Government OPT Jobs in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's government sector offers F-1 OPT opportunities across state agencies in Harrisburg, federal offices in Philadelphia, and research-driven public institutions in Pittsburgh. Employers like the Pennsylvania Department of Health, EPA regional offices, and USDA research centers have hired international talent in technical, policy, and scientific roles where OPT authorization is recognized.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact. As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.
What We Offer:
Impact - The work you do here matters to millions.
Growth - Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it?
Diversity & Inclusion - Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
Benefits - We Care About Your Well Being.
The Office of Innovation & Technology (OIT) is the central IT agency for the City of Philadelphia headed by the Chief Information Officer (CIO). OIT oversees all major information and communications technology initiatives for the City of Philadelphia - increasing the effectiveness of the information technology infrastructure, where the services provided are advanced, optimized, and responsive to the needs of the City of Philadelphia’s businesses, residents, and visitors. OIT responsibilities include: identifying the most effective approach for implementing new information technology directions throughout city government; improving the value of the city’s technology assets and the return on the city’s technology investments; ensuring data security continuity; planning for continuing operations in the event of disruption of information technology or communications services; and supporting accountable, efficient and effective government across every city department, board, commission and agency.
Job Description
The Producer is the day-to-day owner of PHLgovTV’s third original launch series and the channel’s short-form service content: the PSA pipeline (including bilingual EN/ES versions), Philadelphia Minute interstitials, and pre/post-hearing context segments supporting the Philadelphia Citizen’s Hub. Working under the Executive Producer’s editorial direction and alongside the Senior Producer, the Producer independently field-produces segments for original programming series, books and preps guests, writes scripts, and supervises edits. The Producer will also support live Mayor's Press conferences and City Council hearing coverage.
Essential Functions
- Own the episode pipeline for the assigned series: research, episode outlines, rundowns, scripts, guest booking and preparation, studio/field producing, and edit supervision through broadcast-ready delivery.
- Produce the PSA pipeline: write, produce, and deliver 90-second PSAs — including bilingual EN/ES versions coordinated with the contract Spanish-language associate — maintaining the minimum rotation target.
- Produce interstitials in quarterly batches with the Multiplatform Producer.
- Produce hearing-context segments (pre/post-hearing explainers, committee explainers).
- Serve as swing producer across the original programming slate: second-chair the Senior Producer’s series during premiere weeks, and multi-hearing weeks.
- Book, brief, and manage guests — City officials, advocates, and residents — including pre-interviews and briefing documents.
- Maintain episode records in the production tracker and ensure ADA Title II captioning timelines are met for all delivered content.
- Support live government hearing coverage as assigned.
Competencies, Knowledge, Skills And Abilities
- Strong story judgment and clear, fast writing for scripts, rundowns, and briefing materials.
- Confident independent field and studio producing with small crews.
- Working proficiency with NLE workflows (Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve) sufficient to supervise and, when needed, execute edits.
- Organized and deadline-driven across multiple simultaneous productions.
- Professionalism with elected officials, agency staff, and community members.
- Spanish-language proficiency a plus, supporting the bilingual PSA pipeline.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, film/TV production, or related field — or equivalent experience.
- Minimum 2 years of professional video/TV production experience with demonstrable producing credits (segments, episodes, or recurring short-form content).
- Experience producing interviews or public affairs content preferred; municipal, PEG, news, or nonprofit media experience a plus.
- Philadelphia civic knowledge preferred.
Additional Information
Salary: $70k-$75k
Salary cannot exceed $75,000
Important: To apply, candidates must provide a cover letter and a resume.
Work Setting: in-person (onsite)
Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:
- We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
- Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan.
- Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
- Generous retirement savings options are available.
- Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.
- Enjoy a Free Commute on SEPTA - Starting September 1, 2023, eligible City employees will no longer have to worry about paying for SEPTA public transportation. Whether you're a full-time, part-time, or provisional employee, you can seize the opportunity to sign up for the SEPTA Key Advantage Program and receive free Key cards for free rides on SEPTA buses, trains, trolleys, and regional rails.
- Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses, extending not only to City employees but in some cases, spouse and dependents too! Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth!
The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire. Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.
The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to faqpchr@phila.gov.
INTRODUCTION
A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact. As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.
What We Offer:
Impact - The work you do here matters to millions.
Growth - Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it?
Diversity & Inclusion - Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
Benefits - We Care About Your Well Being.
The Office of Innovation & Technology (OIT) is the central IT agency for the City of Philadelphia headed by the Chief Information Officer (CIO). OIT oversees all major information and communications technology initiatives for the City of Philadelphia - increasing the effectiveness of the information technology infrastructure, where the services provided are advanced, optimized, and responsive to the needs of the City of Philadelphia’s businesses, residents, and visitors. OIT responsibilities include: identifying the most effective approach for implementing new information technology directions throughout city government; improving the value of the city’s technology assets and the return on the city’s technology investments; ensuring data security continuity; planning for continuing operations in the event of disruption of information technology or communications services; and supporting accountable, efficient and effective government across every city department, board, commission and agency.
Job Description
The Producer is the day-to-day owner of PHLgovTV’s third original launch series and the channel’s short-form service content: the PSA pipeline (including bilingual EN/ES versions), Philadelphia Minute interstitials, and pre/post-hearing context segments supporting the Philadelphia Citizen’s Hub. Working under the Executive Producer’s editorial direction and alongside the Senior Producer, the Producer independently field-produces segments for original programming series, books and preps guests, writes scripts, and supervises edits. The Producer will also support live Mayor's Press conferences and City Council hearing coverage.
Essential Functions
- Own the episode pipeline for the assigned series: research, episode outlines, rundowns, scripts, guest booking and preparation, studio/field producing, and edit supervision through broadcast-ready delivery.
- Produce the PSA pipeline: write, produce, and deliver 90-second PSAs — including bilingual EN/ES versions coordinated with the contract Spanish-language associate — maintaining the minimum rotation target.
- Produce interstitials in quarterly batches with the Multiplatform Producer.
- Produce hearing-context segments (pre/post-hearing explainers, committee explainers).
- Serve as swing producer across the original programming slate: second-chair the Senior Producer’s series during premiere weeks, and multi-hearing weeks.
- Book, brief, and manage guests — City officials, advocates, and residents — including pre-interviews and briefing documents.
- Maintain episode records in the production tracker and ensure ADA Title II captioning timelines are met for all delivered content.
- Support live government hearing coverage as assigned.
Competencies, Knowledge, Skills And Abilities
- Strong story judgment and clear, fast writing for scripts, rundowns, and briefing materials.
- Confident independent field and studio producing with small crews.
- Working proficiency with NLE workflows (Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve) sufficient to supervise and, when needed, execute edits.
- Organized and deadline-driven across multiple simultaneous productions.
- Professionalism with elected officials, agency staff, and community members.
- Spanish-language proficiency a plus, supporting the bilingual PSA pipeline.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, film/TV production, or related field — or equivalent experience.
- Minimum 2 years of professional video/TV production experience with demonstrable producing credits (segments, episodes, or recurring short-form content).
- Experience producing interviews or public affairs content preferred; municipal, PEG, news, or nonprofit media experience a plus.
- Philadelphia civic knowledge preferred.
Additional Information
Salary: $70k-$75k
Salary cannot exceed $75,000
Important: To apply, candidates must provide a cover letter and a resume.
Work Setting: in-person (onsite)
Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:
- We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
- Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan.
- Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
- Generous retirement savings options are available.
- Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.
- Enjoy a Free Commute on SEPTA - Starting September 1, 2023, eligible City employees will no longer have to worry about paying for SEPTA public transportation. Whether you're a full-time, part-time, or provisional employee, you can seize the opportunity to sign up for the SEPTA Key Advantage Program and receive free Key cards for free rides on SEPTA buses, trains, trolleys, and regional rails.
- Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses, extending not only to City employees but in some cases, spouse and dependents too! Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth!
The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire. Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.
The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to faqpchr@phila.gov.
OPT Government Job Roles in Pennsylvania
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Search Government Jobs in PennsylvaniaGovernment OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Pennsylvania: Frequently Asked Questions
Which government employers in Pennsylvania sponsor F-1 OPT visas?
Federal agencies with a significant presence in Pennsylvania, including EPA Region 3 in Philadelphia, the USDA Agricultural Research Service, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, regularly hire F-1 OPT candidates in technical and scientific roles. At the state level, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Health have positions that accommodate OPT work authorization, particularly for candidates with STEM degrees eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension.
Which cities in Pennsylvania have the most government F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?
Philadelphia concentrates the largest volume of federal government openings, housing regional offices for agencies like the EPA, HHS, and Social Security Administration. Harrisburg, as the state capital, is the center for state agency hiring. Pittsburgh attracts public-sector research roles tied to federally funded institutions and defense-adjacent contractors. These three cities account for the majority of government F-1 OPT positions posted in Pennsylvania.
What types of government roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship in Pennsylvania?
Roles in environmental science, public health analysis, data analytics, civil engineering, and information technology are the most common government positions that align with OPT work authorization in Pennsylvania. These fields frequently map to STEM-designated degree programs, making candidates eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Policy analyst and program coordinator roles can also qualify when the position requires a directly related degree.
How do I find government F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Pennsylvania?
Migrate Mate lists government positions in Pennsylvania where employers have a documented history of supporting F-1 OPT work authorization, so you can filter specifically for public-sector roles rather than sifting through listings that don't address visa status. Searching by industry and state on Migrate Mate surfaces federal agency openings in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh alongside state agency roles centered in Harrisburg, saving significant research time.
Are there any Pennsylvania-specific considerations for F-1 OPT in the government sector?
Pennsylvania's large network of federally funded research institutions, including those tied to Penn State and the University of Pittsburgh, creates a category of quasi-governmental roles that can qualify for OPT. Candidates should confirm that a position is with a legitimate employer enrolled in E-Verify, which is required for STEM OPT extensions. Some state government positions also require security clearance eligibility, which can affect hiring timelines for international candidates.