OPT Vendor Risk Management Jobs
Vendor Risk Management jobs involve assessing third-party suppliers, auditing compliance frameworks, and managing contractual risk exposure. F-1 OPT students can work in this field during their 12-month authorization period, with STEM OPT extensions available for roles at qualifying employers in finance, consulting, and technology.
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Opening Type:
Business Professionals
Department:
Management
Employment Type:
Fully Remote or Hybrid (Business Professionals Only)
Location:
Austin
Boston
Boulder
Century City
Los Angeles
New York
Palo Alto
Salt Lake City
San Diego
San Francisco
Seattle
Washington, D.C.
Wilmington
Wilson Sonsini is the premier legal advisor to technology, life sciences, and other growth enterprises worldwide. We represent companies at every stage of development, from entrepreneurial start-ups to multibillion-dollar global corporations, as well as the venture firms, private equity firms, and investment banks that finance and advise them. The firm has approximately 1,100 attorneys in 17 offices: 13 in the U.S., two in China, and two in Europe. Our broad spectrum of practices and entrepreneurial spirit allow exceptional opportunities for professional achievement and career growth.
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is the premier legal advisor to technology, life sciences, and growth enterprises worldwide. The firm’s Office of the General Counsel manages the full spectrum of legal matters arising from the firm’s own operations—from commercial and vendor relationships to regulatory compliance, employment, and risk management. This is an opportunity to join a sophisticated internal legal team that operates at the intersection of law, technology, and business. In this new role, you will be the fifth attorney in the OGC, working closely with other members of the OGC and supporting all business functions, including Information Security, IT, Innovation, Finance and Human Resources.
This role can be hybrid or 100% remote.
The Role:
Our Vendor Management Counsel will serve as the primary lawyer for the firm’s commercial contracting function, managing agreements with a wide range of vendors, suppliers, and service providers. The role involves significant volume and variety—from routine procurement agreements to complex technology agreements involving generative AI—and requires a lawyer who can work efficiently at scale while exercising sound judgment on risk and escalation.
Key Responsibilities:
- Serve as primary lawyer for the firm’s vendor and supplier contracts across all business functions
- Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements, including technology license agreements, SaaS and cloud services agreements, professional services agreements, statements of work, and general procurement contracts
- Lead contracting for technology and AI-related engagements, including agreements involving generative AI platforms, AI-assisted legal tools, data processing, and third-party model access—advising on data rights, acceptable use, confidentiality, output ownership, and liability allocation
- Coordinate with client-facing attorneys specializing in privacy, data security, and technology transactions on matters requiring specialized expertise or escalation
- Partner with Finance, IT, Information Security, and other business stakeholders to identify legal risks and align contract terms with internal policies
- Support and maintain standard contract templates, playbooks, and clause guidance tailored to the firm’s risk tolerance and operational needs
- Monitor relevant legal and regulatory developments—particularly in AI governance, data privacy, and technology contracting—and advise the General Counsel on implications for the firm’s contracts and vendor relationships
- Work closely with contract administrator to manage the firm’s contract portfolio and enhance the firm’s contract management processes
Required Qualifications:
- J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school; active bar admission in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction
- Minimum 3 years of experience drafting and negotiating a variety of commercial contracts, including technology agreements
- Strong drafting, negotiation and business-partnering skills
- Familiarity with generative AI contracting concepts, including data rights and restrictions, acceptable use policies, confidentiality of inputs and outputs, indemnification for AI-generated content, and IP ownership
- Demonstrated ability to manage a high volume of matters with competing deadlines
- Business-oriented mindset—able to identify and communicate risk clearly, propose practical solutions, and know when to escalate
Preferred Qualifications:
- Prior experience in an in-house legal department, law firm technology transactions practice, or legal managed services organization
- Familiarity with enterprise procurement and vendor management processes
- Working knowledge of information security and data privacy frameworks (ISO, NIST, GDPR, CCPA/CPRA) and their intersection with vendor and technology agreements
- Experience with AI governance considerations, including the EU AI Act or emerging U.S. state AI legislation
- Familiarity with contract lifecycle management (CLM) systems and ability to leverage AI tools to work more efficiently
The primary location for this job posting is in Palo Alto, but other locations may be listed. The actual base pay offered will depend upon a variety of factors, including but not limited to the selected candidate’s qualifications, years of relevant experience, level of education, professional certifications and licenses, and work location. The anticipated pay range for this position is as follows:
Palo Alto, New York, San Francisco: $163,200 – $220,800 per year. Austin, Boston, Boulder, Century City, Delaware, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, San Diego, Seattle, Washington, D.C., and all other locations: $147,050 – $198,950 per year.
The compensation for this position may include a discretionary year-end merit bonus based on performance. We offer a highly competitive salary and benefits package.
Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Vendor Risk Management
Lead with your risk assessment coursework
Hiring managers in vendor risk want candidates who understand due diligence frameworks. Highlight coursework in risk management, auditing, or compliance directly on your resume. Specific course names signal technical readiness faster than generic degree titles.
Target financial services and consulting firms
Banks, insurance companies, and Big Four consulting firms run large vendor risk functions and have established OPT hiring pipelines. These employers understand work authorization timelines and are more likely to offer H-1B visa sponsorship when your OPT period ends.
Get familiar with third-party risk frameworks
Employers expect fluency with frameworks like NIST, ISO 27001, and SOC 2. Even self-study exposure gives you a concrete talking point in interviews and demonstrates you can contribute from day one without extensive onboarding.
Disclose your OPT timeline early in the process
Tell recruiters your OPT start date and STEM extension eligibility in the first conversation. Employers who cannot accommodate your timeline will exit early, saving you time. Those who proceed know exactly what they are committing to.
Pursue certifications that signal credibility
Certifications like CISA or the Certified Third Party Risk Professional credential materially strengthen your profile. Many OPT students underestimate how much a single relevant certification can offset concerns about limited domestic work experience.
Emphasize analytical tools experience on your resume
Vendor risk roles increasingly rely on GRC platforms and data analysis. Proficiency in tools like Excel, SQL, or governance software gives employers confidence you can handle risk scoring and reporting without a long ramp-up period.
Vendor Risk Management OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can F-1 OPT students work in Vendor Risk Management legally?
Yes. Vendor Risk Management is a qualifying field for F-1 OPT work authorization when the role is directly related to your degree. Business, finance, information systems, and cybersecurity graduates commonly meet this requirement. Confirm the connection between your specific degree and job duties with your Designated School Official before accepting an offer to ensure your employment remains compliant.
Are Vendor Risk Management roles eligible for STEM OPT extension?
Many are, but it depends on your degree field and the employer. If you hold a STEM-designated degree in information systems, data analytics, computer science, or a related discipline, and your employer is enrolled in E-Verify, you can apply for a 24-month STEM OPT extension. Risk roles at technology companies and fintech firms are strong candidates because the analytical work often aligns directly with STEM classifications.
Where can I find Vendor Risk Management jobs that are open to OPT students?
Migrate Mate lists Vendor Risk Management positions from employers who are actively open to hiring F-1 OPT candidates. Filtering by OPT eligibility saves significant time compared to applying broadly and discovering work authorization issues late in the process. Employers on the platform understand the timeline and sponsorship expectations upfront.
Do Vendor Risk Management employers typically sponsor H-1B visas after OPT?
Sponsorship rates are highest at large financial institutions, consulting firms, and enterprise technology companies with dedicated vendor risk functions. Smaller firms and startups are less likely to sponsor because the legal costs and administrative process are harder to absorb. When evaluating offers during OPT, ask directly about the company's H-1B history and whether the legal team handles sponsorship internally or outsources it.
What academic backgrounds qualify OPT students for Vendor Risk Management roles?
The most common qualifying degrees are business administration, finance, information systems, cybersecurity, and supply chain management. Some employers also hire from statistics and data analytics programs, particularly for roles that involve quantitative risk scoring. Your resume should explicitly connect your degree coursework to the specific duties in the job description, which also helps your DSO verify OPT compliance.