OPT Restaurant Manager Jobs
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.
See All OPT Restaurant Manager JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 208+ Restaurant Manager jobs
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
See all 208+ Restaurant Manager Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Restaurant Manager roles.
Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Ready to turn your love for food and people into a thriving career?
Build a career. Experience entrepreneurial growth. Inspire others and be inspired. Achieve financial rewards. These are just a few of the things that define a leadership role at Northstar.
ABOUT THE JOB
What Makes Us Different?
We obsess over every detail—how we design our spaces, source our ingredients, and craft an incredible guest experience. Our food is made from scratch, responsibly sourced, and always delicious. Our service? Exceptionally friendly, genuine, and delivered with a smile.
As a Northstar leader, you’ll push the boundaries of what makes a restaurant extraordinary. We believe in focusing intensely on every aspect of the guest experience, at all times. That’s how we’ve built the most-loved restaurants in Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland—and there’s so much more to come.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:
- Top-tier earning potential: Starting salaries range from $70K–$90K, with GMs earning up to $300K (including bonuses).
- Comprehensive benefits: Health, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, 401(k), and paid parental leave.
- Time to recharge: 4 weeks of paid vacation annually, and a 1-month paid sabbatical every 5 years.
- Delicious Food: Enjoy a generous quarterly stipend to dine in our restaurants, plus free meals while working.
- Entrepreneurial growth: As we continue to expand, you’ll have the chance to take on bigger roles and play a key part in growing a thriving business.
- Professional development that pays off: From wine courses in Napa to leadership adventures with the National Outdoor Leadership School and coffee origin trips to Guatemala, we invest in you.
- A culture of excellence: Work with a talented, upbeat team in a positive, professional environment where hard work is noticed—and rewarded.
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:
- A strong work ethic: You hustle, make things happen, and get the job done right.
- A team player mentality: No job is too big or too small, and you’re always ready to pitch in.
- A love for great food and the discipline to maintain exceptional quality every time.
- Adaptability and focus: You thrive under pressure and switch gears effortlessly.
- Stellar communication skills: You connect with your team and inspire confidence.
- A positive, can-do attitude: High energy, optimistic, and ready to lead with a sense of humor and positivity.
- Education & Experience: A Bachelor’s Degree with a 3.4+ GPA or relevant experience that proves you’re ready to thrive.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:
You’ll start with five months of immersive, hands-on training, guided by a dedicated mentor who will help you learn every part of restaurant operations—from managing budgets and inventory to hiring, training, and leading your team.
And it doesn’t stop there. At Northstar, you’ll have access to ongoing professional development opportunities to keep leveling up your skills and growing your career.
WHY NORTHSTAR?
Because we’re not just building restaurants—we’re building futures. If you’re ambitious, entrepreneurial, and ready to grow, this is the opportunity you’ve been looking for.
Join us, and let’s build something amazing together.
INDMANAGE
INTRODUCTION
Ready to turn your love for food and people into a thriving career?
Build a career. Experience entrepreneurial growth. Inspire others and be inspired. Achieve financial rewards. These are just a few of the things that define a leadership role at Northstar.
ABOUT THE JOB
What Makes Us Different?
We obsess over every detail—how we design our spaces, source our ingredients, and craft an incredible guest experience. Our food is made from scratch, responsibly sourced, and always delicious. Our service? Exceptionally friendly, genuine, and delivered with a smile.
As a Northstar leader, you’ll push the boundaries of what makes a restaurant extraordinary. We believe in focusing intensely on every aspect of the guest experience, at all times. That’s how we’ve built the most-loved restaurants in Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland—and there’s so much more to come.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:
- Top-tier earning potential: Starting salaries range from $70K–$90K, with GMs earning up to $300K (including bonuses).
- Comprehensive benefits: Health, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, 401(k), and paid parental leave.
- Time to recharge: 4 weeks of paid vacation annually, and a 1-month paid sabbatical every 5 years.
- Delicious Food: Enjoy a generous quarterly stipend to dine in our restaurants, plus free meals while working.
- Entrepreneurial growth: As we continue to expand, you’ll have the chance to take on bigger roles and play a key part in growing a thriving business.
- Professional development that pays off: From wine courses in Napa to leadership adventures with the National Outdoor Leadership School and coffee origin trips to Guatemala, we invest in you.
- A culture of excellence: Work with a talented, upbeat team in a positive, professional environment where hard work is noticed—and rewarded.
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:
- A strong work ethic: You hustle, make things happen, and get the job done right.
- A team player mentality: No job is too big or too small, and you’re always ready to pitch in.
- A love for great food and the discipline to maintain exceptional quality every time.
- Adaptability and focus: You thrive under pressure and switch gears effortlessly.
- Stellar communication skills: You connect with your team and inspire confidence.
- A positive, can-do attitude: High energy, optimistic, and ready to lead with a sense of humor and positivity.
- Education & Experience: A Bachelor’s Degree with a 3.4+ GPA or relevant experience that proves you’re ready to thrive.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:
You’ll start with five months of immersive, hands-on training, guided by a dedicated mentor who will help you learn every part of restaurant operations—from managing budgets and inventory to hiring, training, and leading your team.
And it doesn’t stop there. At Northstar, you’ll have access to ongoing professional development opportunities to keep leveling up your skills and growing your career.
WHY NORTHSTAR?
Because we’re not just building restaurants—we’re building futures. If you’re ambitious, entrepreneurial, and ready to grow, this is the opportunity you’ve been looking for.
Join us, and let’s build something amazing together.
INDMANAGE
See all 208+ OPT Restaurant Manager Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Restaurant Manager Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT 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 visa pressure.
Restaurant Manager OPT: Frequently 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.