OPT Safety Coordinator Jobs
Safety Coordinator jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with degrees in occupational health, environmental science, or engineering. Most roles qualify under STEM OPT extension categories, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization. Employers in construction, manufacturing, and healthcare regularly hire for this position.
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Get Access To All JobsPrimary Duties:
This position will work with the Region Safety Manager, Plant Managers, Supervisors and hourly employees to support the continued focus on safety excellence, including maintaining OSHA VPP status at all facilities. The candidate must be able to work with all levels of management, be flexible with day-to-day activities, make decisions in controversial matters, and be able to fill in for the Safety Manager during times of absence or other assignments. The Safety Coordinator will lead small improvement teams, audits, and inspections. Must be comfortable coaching, presenting and intervening one to one.
Essential Functions:
- Assist in leading efforts to develop and maintain a safety culture to improve the safety & health of all employees.
- Help define processes to ensure continuous improvement in our safety performance.
- Develop the safety skill set of management and safety committee leaders in order to execute Division and Region safety initiatives.
- Work with other safety leaders and professionals to develop and share best practices.
- Develop and communicates division and region safety policy.
- Provide advice on safety and employee protection, and performs audits to ensure that organization and government standards are met.
- Actively works to implement business improvements to reduce workplace accidents and illnesses.
- Maintain comprehensive knowledge of federal and state safety laws and regulations.
- Assist management team in complying with Division and Region safety performance measures.
- Prepare appropriate reports and communicates safety results.
- Develop and provides safety training to all employee levels in the organization.
- Provide oversight of the incident investigation process.
- Maintain safety & incident records required by employer as well as state & federal governments.
- Analyze incident data to identify prevention programs to positively impact incident trends.
- Establish and maintain a good working relationship with region and plant management, safety professionals, supervisors and employees.
- Demonstrate strong commitment to safety, quality, environmental awareness, and continuous process improvement.
- Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
College Degree, BCSP, ASP, or equivalent work experience in related job function. Prior experience with OSHA standards, accident / incident investigation, and/or compliance inspections in a manufacturing setting is required. Candidate must be familiar with Emergency Response, HazCom, Respiratory Protection Standard and other OSHA mandated programs.
Preferred Qualifications:
Prefer degree in safety, industrial hygiene, or a related science and more than Five (5) years of experience in related job function. The successful candidate must be able to work independently on various projects and be able to work with very diverse groups of people on a variety of issues. May require professional certification.
Our Benefits:
- Medical + Prescription Drug
- Dental + Vision
- Flexible Spending Accounts (Healthcare + Dependent Care)
- 401(k) Retirement Savings with company contribution
- Paid Time Off (20 days per year)
- Paid Holidays (10 per year)
- Paid Parental Leave (6 weeks)
- Life Insurance
Primary Duties:
This position will work with the Region Safety Manager, Plant Managers, Supervisors and hourly employees to support the continued focus on safety excellence, including maintaining OSHA VPP status at all facilities. The candidate must be able to work with all levels of management, be flexible with day-to-day activities, make decisions in controversial matters, and be able to fill in for the Safety Manager during times of absence or other assignments. The Safety Coordinator will lead small improvement teams, audits, and inspections. Must be comfortable coaching, presenting and intervening one to one.
Essential Functions:
- Assist in leading efforts to develop and maintain a safety culture to improve the safety & health of all employees.
- Help define processes to ensure continuous improvement in our safety performance.
- Develop the safety skill set of management and safety committee leaders in order to execute Division and Region safety initiatives.
- Work with other safety leaders and professionals to develop and share best practices.
- Develop and communicates division and region safety policy.
- Provide advice on safety and employee protection, and performs audits to ensure that organization and government standards are met.
- Actively works to implement business improvements to reduce workplace accidents and illnesses.
- Maintain comprehensive knowledge of federal and state safety laws and regulations.
- Assist management team in complying with Division and Region safety performance measures.
- Prepare appropriate reports and communicates safety results.
- Develop and provides safety training to all employee levels in the organization.
- Provide oversight of the incident investigation process.
- Maintain safety & incident records required by employer as well as state & federal governments.
- Analyze incident data to identify prevention programs to positively impact incident trends.
- Establish and maintain a good working relationship with region and plant management, safety professionals, supervisors and employees.
- Demonstrate strong commitment to safety, quality, environmental awareness, and continuous process improvement.
- Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
College Degree, BCSP, ASP, or equivalent work experience in related job function. Prior experience with OSHA standards, accident / incident investigation, and/or compliance inspections in a manufacturing setting is required. Candidate must be familiar with Emergency Response, HazCom, Respiratory Protection Standard and other OSHA mandated programs.
Preferred Qualifications:
Prefer degree in safety, industrial hygiene, or a related science and more than Five (5) years of experience in related job function. The successful candidate must be able to work independently on various projects and be able to work with very diverse groups of people on a variety of issues. May require professional certification.
Our Benefits:
- Medical + Prescription Drug
- Dental + Vision
- Flexible Spending Accounts (Healthcare + Dependent Care)
- 401(k) Retirement Savings with company contribution
- Paid Time Off (20 days per year)
- Paid Holidays (10 per year)
- Paid Parental Leave (6 weeks)
- Life Insurance
See all 108+ OPT Safety Coordinator Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Safety Coordinator Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Safety Coordinator
Confirm your degree aligns with the role
USCIS requires OPT work to be directly related to your field of study. Degrees in occupational health, environmental science, or industrial engineering map cleanly to Safety Coordinator roles. Bring your transcript to interviews if asked to demonstrate the connection.
Target STEM-designated programs early
If your degree carries a STEM designation, you're eligible for a 24-month OPT extension beyond the initial 12 months. Identify this before accepting offers so you can plan your authorization timeline and give employers accurate information about how long you can work.
Understand what employers mean by sponsorship
Many Safety Coordinator postings say they don't sponsor visas but will hire OPT students without issue. OPT doesn't require employer sponsorship the way H-1B visa does. Clarify this distinction early in conversations so you don't self-select out of roles you actually qualify for.
Pursue OSHA certifications before applying
OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 certifications are widely recognized in safety hiring. Completing either before your job search demonstrates practical readiness and separates you from candidates without hands-on safety training, which matters in industries like construction and manufacturing.
Track your OPT start date against offer timelines
OPT authorization has a firm start date, and you must begin work within 90 days of that date. Coordinate your offer acceptance and start date carefully. Starting too early or too late relative to your EAD effective date creates compliance problems for both you and your employer.
Highlight internship and campus safety experience
Relevant experience doesn't have to come from full-time jobs. Campus emergency response roles, environmental health internships, or lab safety assistant positions all demonstrate competency. Document these clearly on your resume to show employers you've applied safety principles in real environments.
Safety Coordinator OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can F-1 OPT students work as Safety Coordinators?
Yes. Safety Coordinator roles qualify for OPT as long as the work is directly related to your field of study. Degrees in occupational health, environmental science, industrial hygiene, or engineering typically satisfy that requirement. You'll need a valid EAD before starting work, and your employer doesn't need to file any petition on your behalf during the OPT period.
Do Safety Coordinator roles qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Many do, but it depends on your specific degree's CIP code, not the job title. If your degree in environmental science, industrial engineering, or a related STEM field carries a qualifying CIP code, you can apply for a 24-month extension after your initial 12-month OPT. Your DSO at your university's international student office can confirm whether your program qualifies before you accept an offer.
Which industries hire Safety Coordinators on OPT most frequently?
Construction, manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare are the most active industries for Safety Coordinator hiring. These sectors operate under strict OSHA compliance requirements, which creates consistent demand for safety staff. Government contractors and large industrial employers tend to have more structured onboarding processes that are familiar with OPT work authorization. You can browse open Safety Coordinator roles on Migrate Mate, filtered for OPT-friendly employers.
What happens to my OPT status if my Safety Coordinator job ends?
You enter a 90-day unemployment buffer, which is cumulative across your entire OPT period. During that window, you need to find new employment in your field or your OPT authorization ends. Report any job change to your DSO promptly through your school's SEVIS reporting system. Gaps between Safety Coordinator roles count against this 90-day limit, so it's worth starting your next job search before your current role ends.
Do I need to disclose my OPT status when applying for Safety Coordinator jobs?
Employers are legally permitted to ask whether you're authorized to work in the United States and whether you'll need sponsorship now or in the future. You should answer honestly: you're authorized through OPT and won't need sponsorship during that period. Many employers aren't familiar with OPT, so being prepared to briefly explain what it is, including your authorization timeline, helps avoid confusion and keeps your application moving forward.