OPT Regional Operations Director Jobs
Regional Operations Director roles require overseeing multi-site teams and complex logistics, making them strong candidates for OPT sponsorship at companies with established immigration programs. Your 12-month OPT window (up to 36 months on STEM extension) gives you real runway to prove strategic impact before H-1B visa filing deadlines arrive.
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Get Access To All JobsPosition Summary:
To oversee all assigned facilities, ensuring leadership and guidance in operations, finances, human resources and client relationships, while providing direct supervision to the facility Food Service Directors.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:
- Actively support and apply all company and facility policies and procedures to ensure the highest quality of service is being provided to our customers at the lowest possible cost.
- Work with Corporate and/or onsite dietitians to ensure that all federal and state requirements are being achieved.
- Cultivate and maintain business partnerships with clients by developing a broad knowledge and understanding of clients’ and their customers’ needs and expectations, including:
- Establish and maintain internal Quality Assurance and Assessment processes in each assigned facility, including inspections, annual client satisfaction surveys, keep the company and its facilities on the cutting edge of our industry.
- Actively participate in food service-related committees within assigned facilities (if applicable), or otherwise be involved in and visible at special events within each assigned facility, to demonstrate the company’s team approach and commitment to the clients.
- Plan and develop each unit’s operational budgets and demonstrate an understanding of the company’s financial objectives for each unit. Financial responsibilities include:
- Review financial results weekly and monthly and make necessary adjustments to improve operational performance.
- Develop a weekly financial plan to include sales, menu and production records, food purchases, inventory, and labor productivity to assist each unit in achieving its budget targets.
- Educate Food Service Directors for each facility in P&L process (where applicable) and review month-end results for each facility with its Food Service Director.
- Ensure all established Accounting practices and timelines are consistently adhered to.
- Provides assistance as needed, with new business bids, rebids for current clients/customers, and the development of new programs, including:
- Renegotiate contract terms and/or fee/pricing increases with client, when necessary.
- Participate in assessment and Performa development, proposal writing and presentations, when necessary.
- Manage transition of new business accounts.
- Conduct audits and evaluate each facility’s performance in the areas of food production, menu and recipe standards, sanitation, uniforms, purchasing, inventories, safety, payroll, human resources compliance and record keeping.
- Demonstrate working knowledge of operational, accounting and human resources policies and procedures (i.e. new hire process, payroll, etc.).
- Ensure all human resources and safety practices and policies are intact and adhered to.
- Hold Food Service Directors and employees accountable for behavior and performance, following Corrective Action guidelines when necessary.
- Conduct training and development needs assessment of Food Service Directors and arrange necessary training, including the areas of food and cost productions, customer services, team building, time management, human resources skills, etc.
- Communicate with and assist in developing goals and objectives for each Food Service Director. Meet with Food Service Directors on an individual basis to assess goals and areas of opportunity.
- Support Food Service Directors in conducting training and development needs assessment of employees and assist in arranging appropriate training sessions/tools.
- Ensure companies systems are followed and in compliance daily.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
- High School diploma required.
- Bachelor’s degree in culinary arts or related field preferred.
- Minimum 2-5 years’ experience coordinating food service operations.
- Demonstrated ability to lead and guide teams.
- Strong initiative.
- Strong ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality of records and information.
- Skill in the use of operating basic office equipment.
- Ability to travel frequently.
*COMPETITIVE SALARY*
Position Summary:
To oversee all assigned facilities, ensuring leadership and guidance in operations, finances, human resources and client relationships, while providing direct supervision to the facility Food Service Directors.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:
- Actively support and apply all company and facility policies and procedures to ensure the highest quality of service is being provided to our customers at the lowest possible cost.
- Work with Corporate and/or onsite dietitians to ensure that all federal and state requirements are being achieved.
- Cultivate and maintain business partnerships with clients by developing a broad knowledge and understanding of clients’ and their customers’ needs and expectations, including:
- Establish and maintain internal Quality Assurance and Assessment processes in each assigned facility, including inspections, annual client satisfaction surveys, keep the company and its facilities on the cutting edge of our industry.
- Actively participate in food service-related committees within assigned facilities (if applicable), or otherwise be involved in and visible at special events within each assigned facility, to demonstrate the company’s team approach and commitment to the clients.
- Plan and develop each unit’s operational budgets and demonstrate an understanding of the company’s financial objectives for each unit. Financial responsibilities include:
- Review financial results weekly and monthly and make necessary adjustments to improve operational performance.
- Develop a weekly financial plan to include sales, menu and production records, food purchases, inventory, and labor productivity to assist each unit in achieving its budget targets.
- Educate Food Service Directors for each facility in P&L process (where applicable) and review month-end results for each facility with its Food Service Director.
- Ensure all established Accounting practices and timelines are consistently adhered to.
- Provides assistance as needed, with new business bids, rebids for current clients/customers, and the development of new programs, including:
- Renegotiate contract terms and/or fee/pricing increases with client, when necessary.
- Participate in assessment and Performa development, proposal writing and presentations, when necessary.
- Manage transition of new business accounts.
- Conduct audits and evaluate each facility’s performance in the areas of food production, menu and recipe standards, sanitation, uniforms, purchasing, inventories, safety, payroll, human resources compliance and record keeping.
- Demonstrate working knowledge of operational, accounting and human resources policies and procedures (i.e. new hire process, payroll, etc.).
- Ensure all human resources and safety practices and policies are intact and adhered to.
- Hold Food Service Directors and employees accountable for behavior and performance, following Corrective Action guidelines when necessary.
- Conduct training and development needs assessment of Food Service Directors and arrange necessary training, including the areas of food and cost productions, customer services, team building, time management, human resources skills, etc.
- Communicate with and assist in developing goals and objectives for each Food Service Director. Meet with Food Service Directors on an individual basis to assess goals and areas of opportunity.
- Support Food Service Directors in conducting training and development needs assessment of employees and assist in arranging appropriate training sessions/tools.
- Ensure companies systems are followed and in compliance daily.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
- High School diploma required.
- Bachelor’s degree in culinary arts or related field preferred.
- Minimum 2-5 years’ experience coordinating food service operations.
- Demonstrated ability to lead and guide teams.
- Strong initiative.
- Strong ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality of records and information.
- Skill in the use of operating basic office equipment.
- Ability to travel frequently.
*COMPETITIVE SALARY*
See all 892+ OPT Regional Operations Director Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Regional Operations Director
Target companies with existing immigration infrastructure
Large regional employers, national retailers, and logistics companies with HR legal teams are far more likely to sponsor OPT workers. Smaller operators often lack the infrastructure to manage USCIS filings, even when they want to hire you.
Lead with measurable operational outcomes
Regional Operations Directors are hired on results. Quantify your impact before interviews: cost reductions, efficiency gains, headcount managed, or revenue tied to your region. Concrete numbers make sponsorship risk feel smaller to hiring teams.
Clarify your OPT timeline upfront with recruiters
Know your exact OPT end date and STEM extension eligibility before any recruiter call. Regional director searches run long. Starting the conversation early prevents timeline mismatches that kill offers at the final stage.
Pursue STEM-adjacent operations roles to qualify for a 24-month extension
If your degree is in engineering, supply chain, or information systems, STEM OPT extension may apply. Operations director roles at tech or manufacturing companies often satisfy STEM employer requirements, significantly extending your authorization window.
Frame your international background as an operational asset
Multi-region and cross-border experience is genuinely valuable for operations leadership. Employers managing global supply chains or international locations often see bilingual, internationally experienced candidates as a competitive advantage, not a visa complication.
Use Migrate Mate to identify OPT-friendly employers actively hiring
Not every company advertising director-level roles will consider OPT candidates. Migrate Mate surfaces employers with demonstrated sponsorship history, so you can focus your applications where authorization is already an accepted part of the hiring process.
Regional Operations Director OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can F-1 OPT students work as a Regional Operations Director?
Yes. F-1 OPT authorization permits full-time employment in any role directly related to your field of study. Regional Operations Director positions typically align with degrees in business administration, supply chain management, industrial engineering, or related fields. You must begin employment before your OPT end date and maintain a valid EAD card throughout your employment.
Do Regional Operations Director roles typically come with visa sponsorship?
It depends on the employer. Large corporations with dedicated HR and legal teams, particularly in logistics, retail, manufacturing, and technology, are the most likely to sponsor. Smaller regional operators often won't sponsor even for senior roles. Migrate Mate filters for employers with sponsorship history, which narrows your search considerably and avoids wasted applications.
Does a Regional Operations Director role qualify for STEM OPT extension?
It can, but the qualification depends on your degree, not just the job title. If your degree is in a STEM-designated field and the employer is enrolled in E-Verify, you may qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension on top of your initial 12 months. Operations roles at technology, engineering, or advanced manufacturing companies are the strongest candidates for STEM extension eligibility.
How far in advance should I start applying for Regional Operations Director roles on OPT?
At least four to six months before your ideal start date. Senior operations searches move slowly, often involving multiple interview rounds, assessment exercises, and internal approvals. Add time for OPT application processing if you haven't yet received your EAD card. Starting late is the most common reason OPT candidates lose competitive director-level offers.
What happens to my Regional Operations Director role if my OPT expires before H-1B approval?
If your employer files an H-1B visa petition before your OPT expires and you have a timely filed EAD renewal or cap-gap protection applies, you may be able to continue working through the gap period. Cap-gap protection covers F-1 students in the H-1B lottery through September 30 of the filing year. Confirm your specific dates with an immigration attorney as early as possible.