Restaurant Manager Jobs for OPT Students
Restaurant Manager jobs on OPT are available, but most openings are with independent restaurants or regional chains that have sponsored F-1 workers before. Your OPT work authorization is employer-specific, so lining up a sponsor before your EAD expires is the priority.
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Get Access To All JobsCOMPENSATION RANGE
$60,000 - $70,000 / Year* Compensation may include base salary and geographic differential. This position is bonus eligible.
Overview
You are a seasoned restaurant leader, passionate about creating amazing dining experiences. We will utilize your talents to their fullest and provide an opportunity to advance your career. Our unique culture is one of the reasons we’ve been named to the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® list since 2014. At The Cheesecake Factory, we know great things happen when passionate leaders gather around our table. Come join us!
WHAT WE OFFER:
- Comprehensive healthcare including medical, dental and vision
- Flexible healthcare spending account
- Employee Assistance Programs
- Company-paid group life insurance, short term disability and long-term disability
- Paid time off including vacation and sick time
- 401k plan with company match
- Quarterly Bonus program
- 25% discount for your party when dining in as a guest
- Eligible for up to 50% next day pay (exclusions apply)
- Tuition assistance
- Career growth opportunities
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:
- At least 2 years of experience as a manager in a full-service restaurant (dining plus bar)
- Solid track record of success in previous roles, including demonstrated career growth
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Dependable and motivated with a strong work ethic
- Able to stand, sit, squat or walk for extended periods of time
- Able to grasp, reach overhead, push, lift and carry up to 50 lbs
WHO WE ARE:
Named to FORTUNE Magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For®” list every year since 2014, The Cheesecake Factory is a leader in experiential dining. We are culinary-forward and relentlessly focused on hospitality. Delicious, memorable experiences created by passionate people—this defines who we are and where we are going.
We currently own and operate 353 restaurants throughout the United States and Canada under brands including The Cheesecake Factory®, North Italia®, Flower Child® and a collection of other FRC brands. Internationally, 34 The Cheesecake Factory® restaurants operate under licensing agreements. Our bakery division operates two facilities that produce quality cheesecakes and other baked products for our restaurants, international licensees and third-party bakery customers.
We are an E-Verify and equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace for all. We welcome applicants from a wide variety of identities, ideas, perspectives, backgrounds and experiences to apply. The Cheesecake Factory offers reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities.
To notify of a non-compliant job posting, please send a notice to ats@thecheesecakefactory.com.
COMPENSATION RANGE
$60,000 - $70,000 / Year* Compensation may include base salary and geographic differential. This position is bonus eligible.
Overview
You are a seasoned restaurant leader, passionate about creating amazing dining experiences. We will utilize your talents to their fullest and provide an opportunity to advance your career. Our unique culture is one of the reasons we’ve been named to the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® list since 2014. At The Cheesecake Factory, we know great things happen when passionate leaders gather around our table. Come join us!
WHAT WE OFFER:
- Comprehensive healthcare including medical, dental and vision
- Flexible healthcare spending account
- Employee Assistance Programs
- Company-paid group life insurance, short term disability and long-term disability
- Paid time off including vacation and sick time
- 401k plan with company match
- Quarterly Bonus program
- 25% discount for your party when dining in as a guest
- Eligible for up to 50% next day pay (exclusions apply)
- Tuition assistance
- Career growth opportunities
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:
- At least 2 years of experience as a manager in a full-service restaurant (dining plus bar)
- Solid track record of success in previous roles, including demonstrated career growth
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Dependable and motivated with a strong work ethic
- Able to stand, sit, squat or walk for extended periods of time
- Able to grasp, reach overhead, push, lift and carry up to 50 lbs
WHO WE ARE:
Named to FORTUNE Magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For®” list every year since 2014, The Cheesecake Factory is a leader in experiential dining. We are culinary-forward and relentlessly focused on hospitality. Delicious, memorable experiences created by passionate people—this defines who we are and where we are going.
We currently own and operate 353 restaurants throughout the United States and Canada under brands including The Cheesecake Factory®, North Italia®, Flower Child® and a collection of other FRC brands. Internationally, 34 The Cheesecake Factory® restaurants operate under licensing agreements. Our bakery division operates two facilities that produce quality cheesecakes and other baked products for our restaurants, international licensees and third-party bakery customers.
We are an E-Verify and equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace for all. We welcome applicants from a wide variety of identities, ideas, perspectives, backgrounds and experiences to apply. The Cheesecake Factory offers reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities.
To notify of a non-compliant job posting, please send a notice to ats@thecheesecakefactory.com.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as a Restaurant Manager
Target multi-unit operators and regional chains
Independent restaurants rarely have HR infrastructure to handle OPT sponsorship. Regional chains and multi-unit operators have dedicated HR teams familiar with work authorization paperwork, making them far more likely to sponsor F-1 employees into management roles.
Lead with your hospitality degree when applying
Restaurant Manager roles qualify for OPT only when the work is directly related to your degree field. Hospitality management, food service administration, and business degrees with a hospitality focus are the clearest connections. Make that link explicit in every application.
Start the sponsorship conversation before the offer stage
Raising OPT authorization after an offer creates friction. Mention your F-1 status and EAD timeline in the first interview, framing it as a straightforward administrative step the employer handles, not a complex legal burden on their part.
Document your management experience in quantifiable terms
Employers evaluating OPT candidates for management roles want proof of impact. Quantify team sizes managed, revenue overseen, or cost reductions achieved. Concrete numbers reduce hesitation from employers unfamiliar with sponsoring international candidates.
Apply during off-peak hiring windows for faster decisions
Restaurant hiring spikes around spring and late summer but decision-making slows. Applying in January through March or September through October means less competition and faster turnaround from managers who have more time to evaluate your candidacy.
Clarify your STEM OPT eligibility if your degree qualifies
If your hospitality or food service degree came from a STEM-designated program, you may qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension. This significantly increases your appeal to employers who want long-term management hires without immediate H-1B pressure.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Do Restaurant Manager jobs qualify for OPT work authorization?
Yes, if the role is directly related to your degree field. A Restaurant Manager position tied to a hospitality management, food service, or business degree typically satisfies the OPT practical training requirement. The connection between your coursework and the job duties needs to be clear and documentable for your DSO and employer records.
How do I find Restaurant Manager employers who are open to sponsoring OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and surfaces Restaurant Manager jobs from employers who have a history of sponsoring international candidates. Browsing through Migrate Mate saves time by filtering out roles where OPT authorization is unlikely to be accepted, letting you focus your applications where they have the best chance.
Can I work as a Restaurant Manager on OPT without a formal job offer letter?
No. OPT is employer-specific, meaning your work authorization is tied to a specific employer and role. You need a valid job offer and your EAD card before you can begin working. Your employer also needs to be registered in E-Verify if you are on a STEM OPT extension, so confirm their E-Verify status before accepting an offer.
What happens to my OPT status if the restaurant I work for closes or I get laid off?
You enter a 60-day grace period from your last day of employment. During that window, you can find a new qualifying Restaurant Manager position, apply for a change of status, or prepare to depart the U.S. You must report any employment change to your DSO promptly, as failing to do so can jeopardize your F-1 record.
Will working as a Restaurant Manager qualify me for H-1B sponsorship later?
It depends on how the role is classified. Restaurant Manager positions can qualify as H-1B specialty occupations if the employer documents a degree requirement in a specific field such as hospitality management or business. Generalist management roles without a defined degree requirement are harder to support under H-1B. Choosing employers who already sponsor H-1B workers improves your long-term options.
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