Program Specialist Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Iowa
Program specialist roles in Iowa span state government agencies, major insurers like Principal Financial and Wellmark Blue Cross, and public universities including the University of Iowa and Iowa State University. Des Moines and Iowa City hold the largest concentrations of openings. Employers in these sectors have documented histories of sponsoring work visas for qualified specialists.
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JOB DESCRIPTION (Admin Support)
The TAP specialist will provide training of skills necessary for successful competitive employment and independent living to individuals who qualify for Vocational Rehabilitation services, ages 14 to 25. The TAP Specialist will provide community-based and school-based support and will work in collaboration with the Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services (IVRS) counselor. The TAP specialist is responsible for providing pre-employment transition services (pre-ETS) to individuals and groups. This includes assisting in skill development on and off the work site, job coaching, completing reports and transition assessments and assisting individuals in accessing community resources.
QUALIFICATIONS
The applicant must have a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance, a Bachelor of Arts in Education or a Human Services related area is preferred. Preference will be given to applicants with previous experience in the area of transitioning of individuals into the world of work and who have Job Coaching Certification.
Responsibilities
- Communicate effectively with TAP participants, their parents and a wide variety of professionals
- Must have patience and a desire to work with young people with disabilities
- Must be flexible and able to adjust to unexpected situations
- Able to develop positive relationships with individuals with a wide range of disabilities and from a variety of socio-economic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds
- Able to transport TAP participants
- Able to conform to and work within a specific employment plan set up for a TAP participant
- Able to work independently but under the direction of the TAP Facilitator and in collaboration with the IVRS counselor
- Must be self-motivated, organized, punctual, reliable, dependable, able to meet timelines and deadlines and able to move from one duty or activity to the next independently
- Maintains accurate and current records while effectively utilizing spreadsheets, documents, emails, calendars, Infinite Campus, IVRS case management system, and virtual meeting platforms to complete reports and required documentation efficiently
- Must have excellent problem solving skills and be able to de-escalate crisis situations as needed
- Required to attend and actively participate in meetings such as: IEP, IVRS intakes/employment plans/annual reviews, warm hand-offs with college representatives, Community Rehabilitation Providers (CRPs), and school staff
- Must maintain a positive attitude regarding TAP, Vocational Rehabilitation and Waterloo Community School District to schools, families, businesses and the public in general
- Must have computer skills necessary to perform job searches, assist students with on-line and vocational and educational activities on the computer
- Assist adult job candidates with securing and maintaining employment, completing college applications, pursuing apprenticeship programs, and exploring additional postsecondary opportunities
- Completing reports and participant program goal information
- Promote TAP to Instructional Strategists, school counselors, and families and share TAP forms with staff
- Navigating and updating notes in IRSS, tracking hours on Personal Activity Report (PAR)
DUTIES:
Provide job coaching and training activities on work sites, complete evaluation and exploration activities at job shadowing sites.
Assist participants in learning skills and completing activities necessary to obtain and be successful in competitive employment. These skills include:
- Writing resumes
- Completing job applications
- Obtaining information on job openings
- Interviewing
- Applying to post-secondary training, apprenticeships, and college
- Responsible for business development efforts to create employment and training opportunities
- Teaching work etiquette, hygiene skills, and customer service
- Assist with job searching by using multiple employment platforms, including Iowa Workforce Development and other online job search resources
- Encouraging self-advocacy through utilizing problem solving skills necessary to be successful on the job
Assist participants in learning skills and completing activities necessary to live independently in the community. These may include:
- Attaining skills necessary to obtain a driver’s permit
- Accessing community agencies and support services
- Completing forms and paperwork as necessary
- Gaining problem solving skills necessary to be successful in independent living
- Complete other record keeping and clerical duties. These may include:
- Answering the telephone, taking messages, scheduling intake and annual review meetings, and sharing information about the program

JOB DESCRIPTION (Admin Support)
The TAP specialist will provide training of skills necessary for successful competitive employment and independent living to individuals who qualify for Vocational Rehabilitation services, ages 14 to 25. The TAP Specialist will provide community-based and school-based support and will work in collaboration with the Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services (IVRS) counselor. The TAP specialist is responsible for providing pre-employment transition services (pre-ETS) to individuals and groups. This includes assisting in skill development on and off the work site, job coaching, completing reports and transition assessments and assisting individuals in accessing community resources.
QUALIFICATIONS
The applicant must have a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance, a Bachelor of Arts in Education or a Human Services related area is preferred. Preference will be given to applicants with previous experience in the area of transitioning of individuals into the world of work and who have Job Coaching Certification.
Responsibilities
- Communicate effectively with TAP participants, their parents and a wide variety of professionals
- Must have patience and a desire to work with young people with disabilities
- Must be flexible and able to adjust to unexpected situations
- Able to develop positive relationships with individuals with a wide range of disabilities and from a variety of socio-economic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds
- Able to transport TAP participants
- Able to conform to and work within a specific employment plan set up for a TAP participant
- Able to work independently but under the direction of the TAP Facilitator and in collaboration with the IVRS counselor
- Must be self-motivated, organized, punctual, reliable, dependable, able to meet timelines and deadlines and able to move from one duty or activity to the next independently
- Maintains accurate and current records while effectively utilizing spreadsheets, documents, emails, calendars, Infinite Campus, IVRS case management system, and virtual meeting platforms to complete reports and required documentation efficiently
- Must have excellent problem solving skills and be able to de-escalate crisis situations as needed
- Required to attend and actively participate in meetings such as: IEP, IVRS intakes/employment plans/annual reviews, warm hand-offs with college representatives, Community Rehabilitation Providers (CRPs), and school staff
- Must maintain a positive attitude regarding TAP, Vocational Rehabilitation and Waterloo Community School District to schools, families, businesses and the public in general
- Must have computer skills necessary to perform job searches, assist students with on-line and vocational and educational activities on the computer
- Assist adult job candidates with securing and maintaining employment, completing college applications, pursuing apprenticeship programs, and exploring additional postsecondary opportunities
- Completing reports and participant program goal information
- Promote TAP to Instructional Strategists, school counselors, and families and share TAP forms with staff
- Navigating and updating notes in IRSS, tracking hours on Personal Activity Report (PAR)
DUTIES:
Provide job coaching and training activities on work sites, complete evaluation and exploration activities at job shadowing sites.
Assist participants in learning skills and completing activities necessary to obtain and be successful in competitive employment. These skills include:
- Writing resumes
- Completing job applications
- Obtaining information on job openings
- Interviewing
- Applying to post-secondary training, apprenticeships, and college
- Responsible for business development efforts to create employment and training opportunities
- Teaching work etiquette, hygiene skills, and customer service
- Assist with job searching by using multiple employment platforms, including Iowa Workforce Development and other online job search resources
- Encouraging self-advocacy through utilizing problem solving skills necessary to be successful on the job
Assist participants in learning skills and completing activities necessary to live independently in the community. These may include:
- Attaining skills necessary to obtain a driver’s permit
- Accessing community agencies and support services
- Completing forms and paperwork as necessary
- Gaining problem solving skills necessary to be successful in independent living
- Complete other record keeping and clerical duties. These may include:
- Answering the telephone, taking messages, scheduling intake and annual review meetings, and sharing information about the program
Program Specialist Job Roles in Iowa
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Search Program Specialist Jobs in IowaProgram Specialist Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies in Iowa sponsor visas for program specialists?
Principal Financial Group, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and UnityPoint Health in Des Moines are among the larger Iowa employers with H-1B sponsorship histories for program and administrative specialist roles. State agencies and the University of Iowa and Iowa State University systems also sponsor international hires, particularly for grant-funded or research-adjacent program positions.
Which visa types are most common for program specialist roles in Iowa?
The H-1B is the most common visa category for program specialist roles in Iowa, provided the position qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring a specific bachelor's degree or higher. Candidates already holding F-1 OPT or STEM OPT authorization often transition into H-1B sponsorship with Iowa employers. Some university-based program roles may also see J-1 or TN filings depending on the applicant's background.
Which cities in Iowa have the most program specialist visa sponsorship jobs?
Des Moines concentrates the highest volume of program specialist openings, driven by its insurance, financial services, and state government sectors. Iowa City is the second-strongest market, anchored by the University of Iowa and its affiliated health system. Cedar Rapids has a smaller but active market, with employers in insurance and manufacturing occasionally sponsoring specialists for operational or compliance-focused program roles.
How to find program specialist visa sponsorship jobs in Iowa?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically by visa sponsorship availability, making it practical to search for program specialist roles in Iowa without sorting through positions that won't support international candidates. You can filter by state and role type to focus on Iowa employers in sectors like insurance, healthcare, and higher education that have active sponsorship histories for this job category.
Are there any Iowa-specific factors that affect visa sponsorship for program specialists?
Iowa's prevailing wage requirements under the H-1B labor condition application process apply at the county level, so wage thresholds in rural Iowa counties differ from those in the Des Moines or Iowa City metro areas. University of Iowa and Iowa State positions often fall under cap-exempt H-1B petitions, meaning those employers can file year-round without waiting for the annual lottery cycle.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored program specialist jobs in Iowa?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.
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