OPT Strategy Associate Jobs
Strategy Associate roles are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with analytical or business degrees. Most positions qualify as specialty occupations under OPT work authorization, and many consulting and corporate strategy teams have experience sponsoring H-1B visas after your OPT period ends.
Find OPT Strategy Associate JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 3,395+ Strategy Associate jobs
See all 3,395+ Strategy Associate Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Strategy Associate roles.
Get Access To All JobsStrategic Sourcing Specialist
Salina, KS
Great Plains Manufacturing is seeking a dynamic Strategic Sourcing Specialist to join our Purchasing team.
This is an on-site position that works Monday through Thursday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. from our Corporate Offices in Salina, KS. Occasional out-of-state overnight travel may be required.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
- Lead sourcing projects and participate in cross-functional teams to support projects for product development and project management.
- Collaborate with other internal teams to align strategies, drive project implementation, and support successful supply chain performance.
- Understand cost drivers and develop cost models based on material content, order quantities, tooling, and other factors affecting total cost of ownership. Evaluate specific projects and rate overall supply base using Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) approach.
- Monitor and track commodity costs and other factors that affect pricing to ensure that related cost changes, especially cost reductions, are identified.
- Maintain existing commodity strategies to lead supplier selection and negotiate supplier pricing.
- Utilize supplier scorecards to assess performance of suppliers - conduct business reviews with suppliers to review scorecards, explore opportunities for improvements, develop future business layouts, and drive the implementation of actions identified.
- Monitor, audit, and report performance of suppliers to ensure that supplier performance issues are quickly addressed. Evaluate and manage supply chain risks.
- Work with critical suppliers to ensure they have and/or develop a business continuity strategy to prevent supply interruptions.
- Assist in the development and implementation of procurement plans, policies and procedures.
- Travel to meet with vendors and suppliers on a quarterly basis, or as needed.
- Other duties may be assigned that require other qualifications, physical demands, and/or work environments.
Preferred Skills and Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Engineering or similar.
- 3+ years’ experience in commodity management and/or project management with an emphasis in supply chain management and purchasing.
- Experience in procurement within the construction or Ag industry helpful but not required.
- Strong negotiation skills with a collaborative approach.
- Available for occasional overnight travel (less than 10%).
- Exceptional interpersonal and collaborative problem-solving skills across functional groups.
- Professional certification, such as APICS, or working toward obtaining professional certification is desired.
Great Plains Manufacturing, headquartered in Salina, KS, is a proud subsidiary of Kubota with more than 50 years as a Kansas leader in the design, engineering and manufacturing of agricultural implements, including seeding, tillage, and landscaping equipment. Our new Construction Equipment Division adds Kubota-branded skid steers, compact track loaders, and CE attachments, supported by Kubota Construction R&D Engineering in Salina. Operating in eight Kansas communities with multiple divisions, including Great Plains Ag; Land Pride; Great Plains International; and the Construction Equipment Division, we employ over 2,000 people and are committed to innovation and professional growth. If you are self-motivated, goal-oriented, and collaborative, explore our open opportunities at www.WorkForGPM.com.
Strategic Sourcing Specialist
Salina, KS
Great Plains Manufacturing is seeking a dynamic Strategic Sourcing Specialist to join our Purchasing team.
This is an on-site position that works Monday through Thursday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. from our Corporate Offices in Salina, KS. Occasional out-of-state overnight travel may be required.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
- Lead sourcing projects and participate in cross-functional teams to support projects for product development and project management.
- Collaborate with other internal teams to align strategies, drive project implementation, and support successful supply chain performance.
- Understand cost drivers and develop cost models based on material content, order quantities, tooling, and other factors affecting total cost of ownership. Evaluate specific projects and rate overall supply base using Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) approach.
- Monitor and track commodity costs and other factors that affect pricing to ensure that related cost changes, especially cost reductions, are identified.
- Maintain existing commodity strategies to lead supplier selection and negotiate supplier pricing.
- Utilize supplier scorecards to assess performance of suppliers - conduct business reviews with suppliers to review scorecards, explore opportunities for improvements, develop future business layouts, and drive the implementation of actions identified.
- Monitor, audit, and report performance of suppliers to ensure that supplier performance issues are quickly addressed. Evaluate and manage supply chain risks.
- Work with critical suppliers to ensure they have and/or develop a business continuity strategy to prevent supply interruptions.
- Assist in the development and implementation of procurement plans, policies and procedures.
- Travel to meet with vendors and suppliers on a quarterly basis, or as needed.
- Other duties may be assigned that require other qualifications, physical demands, and/or work environments.
Preferred Skills and Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Engineering or similar.
- 3+ years’ experience in commodity management and/or project management with an emphasis in supply chain management and purchasing.
- Experience in procurement within the construction or Ag industry helpful but not required.
- Strong negotiation skills with a collaborative approach.
- Available for occasional overnight travel (less than 10%).
- Exceptional interpersonal and collaborative problem-solving skills across functional groups.
- Professional certification, such as APICS, or working toward obtaining professional certification is desired.
Great Plains Manufacturing, headquartered in Salina, KS, is a proud subsidiary of Kubota with more than 50 years as a Kansas leader in the design, engineering and manufacturing of agricultural implements, including seeding, tillage, and landscaping equipment. Our new Construction Equipment Division adds Kubota-branded skid steers, compact track loaders, and CE attachments, supported by Kubota Construction R&D Engineering in Salina. Operating in eight Kansas communities with multiple divisions, including Great Plains Ag; Land Pride; Great Plains International; and the Construction Equipment Division, we employ over 2,000 people and are committed to innovation and professional growth. If you are self-motivated, goal-oriented, and collaborative, explore our open opportunities at www.WorkForGPM.com.
See all 3,395+ OPT Strategy Associate Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Strategy Associate Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Strategy Associate
Target companies with a history of H-1B sponsorship
Consulting firms and large corporations that regularly hire Strategy Associates often have established H-1B sponsorship processes. Prioritizing these employers means your OPT period is more likely to lead to long-term work authorization rather than a dead end.
Frame your degree as a direct match for the role
Strategy Associate roles typically require a degree in business, economics, finance, or a related field. Make that connection explicit in your resume and cover letter so employers immediately see your qualifications meet specialty occupation requirements for OPT work authorization.
Start your search early relative to your OPT start date
Hiring timelines for strategy roles at larger firms can run eight to twelve weeks from application to offer. Beginning your search at least three months before your OPT authorization begins gives you room to clear background checks and onboarding before day one.
Be transparent about your OPT timeline upfront
Strategy teams value planning and clarity. Disclosing your OPT end date and STEM extension eligibility early in conversations signals professionalism and lets hiring managers assess sponsorship feasibility before investing heavily in your candidacy.
Highlight quantitative skills that are hardest to source domestically
Employers are more likely to pursue sponsorship when a candidate fills a specific skill gap. If your background includes advanced modeling, data analysis, or market research expertise, lead with those skills to strengthen the case for your hire over a local candidate.
Use Migrate Mate to focus on verified OPT-friendly employers
Browsing generic job boards means filtering through hundreds of roles where sponsorship is unclear. Migrate Mate surfaces Strategy Associate positions from employers who have sponsored international candidates before, making your search significantly more efficient.
Strategy Associate OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Strategy Associate role qualify for OPT work authorization?
Yes, in most cases. Strategy Associate positions typically require a bachelor's degree or higher in business, economics, finance, or a closely related field, which satisfies the specialty occupation standard for OPT authorization. If your degree aligns with the analytical and business functions of the role, you're generally on solid ground. Roles that are vague about degree requirements can be harder to justify, so look for postings that specify a relevant field.
Am I eligible for a STEM OPT extension as a Strategy Associate?
It depends on your degree. If you graduated with a STEM-designated degree such as economics with a quantitative focus, operations research, management science, or a related field, you may qualify for the 24-month STEM extension. Business administration degrees without a STEM designation typically do not qualify. Check your degree program against the official DHS STEM designation list and confirm with your DSO before accepting an offer based on extension eligibility.
How do I find Strategy Associate jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
The most efficient approach is to use Migrate Mate, which focuses specifically on employers who have sponsored international candidates for work visas. This filters out roles where OPT and future H-1B sponsorship are unlikely, saving you the frustration of advancing through hiring processes only to learn sponsorship isn't available. Strategy roles at consulting firms, financial services companies, and large tech corporations tend to have the most established sponsorship infrastructure.
Will a Strategy Associate employer sponsor my H-1B after OPT ends?
Many do, but it's not guaranteed and varies significantly by employer size, industry, and internal policy. Large management consulting firms like McKinsey, BCG, and Bain have historically sponsored H-1B visas for high-performing associates. Smaller boutique firms or early-stage companies may lack the legal infrastructure or budget to sponsor. The H-1B is subject to an annual lottery with roughly a 25% selection rate, so even willing employers face uncertainty. Raise the sponsorship question directly during the offer stage.
Does working as a Strategy Associate count toward STEM OPT practical training requirements?
Only if you're on a STEM-designated OPT extension and the work is directly related to your STEM degree. Standard OPT requires that your employment be related to your field of study, which is a broader standard. For STEM OPT, the connection must be more specific, and your employer must participate in E-Verify and sign a formal training plan. Confirm that your Strategy Associate duties map clearly to your degree's curriculum when working with your DSO to validate the role.