COO Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Kentucky
Kentucky's COO hiring spans logistics hubs in Louisville, healthcare systems like Norton Healthcare and Baptist Health, and manufacturing operations across Lexington and Bowling Green. Multinational companies with established Kentucky footprints do sponsor visas for senior operations leaders, though COO-level sponsorship is selective and typically tied to specialized industry expertise.
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Get Access To All JobsJob Title: Admissions Operations Director
Requisition Number: RE55280
Working Title: Director of Graduate Enrollment Management
Department Name: 1B500: Enrollment Management
Work Location: Lexington, KY
Grade Level: 48
Salary Range: $64,210 - 105,914/year
Type of Position: Staff
Position Time Status: Full-Time
Required Education: MA
Required Related Experience: 5 yrs
Required License/Registration/Certification: None
Physical Requirements:
- Sitting for long periods of time.
- Occasional travel required for recruitment events and professional engagement.
Shift: Monday – Friday; 8:00am – 5:00pm (40 hours/week).
Job Summary:
The Director of Graduate Admissions & Recruitment provides strategic leadership for graduate enrollment management, including admissions operations, enrollment strategy, and recruitment. This position is responsible for developing and executing data-informed strategies to increase graduate enrollment, improve conversion and yield, and support sustainable growth across the university’s graduate portfolio.
The director serves as the institutional lead for graduate admissions policy, ensuring consistent, compliant, and strategic application of admission standards across all programs. This role partners closely with academic leadership; marketing and brand strategy; institutional research, analytics, and decision support; and external stakeholders to expand pipelines, optimize technology systems, and enhance the prospective student experience. The position plays a central role in aligning graduate enrollment efforts with institutional priorities, including online growth and workforce development.
Student Success will, from the time of early college outreach to graduation and beyond, support students in living a life of meaning and purpose. From a student-centered framework, our practice will be grounded in peer-reviewed literature, national best practices, and data-informed decision making. Collaborating with the campus and community, Student Success will work through a holistic lens to support a community of learners in achieving success.
Skills / Knowledge / Abilities:
- Knowledge of graduate admissions policies, regulatory considerations, and best practices
- Ability to interpret and apply policy in complex or exception-based scenarios
- Strategic enrollment planning and execution skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving ability
- Leadership and staff development skills
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? Yes
Preferred Education/Experience:
- Doctorate degree
- 10+ years of experience in graduate enrollment strategy or admissions leadership
- Experience leading enrollment growth initiatives (graduate or online programs)
- Experience using CRM platforms (e.g., Slate, Salesforce) to support recruitment strategy
- Strong background in data interpretation and enrollment strategy execution
- Experience in international recruitment and/or partnership development
- Experience managing vendors or digital recruitment efforts
Deadline to Apply: 08/05/2026
We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.
The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.
Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.
Job Title: Admissions Operations Director
Requisition Number: RE55280
Working Title: Director of Graduate Enrollment Management
Department Name: 1B500: Enrollment Management
Work Location: Lexington, KY
Grade Level: 48
Salary Range: $64,210 - 105,914/year
Type of Position: Staff
Position Time Status: Full-Time
Required Education: MA
Required Related Experience: 5 yrs
Required License/Registration/Certification: None
Physical Requirements:
- Sitting for long periods of time.
- Occasional travel required for recruitment events and professional engagement.
Shift: Monday – Friday; 8:00am – 5:00pm (40 hours/week).
Job Summary:
The Director of Graduate Admissions & Recruitment provides strategic leadership for graduate enrollment management, including admissions operations, enrollment strategy, and recruitment. This position is responsible for developing and executing data-informed strategies to increase graduate enrollment, improve conversion and yield, and support sustainable growth across the university’s graduate portfolio.
The director serves as the institutional lead for graduate admissions policy, ensuring consistent, compliant, and strategic application of admission standards across all programs. This role partners closely with academic leadership; marketing and brand strategy; institutional research, analytics, and decision support; and external stakeholders to expand pipelines, optimize technology systems, and enhance the prospective student experience. The position plays a central role in aligning graduate enrollment efforts with institutional priorities, including online growth and workforce development.
Student Success will, from the time of early college outreach to graduation and beyond, support students in living a life of meaning and purpose. From a student-centered framework, our practice will be grounded in peer-reviewed literature, national best practices, and data-informed decision making. Collaborating with the campus and community, Student Success will work through a holistic lens to support a community of learners in achieving success.
Skills / Knowledge / Abilities:
- Knowledge of graduate admissions policies, regulatory considerations, and best practices
- Ability to interpret and apply policy in complex or exception-based scenarios
- Strategic enrollment planning and execution skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving ability
- Leadership and staff development skills
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? Yes
Preferred Education/Experience:
- Doctorate degree
- 10+ years of experience in graduate enrollment strategy or admissions leadership
- Experience leading enrollment growth initiatives (graduate or online programs)
- Experience using CRM platforms (e.g., Slate, Salesforce) to support recruitment strategy
- Strong background in data interpretation and enrollment strategy execution
- Experience in international recruitment and/or partnership development
- Experience managing vendors or digital recruitment efforts
Deadline to Apply: 08/05/2026
We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.
The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.
Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.
COO Job Roles in Kentucky
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Search COO Jobs in KentuckyCOO Jobs in Kentucky: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies in Kentucky sponsor visas for COO roles?
Large multinationals with significant Kentucky operations are the most common sponsors for COO-level roles. Companies like Humana, Ashland Global Holdings, and international manufacturers with plants in Bowling Green or Northern Kentucky have sponsored senior operations executives. Global logistics firms concentrated around Louisville's air freight corridor also sponsor at this level, though openings are infrequent and highly competitive.
Which visa types are most common for COO roles in Kentucky?
The H-1B visa is the most common visa category for COO roles, given the specialty occupation and degree requirements. The L-1A intracompany transferee visa is also relevant for executives moving within a multinational organization into a Kentucky-based leadership role. O-1A visas for individuals with extraordinary ability in business are occasionally used for senior executives with exceptional track records.
How to find coo visa sponsorship jobs in Kentucky?
Migrate Mate filters COO-level job listings in Kentucky specifically by visa sponsorship availability, which removes the guesswork of contacting companies individually. Because COO openings are rare, setting up alerts on Migrate Mate for Kentucky executive roles ensures you see new postings as they appear. Focusing your search on Louisville and Lexington, where the largest sponsoring employers are concentrated, improves your chances.
Which cities in Kentucky have the most COO sponsorship opportunities?
Louisville accounts for the largest share of executive sponsorship activity in Kentucky, driven by its concentration of healthcare corporations, logistics companies, and regional headquarters. Lexington follows, with a mix of manufacturing, technology services, and university-affiliated organizations. Northern Kentucky, as part of the greater Cincinnati metro, occasionally surfaces COO roles with sponsorship tied to cross-border corporate structures.
Are there any Kentucky-specific considerations for COO visa sponsorship?
Kentucky's economy is heavily weighted toward healthcare, logistics, bourbon and food manufacturing, and automotive production. COO candidates with direct experience in these sectors are more competitive for the limited sponsorship slots available. The University of Kentucky and University of Louisville produce some executive talent pipelines, but most sponsored COO hires at Kentucky-based companies come through internal promotions within global firms rather than external recruitment.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored coo jobs in Kentucky?
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.