, mediation, and advocacy skills, creativity, and the ability to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
- Exceptional listening, problem-solving, and communications skills, including the ability to distill complex policy issues into easy to digest explanations and compelling messages.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with diverse teams and navigate varying priorities among multiple stakeholders toward shared goals.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in the digital advertising industry and with advertising technology is strongly preferred.
About TikTok
TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. At TikTok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. TikTok's global headquarters are in Los Angeles and Singapore, and we also have offices in New York City, London, Dublin, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo.
Why Join Us
Inspiring creativity is at the core of TikTok's mission. Our innovative product is built to help people authentically express themselves, discover and connect – and our global, diverse teams make that possible. Together, we create value for our communities, inspire creativity and bring joy – a mission we work towards every day. We strive to do great things with great people. We lead with curiosity, humility, and a desire to make impact in a rapidly growing tech company. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn and innovate as one team. We're resilient and embrace challenges as they come. By constantly iterating and fostering an "Always Day 1" mindset, we achieve meaningful breakthroughs for ourselves, our company, and our users. When we create and grow together, the possibilities are limitless. Join us.
Diversity & Inclusion
TikTok is committed to creating an inclusive space where employees are valued for their skills, experiences, and unique perspectives. Our platform connects people from across the globe and so does our workplace. At TikTok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. To achieve that goal, we are committed to celebrating our diverse voices and to creating an environment that reflects the many communities we reach. We are passionate about this and hope you are too.
TikTok Accommodation
TikTok is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our recruitment processes for candidates with disabilities, pregnancy, sincerely held religious beliefs or other reasons protected by applicable laws. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation, please reach out to us at https://tinyurl.com/RA-request
Job Information
【For Pay Transparency】 Compensation Description (Annually)
- Washington, DC The base salary range for this position in the selected city is 135360 - 239400 annually.
Compensation may vary outside of this range depending on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies and experience, and location. Base pay is one part of the Total Package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work, and this role may be eligible for additional discretionary bonuses/incentives, and restricted stock units.
Benefits may vary depending on the nature of employment and the country work location. Employees have day one access to medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) savings plan with company match, paid parental leave, short-term and long-term disability coverage, life insurance, wellbeing benefits, among others. Employees also receive 10 paid holidays per year, 10 paid sick days per year and 17 days of Paid Personal Time (prorated upon hire with increasing accruals by tenure).
The Company reserves the right to modify or change these benefits programs at any time, with or without notice.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as a Public Policy Manager
Target mission-driven organizations with established HR infrastructure
Large nonprofits, think tanks, and advocacy organizations are more likely to have HR teams familiar with OPT work authorization. Smaller policy shops may be willing but lack the internal capacity to navigate the process confidently.
Lead with your policy expertise, not your visa status
Frame your OPT authorization as a straightforward hiring step, not a complication. Emphasize your policy research, stakeholder engagement, or legislative analysis skills first. Most Public Policy Manager roles compete on expertise, not work authorization complexity.
Align your degree field directly to the role description
OPT authorization is tied to your field of study. Public Policy Manager roles must connect to your degree in public policy, economics, international relations, or political science. A clear degree-to-role match strengthens your candidacy and satisfies DSO reporting requirements.
Apply before your OPT authorization is issued, not after
The USCIS OPT processing window is three to five months. Start your job search while your application is pending. Most employers will accept a conditional start date once your EAD card arrival date is confirmed by your DSO.
Prepare a one-paragraph OPT explainer for hiring managers
Write a clear, jargon-free summary of your work authorization: what OPT is, how long it lasts, what the employer is not required to do, and when you can start. Sharing this proactively builds trust and shortens the decision-making timeline.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does a Public Policy Manager role qualify for F-1 OPT?
Yes, as long as the position requires a degree in a field directly related to public policy work, such as public policy, political science, economics, international relations, or public administration. The role must be a professional-level position that genuinely requires that academic background. Entry-level or administrative policy support roles may not satisfy the direct relationship requirement your DSO must certify.
Can I work as a Public Policy Manager for a government agency on OPT?
Yes, federal, state, and local government agencies can hire F-1 OPT students. OPT is employer-agnostic. The agency does not need to sponsor you or file any USCIS petition. You are authorized to work by your EAD card, and the agency simply verifies your Form I-9 documentation like any other employer. Some agencies have internal security clearance requirements that may affect eligibility separately.
How do I find Public Policy Manager jobs that are open to OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT and visa-sponsored job searches, so every Public Policy Manager listing on the platform is vetted for sponsorship openness. Filtering by role type and OPT eligibility saves significant time compared to applying broadly and encountering authorization objections late in the hiring process.
Does a Public Policy Manager role qualify for STEM OPT extension?
Most Public Policy Manager roles do not qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension because public policy, political science, and international relations degrees are not on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. However, if your underlying degree is in economics, statistics, or a qualifying STEM field and you can connect it to the role, you may be eligible. Confirm with your DSO before relying on this pathway.
What happens to my OPT status if my Public Policy Manager role ends before my EAD expires?
F-1 OPT students are allowed up to 90 days of cumulative unemployment during the post-completion OPT period. If your position ends, that 90-day clock starts immediately. You can begin searching for a new qualifying Public Policy Manager role within that window without losing your status. Exceeding 90 days of unemployment terminates your OPT authorization, so tracking that timeline closely with your DSO is critical.
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