Operational Specialist Visa Sponsorship Jobs in New Mexico
Operational specialist visa sponsorship jobs in New Mexico span defense contractors, federal research facilities, and energy operations across Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Las Cruces. Major employers including Sandia National Laboratories, Leidos, and Honeywell Federal Manufacturing maintain active sponsorship programs for operations professionals with specialized qualifications.
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INTRODUCTION
The mission of the New Mexico Film Office is to improve the lives of New Mexicans by growing the entertainment industry opportunities in the state. The NM Film Office is a division of the New Mexico Economic Development Department whose mission is to improve the lives of New Mexico families by increasing economic opportunities and providing a place for businesses to thrive. Our programs and initiatives support this mission by providing direct assistance to businesses and communities across the state, as well as promoting New Mexico globally to attract new jobs and investments.
THIS POSTING MAY BE USED FOR ONGOING RECRUITMENT AND MAY CLOSE AT ANY TIME. APPLICANTS LISTS MAY BE SCREENED MORE THAN ONCE.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Program Coordinator supports the Senior Program Manager in administering the New Mexico Film Office's (NMFO) statewide programs and performs other duties as assigned.
Programs Supported:
- The Film Crew Advancement Program (FCAP)
- Pre-employment Training Program (PETP)
- Operation Soundstage (OSS)
- The Non-Resident Crew Exception (NRCE)/Giveback program
- The Refundable Tax Credit program
- The NMFO statewide trainings
- The NMFO annual conference
- Other filmmaker workforce initiatives
- The Governor's Council on Film and Media Industries
- Filming in state buildings
The Program Coordinator administers grants for NMFO workforce programs, including the Film Crew Advancement Program (FCAP), Pre-employment Training Program (PETP), and Operation Soundstage (OSS). This is accomplished by processing grant agreements and amendments, coordinating vendor setup with the department, and initiating purchase requests and purchase orders through state procurement procedures. The coordinator monitors grant timelines using Salesforce and Monday.com to ensure compliance and timely execution, maintains accurate, audit-ready participant documentation, and communicates directly with unions to clarify job roles, mentor requirements, and departmental structures.
For the Non-Resident Crew Exception (NRCE)/Giveback program, the coordinator reviews documents submitted by productions against program requirements and guidelines, follows up with productions on missing or incomplete information, and conducts pre-production meetings to explain program expectations.
For the Refundable Tax Credit program, the coordinator processes production project registrations, confirming submissions are complete and accurate, and organizes and maintains registration and application files so records remain current and audit-ready. The coordinator assists productions with tax credit applications, answers questions from productions, production accountants, and incentive representatives about eligibility and requirements, and prepares applications for submission to the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department.
The coordinator provides customer service as a point of contact for productions, crew, industry partners, and the public. Inquiries are handled by phone, email, and in person in a timely and professional manner, directed to the appropriate NMFO staff, state agencies, or resources as needed, followed up to resolution, and tracked to support consistent service and reporting.
To support data and reporting needs, the coordinator maintains and updates Salesforce, Monday.com, and JotForm, entering and reconciling program and participant data so that accurate weekly, quarterly, and annual reports can be produced. The coordinator also maintains a master list of NMFO trainings and participant resumes that can be shared with productions on request, and continues to build expertise in Salesforce (Phases I-III) and in the statutes and guidelines governing NMFO programs.
The coordinator plans, coordinates, and tracks NMFO trainings, the annual conference, and other workforce initiatives by managing logistics, scheduling, venues, and participant registration, and by hosting events. The coordinator also represents NMFO on panels and at job fairs and film festivals as needed.
For filming in state buildings, the coordinator tracks filming requests, reviews paperwork for scouts, tech scouts, and location agreements, and secures electronic signatures promptly. This is done by coordinating with the General Services Department (GSD) to identify the agencies and contacts responsible for requested buildings and serving as the liaison between productions and those agencies.
The coordinator also supports the Governor's Council on Film and Media Industries and works with the Senior Program Manager to review and refine program policies, forms, and procedures by gathering feedback from productions, partners, and participants and monitoring industry trends and workforce needs.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Associate Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, or Accounting and one (1) year of directly related job experience in the areas of office administration, budgeting, purchasing, finance, accounting, auditing, cash management, contract management, and/or in the procedures of business and management principles involved in strategic planning. Any combination of education from an accredited college or university in a related field and/or direct experience in this occupation totaling three (3) years may substitute for the required education and experience.
EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS
Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License. Must complete a defensive driving certification course and obtain a defensive driving certificate within 30 days of employment.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is performed primarily in an office setting with exposure to Visual/Video Display Terminals (VDT) and extensive personal computer and phone use. The position may require periods of walking or standing, as well as minor lifting and moving of objects, and the employee must be able to lift up to 20 pounds. Some field work is required, including attendance at industry events that may take place on evenings or weekends. In-state travel may be required.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
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Agency Contact Information: Sainie Atencio, 505-795-3186; Email: sainie.atencio@edd.nm.gov.
For information on Statutory Requirements for this position, click the Classification Description link on the job advertisement.
Bargaining Unit Position
This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
Operational Specialist Job Roles in New Mexico
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Search Operational Specialist Jobs in New MexicoOperational Specialist Jobs in New Mexico: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for operational specialists in New Mexico?
Defense and federal contractors are the most active sponsors for operational specialist roles in New Mexico. Sandia National Laboratories, Leidos, Honeywell Federal Manufacturing and Technologies, L3Harris, and Raytheon have all filed sponsorship petitions for operations-focused positions in the state. Energy companies operating in the Permian Basin corridor and Los Alamos National Laboratory also sponsor for operational specialist roles.
Which visa types realistically fit operational specialist roles in New Mexico?
Operational specialist positions that require a bachelor's degree in a directly related field can qualify for the H-1B visa as a specialty occupation. If the role involves engineering, computer systems analysis, or management consulting duties, those functions may further support eligibility. Canadian and Mexican nationals do not have a TN visa pathway for this role since operational specialist is not a USMCA-listed profession. F-1 students may use OPT or, if their degree is STEM-designated, the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Employer-sponsored EB-2 or EB-3 green cards are also a path for longer-term hires.
Which cities in New Mexico have the most operational specialist sponsorship jobs?
Albuquerque concentrates the largest share of operational specialist sponsorship activity in New Mexico, anchored by Sandia National Laboratories, Kirtland Air Force Base contractors, and manufacturing operations. Santa Fe draws federal agency and state government operations roles. Las Cruces sees demand through White Sands Missile Range support contractors and New Mexico State University-affiliated research operations. Rio Rancho's Intel and semiconductor facilities also post operations roles periodically.
How to find operational specialist visa sponsorship jobs in New Mexico?
Migrate Mate lists operational specialist positions in New Mexico filtered to employers with verified visa sponsorship history, so you can focus on companies already set up to file petitions rather than testing each one individually. Search by city to target Albuquerque's defense corridor or Las Cruces area contractors. Because New Mexico's sponsoring employers skew heavily toward federal contractor work, filtering for that sector on Migrate Mate narrows results to the most active sponsors.
Are there state-specific factors that affect operational specialist sponsorship in New Mexico?
New Mexico's economy relies heavily on federal defense and research spending, which shapes sponsorship patterns meaningfully. Many of the largest operational employers, including national laboratories and Air Force contractors, require security clearances that can complicate or delay sponsorship for international candidates. Eligibility for certain clearance levels is restricted to U.S. citizens, so roles tied to classified programs may not be open to visa holders regardless of sponsorship willingness. Operations roles at energy and manufacturing employers generally have fewer clearance restrictions.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored operational specialist jobs in New Mexico?
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.