OPT Web Designer Jobs
Web Designer roles qualify for OPT work authorization when the position requires a degree in graphic design, web design, UX/UI, or a related field. Most roles at agencies, tech companies, and in-house creative teams fall within the specialty occupation standard USCIS applies to OPT students.
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Serves as Geisel’s specialist in search engine optimization (SEO) and generative/AI engine optimization (GEO), and as the primary point of hands-on WordPress support and training for departments and end users across the Geisel web.
Working under the direction of the Web Architect, audits and measures the discoverability and performance of the Geisel web (approximately 20,000 pages and 15,000 associated documents across a hybrid Apache/WordPress multisite/MariaDB environment), develops a prioritized, phased plan for improving search and AI visibility across subsites, and implements or oversees implementation of the resulting page-structure, content, metadata, and markup changes.
Continues Geisel’s WordPress training and page-building support for departments without dedicated web staff, balancing reactive, ticket-driven support work with proactive, planned optimization work, and reports progress to the Web Architect and Director of Communications.
Description
Required Qualifications - Education and Yrs Exp
Bachelors or equivalent combination of education and experience
Required Qualifications - Skills, Knowledge and Abilities
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field (marketing, communications, computer science, information science) or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 2–4 years of experience in SEO, digital marketing analytics, or web development with meaningful SEO/optimization responsibility.
- Working knowledge of technical SEO fundamentals: site architecture, redirects/canonicalization, structured data/schema, crawlability, and page performance.
- Hands-on experience with standard SEO/analytics tooling (e.g., Google Search Console, Google Analytics, a site-crawling tool such as Screaming Frog, a rank-tracking/competitive-analysis tool).
- Working knowledge of WordPress administration, including theme/template structure and multisite environments, sufficient to make and support page-structure changes.
- Basic literacy in HTML/CSS; enough familiarity with PHP and Apache configuration (e.g., .htaccess, redirects) to work safely in a files-first hybrid environment without breaking existing static content.
- Strong consultative and training skills; ability to work effectively with non-technical department staff and translate technical recommendations into plain language.
- Solid project management skills; ability to plan and execute a phased, prioritized program of work across many stakeholders.
- Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce documentation and training materials.
Preferred Qualifications
- Direct experience with generative/AI engine optimization (GEO) concepts and practice.
- Experience in a higher education or other large decentralized organization, where content ownership is distributed across many departments.
- Familiarity with MariaDB/MySQL-backed applications and multisite WordPress at scale (tens of thousands of pages).
- Experience with structured data/schema.org markup implementation.
Department Contact for Recruitment Inquiries
Timothy Good
Department Contact Phone Number
603-646-5123
Department Contact for Cover Letter and Title
Timothy Good, Web Architect, DMD
Equal Opportunity Employer
Dartmouth College is an equal opportunity employer under federal law. We prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other legally protected status. Applications are welcome from all.
Background Check
Employment in this position is contingent upon consent to and successful completion of a pre-employment background check, which may include a criminal background check, reference checks, verification of work history, conduct review, and verification of any required academic credentials, licenses, and/or certifications, with results acceptable to Dartmouth College. A criminal conviction will not automatically disqualify an applicant from employment. Background check information will be used in a confidential, non-discriminatory manner consistent with state and federal law.
Is driving a vehicle (e.g. Dartmouth vehicle or off road vehicle, rental car, personal car) an essential function of this job?
Yes
Special Instructions to Applicants
Dartmouth College has a Tobacco-Free Policy. Smoking and the use of tobacco-based products (including smokeless tobacco) are prohibited in all facilities, grounds, vehicles or other areas owned, operated or occupied by Dartmouth College with no exceptions. For details, please see our policy.
Key Accountabilities
Search & AI Visibility Strategy
- Conducts ongoing technical and content audits of the Geisel web using SEO/GEO tools (e.g., Google Search Console, Google Analytics, Screaming Frog, and a paid rank-tracking/competitive tool) to identify visibility gaps.
- Develops, in consultation with Geisel Communications, and maintains a prioritized roadmap of subsites/programs to address, based on criteria such as competitive pressure, current visibility gap, application/inquiry volume relative to capacity, and availability of departmental web staff.
- Stays current on evolving GEO practice (structured data, content designed for extraction/citation by AI answer engines, E-E-A-T signals) and adapts the roadmap as the discipline matures.
Percentage Of Time
20
Technical Implementation
- Implements approved page-structure changes: URL/redirect strategy, canonicalization, internal linking, heading structure, and page templates — working within the constraints of the files-first Apache/WordPress routing model.
- Implements structured data/schema markup and other technical GEO elements on priority pages.
- Diagnoses and resolves technical SEO issues (broken links, duplicate content, crawl/indexing problems, page speed) in coordination with the Web Architect for anything touching server configuration.
Percentage Of Time
25
Department & Content Collaboration
- Works directly with department stakeholders on priority subsites to plan and execute content and structural redesigns, including for departments without their own web staff.
- Advises content owners on writing and structuring content for both traditional search and AI-generated answers.
Percentage Of Time
15
WordPress Support & Training
- Provides day-to-day WordPress support to end users: troubleshooting, page building assistance, and guidance on the multisite environment.
- Develops and delivers training (documentation, mini-courses, office hours) for faculty, staff, and department editors on WordPress and content best practices.
- Builds out pages and simple sites on behalf of departments that lack the staff capacity to do so themselves.
Percentage Of Time
20
Measurement & Reporting
- Tracks and reports on organic search performance, AI-visibility indicators, and the impact of completed optimization projects.
- Provides regular updates to the Web Architect and Director of Communications on roadmap progress and results.
Percentage Of Time
10
Collaboration
- Works closely with the Web Architect on any change that touches site architecture, server configuration, or the applications layer (faculty profiles, recruitment system, forms).
- Works closely with Geisel Communications and Marketing staff to align optimization priorities with broader marketing goals and consistent presentation of content.
- Coordinates with Dartmouth’s central Web Strategy, Design, and Infrastructure department as needed.
Percentage Of Time
5
Professional Development
- Maintains current knowledge of SEO, GEO, and WordPress developments and shares relevant findings with the team.
Percentage Of Time
5
- Demonstrates professionalism and collegiality through actions, interactions, and communications with others appropriate to an environment that is welcoming to all.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Position Purpose
Serves as Geisel’s specialist in search engine optimization (SEO) and generative/AI engine optimization (GEO), and as the primary point of hands-on WordPress support and training for departments and end users across the Geisel web.
Working under the direction of the Web Architect, audits and measures the discoverability and performance of the Geisel web (approximately 20,000 pages and 15,000 associated documents across a hybrid Apache/WordPress multisite/MariaDB environment), develops a prioritized, phased plan for improving search and AI visibility across subsites, and implements or oversees implementation of the resulting page-structure, content, metadata, and markup changes.
Continues Geisel’s WordPress training and page-building support for departments without dedicated web staff, balancing reactive, ticket-driven support work with proactive, planned optimization work, and reports progress to the Web Architect and Director of Communications.
Description
Required Qualifications - Education and Yrs Exp
Bachelors or equivalent combination of education and experience
Required Qualifications - Skills, Knowledge and Abilities
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field (marketing, communications, computer science, information science) or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 2–4 years of experience in SEO, digital marketing analytics, or web development with meaningful SEO/optimization responsibility.
- Working knowledge of technical SEO fundamentals: site architecture, redirects/canonicalization, structured data/schema, crawlability, and page performance.
- Hands-on experience with standard SEO/analytics tooling (e.g., Google Search Console, Google Analytics, a site-crawling tool such as Screaming Frog, a rank-tracking/competitive-analysis tool).
- Working knowledge of WordPress administration, including theme/template structure and multisite environments, sufficient to make and support page-structure changes.
- Basic literacy in HTML/CSS; enough familiarity with PHP and Apache configuration (e.g., .htaccess, redirects) to work safely in a files-first hybrid environment without breaking existing static content.
- Strong consultative and training skills; ability to work effectively with non-technical department staff and translate technical recommendations into plain language.
- Solid project management skills; ability to plan and execute a phased, prioritized program of work across many stakeholders.
- Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce documentation and training materials.
Preferred Qualifications
- Direct experience with generative/AI engine optimization (GEO) concepts and practice.
- Experience in a higher education or other large decentralized organization, where content ownership is distributed across many departments.
- Familiarity with MariaDB/MySQL-backed applications and multisite WordPress at scale (tens of thousands of pages).
- Experience with structured data/schema.org markup implementation.
Department Contact for Recruitment Inquiries
Timothy Good
Department Contact Phone Number
603-646-5123
Department Contact for Cover Letter and Title
Timothy Good, Web Architect, DMD
Equal Opportunity Employer
Dartmouth College is an equal opportunity employer under federal law. We prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other legally protected status. Applications are welcome from all.
Background Check
Employment in this position is contingent upon consent to and successful completion of a pre-employment background check, which may include a criminal background check, reference checks, verification of work history, conduct review, and verification of any required academic credentials, licenses, and/or certifications, with results acceptable to Dartmouth College. A criminal conviction will not automatically disqualify an applicant from employment. Background check information will be used in a confidential, non-discriminatory manner consistent with state and federal law.
Is driving a vehicle (e.g. Dartmouth vehicle or off road vehicle, rental car, personal car) an essential function of this job?
Yes
Special Instructions to Applicants
Dartmouth College has a Tobacco-Free Policy. Smoking and the use of tobacco-based products (including smokeless tobacco) are prohibited in all facilities, grounds, vehicles or other areas owned, operated or occupied by Dartmouth College with no exceptions. For details, please see our policy.
Key Accountabilities
Search & AI Visibility Strategy
- Conducts ongoing technical and content audits of the Geisel web using SEO/GEO tools (e.g., Google Search Console, Google Analytics, Screaming Frog, and a paid rank-tracking/competitive tool) to identify visibility gaps.
- Develops, in consultation with Geisel Communications, and maintains a prioritized roadmap of subsites/programs to address, based on criteria such as competitive pressure, current visibility gap, application/inquiry volume relative to capacity, and availability of departmental web staff.
- Stays current on evolving GEO practice (structured data, content designed for extraction/citation by AI answer engines, E-E-A-T signals) and adapts the roadmap as the discipline matures.
Percentage Of Time
20
Technical Implementation
- Implements approved page-structure changes: URL/redirect strategy, canonicalization, internal linking, heading structure, and page templates — working within the constraints of the files-first Apache/WordPress routing model.
- Implements structured data/schema markup and other technical GEO elements on priority pages.
- Diagnoses and resolves technical SEO issues (broken links, duplicate content, crawl/indexing problems, page speed) in coordination with the Web Architect for anything touching server configuration.
Percentage Of Time
25
Department & Content Collaboration
- Works directly with department stakeholders on priority subsites to plan and execute content and structural redesigns, including for departments without their own web staff.
- Advises content owners on writing and structuring content for both traditional search and AI-generated answers.
Percentage Of Time
15
WordPress Support & Training
- Provides day-to-day WordPress support to end users: troubleshooting, page building assistance, and guidance on the multisite environment.
- Develops and delivers training (documentation, mini-courses, office hours) for faculty, staff, and department editors on WordPress and content best practices.
- Builds out pages and simple sites on behalf of departments that lack the staff capacity to do so themselves.
Percentage Of Time
20
Measurement & Reporting
- Tracks and reports on organic search performance, AI-visibility indicators, and the impact of completed optimization projects.
- Provides regular updates to the Web Architect and Director of Communications on roadmap progress and results.
Percentage Of Time
10
Collaboration
- Works closely with the Web Architect on any change that touches site architecture, server configuration, or the applications layer (faculty profiles, recruitment system, forms).
- Works closely with Geisel Communications and Marketing staff to align optimization priorities with broader marketing goals and consistent presentation of content.
- Coordinates with Dartmouth’s central Web Strategy, Design, and Infrastructure department as needed.
Percentage Of Time
5
Professional Development
- Maintains current knowledge of SEO, GEO, and WordPress developments and shares relevant findings with the team.
Percentage Of Time
5
- Demonstrates professionalism and collegiality through actions, interactions, and communications with others appropriate to an environment that is welcoming to all.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
See all 189+ OPT Web Designer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Web Designer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Web Designer
Lead with your portfolio, not your resume
Web Designer roles are portfolio-first. Before applying, ensure your portfolio site is live, loads fast, and shows three to five projects with clear before-and-after context. Hiring managers decide in seconds whether to read your resume.
Target companies with established design teams
Startups with no design infrastructure often lack the HR process to navigate OPT. Companies with five or more designers already on staff are far more likely to have sponsored international candidates before and will handle your authorization smoothly.
Clarify your OPT timeline upfront in applications
Include your OPT end date and STEM extension eligibility in your cover letter. Employers who understand you have 12 to 36 months of authorized work remaining are far less likely to self-select out before even reviewing your portfolio.
Specialize in a high-demand design discipline
Generalist Web Designers face more competition than specialists. Focus on UX research, design systems, or accessibility-compliant design. A clear specialization strengthens your specialty occupation case and makes you easier for recruiters to place confidently.
Get comfortable with the handoff tools employers care about
Proficiency in Figma, Webflow, or similar tools signals you can work inside existing engineering workflows. Employers sponsoring OPT students want minimal onboarding friction, and tool fluency is one of the fastest ways to demonstrate that readiness.
Ask about H-1B sponsorship before accepting an offer
OPT is temporary. Before signing, ask directly whether the company has sponsored H-1B visas for designers in the past. A company with no history of sponsorship may leave you without a path to continued authorization when OPT expires.
Web Designer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Web Designer role qualify as a specialty occupation for OPT?
Yes, Web Designer roles typically qualify when the position requires a bachelor's degree in graphic design, web design, interaction design, or a closely related field. The key is that the job description must tie the role to a specific degree field, not just any bachelor's degree. Roles where any major is accepted are harder to support as specialty occupations.
Can I work as a freelance Web Designer on OPT?
Yes, self-employment and freelancing are permitted on OPT, but with conditions. You must be working in a field directly related to your degree, and the work must be consistent with full-time employment standards during the authorized OPT period. You cannot simply list yourself as self-employed without active client work. Document all projects and income carefully for your records.
Where can I find Web Designer jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters Web Designer roles by sponsorship openness, so you are not wasting applications on employers who will not consider candidates needing work authorization. Browsing on Migrate Mate saves significant time compared to sifting through general job boards where OPT compatibility is rarely disclosed upfront.
Does my design degree from a foreign university qualify me for OPT in a Web Designer role?
It can, but the degree must be from a U.S. accredited institution for OPT purposes since OPT is tied to your U.S. F-1 student status, not your foreign credential. If you completed your degree abroad and then enrolled in a U.S. program, OPT eligibility is based on your U.S. degree. Foreign credentials may support an employer's specialty occupation assessment separately during H-1B petitions.
What happens if my Web Designer role shifts to a different function during OPT?
OPT requires that your employment remain directly related to your degree field. If your role evolves significantly, for example moving from design into project management or marketing without design responsibilities, that could put your OPT authorization at risk. Report any major job changes to your Designated School Official promptly and confirm the new duties still align with your degree field before continuing.