Real Estate Operations Jobs for OPT Students
Real Estate Operations jobs span asset management, property administration, transaction coordination, and facilities oversight. F-1 OPT students typically qualify under business, finance, or real estate degree programs. Your 12-month OPT window is enough to build a track record in a full deal cycle, making you a competitive candidate for operations-focused teams.
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Responsible for the budgeting process for the Division's operating budget, Foundation housing properties and other off-campus real estate. Ensure properties maintain optimal occupancy, competitive pricing, and strong financial performance through ongoing analysis and close partnership with Housing Operations, and third-party operators. Serve as the primary point of contact for interim management of newly acquired real estate assets. Oversee management of the $140M endowment, ensuring funds effectively support students and faculty and that donor reporting is accurate and professional. Lead contract review processes on behalf of the Foundation to support compliance, risk mitigation, and organizational effectiveness. Create complex financial models to plan and analyze initiatives.
Responsibilities
1. Partner with department leaders to understand their operations and strategic goals in order to support the development, reporting, and analysis of operational expense budgets.
2. Lead the Division's annual budgeting process, providing guidance to budget owners and consolidating departmental submissions into a complete and accurate financial plan. Includes delivering a recommended budget to the Foundation Board of Trustees as the Foundation is a separate legal entity from our state funding. Works with KSU Fiscal Services to request new state funding (both one-time and permanent funding) along with reassessing the Division's permanent state funding to ensure funds are spent on top priorities.
3. Lead the annual budgeting process for all Foundation LLC entities by partnering with other KSU operational teams to include: operational budgets, Debt Service Coverage Ratios, MOUs with the University and capital planning.
4. Partner with third-party operators of the Foundation's real estate assets to drive profitability by setting and monitoring goals for occupancy, revenue, expenses, and property condition. Approve major capital expenditures as needed.
5. Prepare presentations for Senior Leadership to support strategic decision making.
6. Review, approve, and monitor all Foundation contracts. Provide guidance to budget owners on contract needs and support the contract processor throughout the workflow.
7. Build advanced financial models to analyze new initiatives, utilizing system extracted data and sophisticated Excel functions to deliver meaningful insights.
8. Fulfill the tasks required to support the Foundation's endowment, including evaluating initiatives to optimize growth and utilization, analyzing changes to the spending policy, calculating annual spending allocations, forecasting future distributions, and supporting accurate donor reporting.
9. Provide leadership and direction to assigned staff.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education in Business, Finance, Accounting, or related field.
Five (5) years of experience in financial planning and analysis, real property asset management, or related business role.
Advanced proficiency in Power BI, Tableau, or similar Data Management/Visualization tool.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Advanced proficiency in Power BI, Tableau, or similar Data Management/Visualization tool.
INTRODUCTION
Responsible for the budgeting process for the Division's operating budget, Foundation housing properties and other off-campus real estate. Ensure properties maintain optimal occupancy, competitive pricing, and strong financial performance through ongoing analysis and close partnership with Housing Operations, and third-party operators. Serve as the primary point of contact for interim management of newly acquired real estate assets. Oversee management of the $140M endowment, ensuring funds effectively support students and faculty and that donor reporting is accurate and professional. Lead contract review processes on behalf of the Foundation to support compliance, risk mitigation, and organizational effectiveness. Create complex financial models to plan and analyze initiatives.
Responsibilities
1. Partner with department leaders to understand their operations and strategic goals in order to support the development, reporting, and analysis of operational expense budgets.
2. Lead the Division's annual budgeting process, providing guidance to budget owners and consolidating departmental submissions into a complete and accurate financial plan. Includes delivering a recommended budget to the Foundation Board of Trustees as the Foundation is a separate legal entity from our state funding. Works with KSU Fiscal Services to request new state funding (both one-time and permanent funding) along with reassessing the Division's permanent state funding to ensure funds are spent on top priorities.
3. Lead the annual budgeting process for all Foundation LLC entities by partnering with other KSU operational teams to include: operational budgets, Debt Service Coverage Ratios, MOUs with the University and capital planning.
4. Partner with third-party operators of the Foundation's real estate assets to drive profitability by setting and monitoring goals for occupancy, revenue, expenses, and property condition. Approve major capital expenditures as needed.
5. Prepare presentations for Senior Leadership to support strategic decision making.
6. Review, approve, and monitor all Foundation contracts. Provide guidance to budget owners on contract needs and support the contract processor throughout the workflow.
7. Build advanced financial models to analyze new initiatives, utilizing system extracted data and sophisticated Excel functions to deliver meaningful insights.
8. Fulfill the tasks required to support the Foundation's endowment, including evaluating initiatives to optimize growth and utilization, analyzing changes to the spending policy, calculating annual spending allocations, forecasting future distributions, and supporting accurate donor reporting.
9. Provide leadership and direction to assigned staff.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education in Business, Finance, Accounting, or related field.
Five (5) years of experience in financial planning and analysis, real property asset management, or related business role.
Advanced proficiency in Power BI, Tableau, or similar Data Management/Visualization tool.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Advanced proficiency in Power BI, Tableau, or similar Data Management/Visualization tool.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Real Estate Operations
Target property management companies and REITs
Large REITs and national property management firms run structured operations teams with defined roles. These organizations are more familiar with OPT work authorization than smaller independent brokerages, making them more likely to onboard international candidates without hesitation.
Connect your degree to the operations function
Real estate operations roles often require a business, finance, or urban planning degree. In your application materials, explicitly connect your coursework to the operational responsibilities in the job description so hiring managers can confirm your OPT eligibility at a glance.
Apply early if you need STEM OPT extension
If your degree is in a STEM-designated program like data analytics or construction management, file your STEM OPT extension at least 90 days before your initial OPT expires. This gives you 24 additional months and significantly strengthens your case for H-1B sponsorship.
Highlight transaction coordination and systems experience
Real estate operations teams value candidates who know property management software, lease administration systems, or CRM tools. Demonstrating hands-on experience with these platforms shows you can contribute immediately, which reduces the perceived risk of sponsoring an OPT employee.
Research employer H-1B filing history before applying
Employers who have filed H-1B petitions for operations or finance roles in the past are meaningfully more likely to sponsor again. Reviewing OFLC disclosure data helps you prioritize companies with a proven track record before you invest time in their application process.
Disclose your OPT status at the right stage
Wait until you have a phone screen or first-round interview before disclosing OPT status. By that point the employer has already seen value in your application. Frame it factually: you have work authorization now and will need sponsorship before your OPT window closes.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Do Real Estate Operations roles qualify for OPT work authorization?
Yes, if your degree aligns with the role. Real estate operations positions typically fall under business administration, finance, urban planning, or construction management programs. USCIS requires a direct relationship between your degree field and your job duties, so roles focused on asset management, lease administration, or financial reporting are strong fits for business and finance graduates.
Can I qualify for a STEM OPT extension working in real estate operations?
It depends on your degree program's CIP code. Degrees in data analytics, construction management technology, or certain urban systems programs carry STEM designation and qualify you for a 24-month extension beyond your initial 12 months. A general business or real estate degree typically does not qualify. Confirm your program's designation with your Designated School Official before assuming eligibility.
How do I find Real Estate Operations employers who sponsor OPT students?
Browse Migrate Mate to filter real estate operations listings by sponsorship willingness. Larger REITs, institutional asset managers, and national property management firms are your best targets because they have established HR processes and a track record of hiring international employees. Smaller owner-operator shops often lack the infrastructure to process OPT and subsequent sponsorship efficiently.
What happens to my OPT if I transition from one real estate operations role to another?
You can change employers on OPT as long as your new role is directly related to your degree program. You are not required to notify USCIS before starting, but you must report the employer change to your DSO within 10 days. There is no grace period between jobs if you are on standard OPT, so plan your transition carefully to avoid any gap in authorized employment.
Will real estate operations experience help with future H-1B sponsorship?
Yes. Real estate operations roles at companies that manage institutional assets often qualify as specialty occupations under H-1B rules, particularly when the position requires a finance, business, or engineering degree. Building documented experience in financial analysis, contract administration, or systems management during OPT strengthens the case that the role meets the specialty occupation threshold when your employer files the petition.
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