Science & Research OPT Jobs in New Mexico
Science & research F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in New Mexico are concentrated around national laboratories, federal research facilities, and university-affiliated institutes. Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory in Albuquerque and Los Alamos are among the most active employers, alongside University of New Mexico research programs. OPT-authorized candidates in biology, chemistry, physics, and data science find consistent demand statewide.
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Overview:
Reporting to the Contracts Manager and under general direction, the Senior Contracts Specialist will provide technical and administrative contracts support to scientific and administrative staff in support of the Institute's mission.
The Senior Contracts Specialist will provide end-to-end execution of Federal and commercial contracts by ensuring compliance with Institute policies, Federal regulations affecting grants, competitive contracts and/or solicitations, and the terms of commercial contracts. Will review and ensure accuracy of pricing data of budgets, review contractual documents and agreements, make recommendations about best practices for contract compliance, and assist the Contracts Manager with all other related contractual administration duties and tasks as required or assigned.
Will also generate and complete pre and post award documents including but not limited to, Service Agreements, Work, Delivery and Task Orders, Amendments and shall conduct customer contract reviews as necessary.
Will work in a fast paced, team-oriented environment and will provide general direction and support to junior specialists, and may assist with oversight of the Office of Research Contracts (ORC) in the absence of the Contracts Manager.
Qualifications:
Requires a bachelor's degree in Business Administration/Accounting, Public, or related field and 4+ years of directly related professional-level contract administration experience; or an equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been attained.
The Senior Contracts Specialist must have demonstrated experience working in a commercial or Federal contracting environment and a fundamental understanding of standard best practices surrounding contractual agreements. Must be able to perform basic mathematical calculations on budget and proposal reviews in Excel and other similar software products and have the ability to independently explain financial data to management and scientific personnel as needed.
This position requires a fundamental understanding of and previous experience applying contractual regulations including, but not limited to, FAR, DFARS and Federal cost principles contained in 2 CFR 200. Basic knowledge of and experience with the Institute's major funding agencies—NIH, DOD, NSF, DHS—is strongly preferred.
Must have superior professional-level written and verbal communication skills; a high degree of professionalism, excellent judgment, problem-solving and decision-making skills. Demonstrated ability in managing a wide variety of complex tasks and projects simultaneously while meeting multiple deadlines is required. Must have the ability to work independently or as a part of a team and have computer proficiency with Microsoft Office and the ability to learn department-specific computer systems as needed.
Experience with Pro-Pricer or other similar budgeting databases as well as experience in a research environment and knowledge of government acquisitions is strongly preferred.
This position requires a post-offer credit check.
Physical Requirements:
Work is performed in an office environment. Will operate standard office equipment and will frequently stand, walk, sit, perform desk-based computer tasks, use a telephone, perform repetitive motions and occasionally lift objects that weigh up to 10 pounds.
The above is intended to describe the general requirements for the position and should not be interpreted as an exhaustive statement of physical requirements. The Institute will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires an accommodation to perform the essential functions of the position.
Salary:
Salary is commensurate with experience.
Lovelace Biomedical is an Equal Opportunity Employer
OPT Science & Research Job Roles in New Mexico
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Search Science & Research Jobs in New MexicoScience & Research OPT Sponsorship Jobs in New Mexico: Frequently Asked Questions
Which science & research companies sponsor F-1 OPT visas in New Mexico?
Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory are the most prominent employers with F-1 OPT sponsorship history in New Mexico's science and research sector. University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University, and affiliated research centers also hire OPT-authorized candidates regularly. Smaller private firms in defense technology, environmental science, and biomedical research active in Albuquerque and Santa Fe round out the sponsoring employer base.
Which cities in New Mexico have the most science & research F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?
Albuquerque concentrates the highest number of science and research F-1 OPT positions, driven by Sandia National Laboratories, UNM research institutes, and a growing biotech corridor. Los Alamos follows closely given the presence of Los Alamos National Laboratory. Santa Fe and Las Cruces, home to New Mexico State University, also generate demand for OPT-authorized researchers and laboratory professionals.
What types of science & research roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship in New Mexico?
Roles that directly align with a candidate's degree field qualify for F-1 OPT authorization. In New Mexico, these commonly include research scientist, laboratory technician, data analyst, computational physicist, environmental scientist, bioinformatics specialist, and materials science engineer positions. Roles at national laboratories and university research centers frequently meet the direct-relationship requirement between the position and the OPT holder's field of study.
How do I find science & research F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in New Mexico?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT job seekers and filters science and research positions in New Mexico by verified sponsorship history, so you can identify employers who have authorized OPT candidates in your field before applying. Search by role type, city, and OPT authorization to surface opportunities at national labs, universities, and private research firms across Albuquerque, Los Alamos, and Las Cruces.
Are there state-specific considerations for F-1 OPT sponsorship in New Mexico's science & research sector?
New Mexico's science and research hiring is heavily influenced by federal security clearance requirements at Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories, which can restrict F-1 OPT candidates from certain classified projects. However, both labs also operate unclassified research programs that do hire OPT-authorized candidates. STEM OPT extension eligibility is particularly relevant here, as many positions qualify under STEM-designated degree fields, extending authorized work to 36 months total.