STEM OPT Environmental Jobs
Environmental roles in consulting, remediation, and compliance are strong fits for STEM OPT students with degrees in environmental science, engineering, or a related field. Your 24-month STEM OPT extension applies when your employer is enrolled in E-Verify, giving you up to 36 months total to build U.S. work experience.
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Get Access To All JobsEnvironmental Specialist II – Cultural Resources
Location: Atlanta, GA
Contract - 18 Months
Client - Georgia Power
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced Environmental Specialist II with a strong background in cultural resource management (CRM) and archaeology to support environmental compliance and survey activities.
This role focuses on planning, directing, conducting, reviewing, and reporting on archaeological and cultural resource investigations in support of infrastructure and utility projects. The ideal candidate brings supervisory experience, strong analytical skills, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
Key Responsibilities
Cultural Resource Management (CRM)
- Plan, direct, and conduct archaeological and cultural resource surveys.
- Review and prepare technical reports and compliance documentation.
- Perform background research and screening related to cultural resources.
- Ensure survey and reporting activities meet regulatory and project requirements.
Project Oversight & Coordination
- Provide supervisory oversight of field investigations.
- Coordinate activities across multidisciplinary teams.
- Interface with:
- Project Engineers
- Environmental Teams
- Legal Counsel
- Third-party representatives
- Balance multiple projects while meeting deadlines and compliance standards.
GIS & Technical Analysis
- Utilize GIS tools for mapping and spatial analysis.
- Conduct report review and data analysis.
- Support documentation required for environmental compliance.
Required Qualifications
- Graduate degree in:
- Archaeology
- Anthropology
- Cultural Resource Management
- Related discipline
- Minimum 3 years of experience in cultural resource management.
- At least 1 year of supervisory experience required.
- Preferred: 5+ years of experience with 2+ years at a supervisory level.
- Experience with:
- Archaeological/cultural resource surveys
- GIS applications
- Report review and background research
Equivalent combinations of education, experience, and training may be considered.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Strong understanding of cultural resource compliance requirements.
- Excellent interpersonal skills for cross-functional collaboration.
- Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Detail-oriented with strong analytical capabilities.
Core Competencies
- Regulatory compliance knowledge
- Cultural resource documentation expertise
- GIS proficiency
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Project coordination and multitasking
- Professional communication
Environmental Specialist II – Cultural Resources
Location: Atlanta, GA
Contract - 18 Months
Client - Georgia Power
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced Environmental Specialist II with a strong background in cultural resource management (CRM) and archaeology to support environmental compliance and survey activities.
This role focuses on planning, directing, conducting, reviewing, and reporting on archaeological and cultural resource investigations in support of infrastructure and utility projects. The ideal candidate brings supervisory experience, strong analytical skills, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
Key Responsibilities
Cultural Resource Management (CRM)
- Plan, direct, and conduct archaeological and cultural resource surveys.
- Review and prepare technical reports and compliance documentation.
- Perform background research and screening related to cultural resources.
- Ensure survey and reporting activities meet regulatory and project requirements.
Project Oversight & Coordination
- Provide supervisory oversight of field investigations.
- Coordinate activities across multidisciplinary teams.
- Interface with:
- Project Engineers
- Environmental Teams
- Legal Counsel
- Third-party representatives
- Balance multiple projects while meeting deadlines and compliance standards.
GIS & Technical Analysis
- Utilize GIS tools for mapping and spatial analysis.
- Conduct report review and data analysis.
- Support documentation required for environmental compliance.
Required Qualifications
- Graduate degree in:
- Archaeology
- Anthropology
- Cultural Resource Management
- Related discipline
- Minimum 3 years of experience in cultural resource management.
- At least 1 year of supervisory experience required.
- Preferred: 5+ years of experience with 2+ years at a supervisory level.
- Experience with:
- Archaeological/cultural resource surveys
- GIS applications
- Report review and background research
Equivalent combinations of education, experience, and training may be considered.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Strong understanding of cultural resource compliance requirements.
- Excellent interpersonal skills for cross-functional collaboration.
- Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Detail-oriented with strong analytical capabilities.
Core Competencies
- Regulatory compliance knowledge
- Cultural resource documentation expertise
- GIS proficiency
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Project coordination and multitasking
- Professional communication
See all 1,505+ STEM OPT Environmental Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization in Environmental
Verify your CIP code matches STEM eligibility
Check whether your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code appears on the STEM Designated Degree Program list published by ICE. Environmental science and environmental engineering codes qualify, but interdisciplinary programs sometimes don't, so confirm before applying.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Your STEM OPT extension is only valid with an E-Verify enrolled employer. Ask recruiters directly or look up the company in the E-Verify employer search tool before you sign anything. Many smaller environmental consulting firms aren't enrolled.
Target employers with active PERM or LCA filings
Environmental firms that have filed Labor Condition Applications or PERM applications have already navigated DOL compliance requirements. Use Migrate Mate to filter for employers with verified filing history in environmental and engineering occupation categories.
Align your I-983 training plan to O*NET tasks
Your I-983 must show a clear connection between your job duties and your STEM degree. Pull the occupation profile from O*NET for your specific role, such as Environmental Scientists and Specialists or Environmental Engineers, and use those defined tasks in your training plan.
Time your extension application 90 days before OPT ends
USCIS requires your STEM OPT extension application to be filed no more than 90 days before your initial OPT EAD expires. File early enough to maintain continuous work authorization, especially if your employer needs to verify their E-Verify status before signing your I-983.
Prioritize federal contractors and EPA-adjacent firms
Federal environmental contractors and firms working on EPA remediation projects are legally required to use E-Verify, making them automatically eligible to employ STEM OPT students. Target solicitation notices and agency subcontractor lists to identify these employers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do environmental jobs qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Environmental roles qualify when your degree's CIP code appears on the ICE STEM Designated Degree Program list and the job duties relate directly to that field. Degrees in environmental science, environmental engineering, civil engineering with an environmental focus, and related STEM disciplines typically qualify. Your DSO confirms eligibility before recommending the extension in SEVIS.
What happens if my environmental employer isn't enrolled in E-Verify?
You can't work on a STEM OPT extension with an employer that isn't enrolled in E-Verify. If your employer isn't enrolled, they must complete enrollment before your extension becomes valid. Some smaller environmental consulting firms and nonprofits skip E-Verify enrollment, so verifying this before accepting an offer is essential to avoid a gap in work authorization.
How do I complete the I-983 training plan for an environmental role?
Your I-983 must describe how the position provides practical training directly related to your STEM degree. For environmental roles, that means documenting specific duties such as site assessment, regulatory compliance analysis, data modeling, or fieldwork tied to your coursework. Your employer signs the plan and must provide a formal evaluation every six months throughout your STEM OPT period.
Does the cap-gap rule protect me if I'm in an environmental job and my H-1B is selected?
Yes. If you're working in an environmental role on OPT and your employer files an H-1B visa petition for you before your OPT expires, the cap-gap rule automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that year. You can continue working in your environmental position without interruption while USCIS processes the petition.
Where can I find environmental employers that hire STEM OPT students?
Migrate Mate filters environmental job listings to show employers with verified E-Verify enrollment and a history of sponsoring international candidates in engineering and science occupations. That removes the guesswork of cold-applying to firms that aren't set up to hire STEM OPT workers, letting you focus on companies already familiar with the extension requirements.