Food & Beverage Jobs in Washington DC with F-1 OPT Sponsorship
Washington DC's food and beverage sector spans hotel dining at properties like Marriott and Hilton, food policy organizations, and a growing independent restaurant scene across Capitol Hill and Downtown. F-1 OPT students in culinary arts, food science, hospitality management, and nutrition find employers here who are familiar with OPT work authorization, particularly in roles tied to degree-relevant functions.
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Location: FANNIE MAE HQ, WASHINGTON - 88153020
Workdays/shifts: WEEKDAYS ONLY - Specific Shifts. More details will be provided during the interview process.
Employment Type: Full-time
Pay Range: $23.30 per hour - $23.30 per hour
Working with Sodexo is more than a job; it’s a chance to be part of something greater because we believe our everyday actions have a big impact. You belong in a company that allows you to act with purpose and thrive in your own way.
What You’ll Do: As a Barista at Sodexo, you will provide exceptional customer service while making hand-crafted, quality beverages. The general responsibilities of the position include those listed below, but Sodexo may identify other responsibilities of the position. These responsibilities may differ among accounts, depending on business necessities and client requirements.
Responsibilities include:
- Greets all guests and provides quick, friendly, and personalized service.
- Mixes and serves hot and cold beverages such as coffee, espresso, cappuccino, café latte, tea, chai, fruit blend drinks, etc., while considering customer specifications.
- Works to maintain good customer relations and speedy delivery of all beverages and food items.
- Educate guests regarding menu offerings and initiate suggestive selling.
- Arranges coffee bar/cart supplies and cups/mugs to make attractive displays.
- Often cleans coffee machines, restaurant areas, and preparation areas.
- Records all sales, collects money, operates a cash register, and follows all cash-handling procedures as required.
- Significant walking or other means of mobility.
- Ability to walk or stand for extended periods of time, throughout the entire duration of a shift, which may exceed 8 hours.
- Ability to reach, bend, stoop, push and/or pull, and frequently lift up to 35 pounds and occasionally lift/move 50 pounds.
- Attends work and shows for scheduled shift on time with satisfactory regularity.
- Other duties may be assigned and can differ among accounts, depending on business necessities and client requirements.
What You Bring:
- High School diploma, GED, or equivalent experience.
- Customer Service related work experience.
- Must have knowledge of food preparation, sanitation, standards, and inventory control systems.
- Starbucks Baristas may be required to be certified.
What We Offer:
- Flexible and supportive work environment, so you can be home for life’s important moments.
- Access to ongoing training/development and advancement opportunities to turn your job into a career.
- Full array of benefits that support you and your family’s wellbeing, including paid time off, holidays, medical, dental, vision, tuition reimbursement, 401k, discount programs, and more.
- In addition to Sodexo’s standard, some locations may offer additional site-specific benefits, including free “shift” meals (and/or allowances/per diems), uniforms, safety shoes, public transportation support and/or parking.
Overall, Sodexo strives to offer comprehensive summaries of our benefits packages and detailed descriptions of the positions candidates are applying for. However, due to the contractual nature of our business, some job duties and employee benefits may vary based on the unit/work location. We encourage you to discuss any questions about Sodexo’s benefit offerings during the interview process.
Who we are:
At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone and build a better life for all. We believe in improving the quality of life for those we serve and contributing to the economic, social, and environmental progress in the communities where we operate. Sodexo partners with clients to provide a truly memorable experience for both customers and employees alike. We do this by providing food service, catering, facilities management, and other integrated solutions worldwide.
Our company values you for you; you will be treated fairly and with respect, and you can be yourself. You will have your ideas count and your opinions heard because we can be a stronger team when you’re happy at work. This is why we embrace culture and belonging as core values, fostering an environment where all employees are valued and respected. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to individuals regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, military status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Should you need assistance with the online application process, please complete this form.
Barista
Location: FANNIE MAE HQ, WASHINGTON - 88153020
Workdays/shifts: WEEKDAYS ONLY - Specific Shifts. More details will be provided during the interview process.
Employment Type: Full-time
Pay Range: $23.30 per hour - $23.30 per hour
Working with Sodexo is more than a job; it’s a chance to be part of something greater because we believe our everyday actions have a big impact. You belong in a company that allows you to act with purpose and thrive in your own way.
What You’ll Do: As a Barista at Sodexo, you will provide exceptional customer service while making hand-crafted, quality beverages. The general responsibilities of the position include those listed below, but Sodexo may identify other responsibilities of the position. These responsibilities may differ among accounts, depending on business necessities and client requirements.
Responsibilities include:
- Greets all guests and provides quick, friendly, and personalized service.
- Mixes and serves hot and cold beverages such as coffee, espresso, cappuccino, café latte, tea, chai, fruit blend drinks, etc., while considering customer specifications.
- Works to maintain good customer relations and speedy delivery of all beverages and food items.
- Educate guests regarding menu offerings and initiate suggestive selling.
- Arranges coffee bar/cart supplies and cups/mugs to make attractive displays.
- Often cleans coffee machines, restaurant areas, and preparation areas.
- Records all sales, collects money, operates a cash register, and follows all cash-handling procedures as required.
- Significant walking or other means of mobility.
- Ability to walk or stand for extended periods of time, throughout the entire duration of a shift, which may exceed 8 hours.
- Ability to reach, bend, stoop, push and/or pull, and frequently lift up to 35 pounds and occasionally lift/move 50 pounds.
- Attends work and shows for scheduled shift on time with satisfactory regularity.
- Other duties may be assigned and can differ among accounts, depending on business necessities and client requirements.
What You Bring:
- High School diploma, GED, or equivalent experience.
- Customer Service related work experience.
- Must have knowledge of food preparation, sanitation, standards, and inventory control systems.
- Starbucks Baristas may be required to be certified.
What We Offer:
- Flexible and supportive work environment, so you can be home for life’s important moments.
- Access to ongoing training/development and advancement opportunities to turn your job into a career.
- Full array of benefits that support you and your family’s wellbeing, including paid time off, holidays, medical, dental, vision, tuition reimbursement, 401k, discount programs, and more.
- In addition to Sodexo’s standard, some locations may offer additional site-specific benefits, including free “shift” meals (and/or allowances/per diems), uniforms, safety shoes, public transportation support and/or parking.
Overall, Sodexo strives to offer comprehensive summaries of our benefits packages and detailed descriptions of the positions candidates are applying for. However, due to the contractual nature of our business, some job duties and employee benefits may vary based on the unit/work location. We encourage you to discuss any questions about Sodexo’s benefit offerings during the interview process.
Who we are:
At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone and build a better life for all. We believe in improving the quality of life for those we serve and contributing to the economic, social, and environmental progress in the communities where we operate. Sodexo partners with clients to provide a truly memorable experience for both customers and employees alike. We do this by providing food service, catering, facilities management, and other integrated solutions worldwide.
Our company values you for you; you will be treated fairly and with respect, and you can be yourself. You will have your ideas count and your opinions heard because we can be a stronger team when you’re happy at work. This is why we embrace culture and belonging as core values, fostering an environment where all employees are valued and respected. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to individuals regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, military status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Should you need assistance with the online application process, please complete this form.
Job Roles in Food & Beverage in Washington DC
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Which food & beverage companies sponsor F-1 OPT visas in Washington DC?
Large hospitality groups with a DC presence, including Marriott International (headquartered in nearby Bethesda), Hilton, and Aramark, have established OPT hiring patterns due to their scale and HR infrastructure. Food policy nonprofits and research organizations in DC also hire F-1 OPT candidates for nutrition and food systems roles. Smaller independent restaurant groups occasionally hire OPT students for operations and management positions tied to relevant degrees.
Which areas in Washington DC have the most food & beverage F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?
Most food and beverage OPT opportunities are concentrated in Downtown DC, Capitol Hill, and the Penn Quarter and Navy Yard neighborhoods, where hotel food operations and corporate dining facilities are densest. The Georgetown corridor has a strong independent restaurant presence. For food policy and research roles, the area around Dupont Circle and the National Mall hosts numerous nonprofits and federal-adjacent organizations that employ food science and nutrition graduates.
What types of food & beverage roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship?
Roles that qualify for F-1 OPT must be directly related to your degree field. For food and beverage students, qualifying positions commonly include food scientist, nutrition analyst, food safety specialist, beverage product developer, culinary operations manager, and food policy researcher. Front-of-house service roles generally do not qualify unless your degree is specifically in hospitality management and the position involves managerial or analytical responsibilities tied to that field.
How do I find food & beverage F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Washington DC?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT job seekers and filters food and beverage roles in Washington DC by OPT sponsorship eligibility, saving you the step of screening employers manually. Beyond Migrate Mate, your university's career services office and DC-based hospitality associations can connect you with employers who regularly work with international students. Applying directly to large hotel groups and food organizations with established HR teams also increases your chances of finding OPT-compatible roles.
Are there any DC-specific considerations for F-1 OPT in the food & beverage industry?
Washington DC's food and beverage market is heavily influenced by its hospitality and events industry, which is tied to the government calendar and major conferences. This creates seasonal hiring patterns, with more openings around inauguration periods, congressional sessions, and large international summits. STEM OPT extension is generally not available for culinary or hospitality degrees, so students in those programs should plan their job search timeline carefully around their standard 12-month OPT authorization window.
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