Food & Beverage OPT Jobs in Washington DC
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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The IT Support Specialist is responsible for the day-to-day and event-based IT needs for Aramark Sports & Entertainment. This includes providing hands-on support for POS, back office, networking, and other systems ensuring that they are aligned with the IT Lead for the venue who will also support department and company initiatives.
Job Responsibilities
- Responsible for proactive support and maintenance around POS systems and other technologies in use during events
- Communicate application issues to appropriate application owners and vendors
- Ensure the delivery of high-quality IT services to support the business
- Work cooperatively and take direction from onsite IT Lead
- Stay up to date on the latest IT trends and technologies
- Be familiar with IT audits and security assessments
- Resolve IT incidents and problems
- Represent the IT department to onsite leadership
- Employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds
At Aramark, developing new skills and doing what it takes to get the job done make a positive impact for our employees and for our customers. In order to meet our commitments, job duties may change or new ones may be assigned without formal notice.
Qualifications
- Working towards or possess an associate degree in information technology, Computer Science, or a related field (preferred but not required)
- 2+ years of experience working with IT Systems, ideal candidate has experience with Point-of-Sale systems
- Has experience working in a concessions/stadium environment (preferred)
- Proven ability to effectively troubleshoot IT issues
- Basic understanding of IT systems and infrastructure
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
- Ability to work stadium/arena events while constantly on the move between properties
Education
About Aramark
Our Mission
Rooted in service and united by our purpose, we strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and our planet.
At Aramark, we believe that every employee should enjoy equal employment opportunity and be free to participate in all aspects of the company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military status, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by applicable law.
The people of Aramark proudly serve millions of guests every day through food and facilities in 15 countries around the world. Rooted in service and united by our purpose, we strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and our planet. We believe a career should develop your talents, fuel your passions, and empower your professional growth. So, no matter what you're pursuing - a new challenge, a sense of belonging, or just a great place to work - our focus is helping you reach your full potential.
Job Description
The IT Support Specialist is responsible for the day-to-day and event-based IT needs for Aramark Sports & Entertainment. This includes providing hands-on support for POS, back office, networking, and other systems ensuring that they are aligned with the IT Lead for the venue who will also support department and company initiatives.
Job Responsibilities
- Responsible for proactive support and maintenance around POS systems and other technologies in use during events
- Communicate application issues to appropriate application owners and vendors
- Ensure the delivery of high-quality IT services to support the business
- Work cooperatively and take direction from onsite IT Lead
- Stay up to date on the latest IT trends and technologies
- Be familiar with IT audits and security assessments
- Resolve IT incidents and problems
- Represent the IT department to onsite leadership
- Employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds
At Aramark, developing new skills and doing what it takes to get the job done make a positive impact for our employees and for our customers. In order to meet our commitments, job duties may change or new ones may be assigned without formal notice.
Qualifications
- Working towards or possess an associate degree in information technology, Computer Science, or a related field (preferred but not required)
- 2+ years of experience working with IT Systems, ideal candidate has experience with Point-of-Sale systems
- Has experience working in a concessions/stadium environment (preferred)
- Proven ability to effectively troubleshoot IT issues
- Basic understanding of IT systems and infrastructure
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
- Ability to work stadium/arena events while constantly on the move between properties
Education
About Aramark
Our Mission
Rooted in service and united by our purpose, we strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and our planet.
At Aramark, we believe that every employee should enjoy equal employment opportunity and be free to participate in all aspects of the company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military status, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by applicable law.
The people of Aramark proudly serve millions of guests every day through food and facilities in 15 countries around the world. Rooted in service and united by our purpose, we strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and our planet. We believe a career should develop your talents, fuel your passions, and empower your professional growth. So, no matter what you're pursuing - a new challenge, a sense of belonging, or just a great place to work - our focus is helping you reach your full potential.
OPT Food & Beverage Job Roles in Washington DC
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Search Food & Beverage Jobs in Washington DCFood & Beverage OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Washington DC: Frequently 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.