H-1B Visa Benefits Specialist Jobs
Benefits Specialists manage employee compensation programs that require specialized knowledge in compensation and benefits administration, a role USCIS consistently recognizes as a specialty occupation. Employers in HR-intensive industries actively sponsor H-1B visas for qualified candidates, making this a strong pathway for international professionals with relevant degrees.
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Get Access To All JobsWho are we?
Smarsh empowers its customers to manage risk and unleash intelligence in their digital communications. Our growing community of over 6500 organizations in regulated industries counts on Smarsh every day to help them spot compliance, legal or reputational risks in 80+ communication channels before those risks become regulatory fines or headlines. Relentless innovation has fueled our journey to consistent leadership recognition from analysts like Gartner and Forrester, and our sustained, aggressive growth has landed Smarsh in the annual Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing American companies since 2008.
The Global Benefits & Leave Specialist supports the design, administration, and continuous improvement of Smarsh’s global benefits, wellness, and leave programs across multiple countries. This role serves as a key operational partner within the Total Rewards function, ensuring employees receive a high-quality experience while maintaining compliance with country-specific regulations and company policies.
The Global Benefits & Leave Specialist independently manages day-to-day benefits and leave administration activities, partners with external vendors and internal stakeholders, and provides guidance to employees and managers regarding benefit offerings, leave programs, wellness initiatives, and related processes. This role also supports global program scaling as the organization continues to grow internationally.
This position requires strong knowledge of benefits and leave administration, experience supporting global employee populations, sound judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to manage sensitive and confidential information in a fast-paced environment.
How will you contribute?
Global Benefits Administration
- Administer global employee benefits programs including medical, dental, vision, retirement, life insurance, disability, wellness initiatives, and supplemental benefit offerings across multiple countries.
- Support benefit operations in the US and international regions, including coordination with country-specific vendors, brokers, and administrators.
- Serve as a subject matter resource for employees regarding benefit eligibility, enrollment, life event changes, and plan utilization.
- Manage benefits onboarding and annual open enrollment processes, including employee communications, education sessions, and system coordination.
- Ensure accurate benefits data management and payroll deductions through HRIS and payroll systems.
- Partner with the Global Benefits/Total Rewards Manager to support program enhancements, renewals, benchmarking, and process improvements.
- Identify opportunities to improve employee experience, operational efficiency, and scalability of global benefits processes.
Leave of Absence Administration
- Administer leave of absence programs including FMLA, statutory leave programs, disability, parental leave, sick leave, and country-specific leave requirements.
- Coordinate directly with employees, managers, HR partners, and third-party administrators regarding leave eligibility, documentation requirements, timelines, and return-to-work processes.
- Track employee leave status and maintain accurate documentation while ensuring confidentiality and compliance.
- Support international leave administration and coordinate with regional partners to ensure alignment with local regulations and practices.
- Escalate complex or high-risk leave matters appropriately while exercising sound judgment in routine case management.
Wellness & Employee Experience
- Coordinate and support global wellness initiatives and employee wellbeing programs in partnership with Total Rewards and People teams.
- Assist in the development and execution of employee education and engagement efforts related to benefits and wellness offerings.
- Support communication strategies that improve employee understanding and utilization of available programs and resources.
- Gather employee feedback and identify opportunities to enhance participation and overall employee experience.
Compliance & Governance
- Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and international regulations related to benefits and leave administration, including ACA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, and applicable country-specific requirements.
- Maintain accurate records, documentation, and reporting for audits, renewals, and regulatory compliance activities.
- Support annual compliance filings, benefits audits, and vendor reporting requirements.
- Monitor changes in legislation and escalate potential impacts to leadership.
Vendor & Stakeholder Partnership
- Partner with brokers, insurance carriers, leave administrators, and external vendors to ensure timely issue resolution and quality service delivery.
- Assist with vendor management activities including enrollment accuracy, billing reconciliation, reporting validation, and operational issue resolution.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with Payroll, HR Operations, Legal, Finance, and People Business Partners to support effective program administration.
- Contribute to ongoing process documentation and operational best practices.
What will you bring?
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
- 4+ years of experience in benefits, leave administration, HR operations, or Total Rewards.
- Experience supporting global employee populations and/or benefits administration outside the US strongly preferred.
- Knowledge of US benefits and leave regulations including FMLA, ACA, ERISA, COBRA, and HIPAA.
- Familiarity with international benefits and leave practices in countries such as the UK, India, Canada, or EMEA/APAC regions preferred.
- Experience working with HRIS, benefits administration systems, and payroll platforms.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines independently.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
- Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
- Demonstrated customer service orientation and employee support mindset.
What do we offer?
- Healthcare insurance: We provide medical, dental, and vision insurance, and a flexible spending account that allows you to set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for eligible out-of-pocket expenses.
- Stock options.
- Personal time off: A healthy work-life balance is critical to your success at the office. Smarsh offers a “take-what-you-need” time off policy as well as flexible work arrangements.
- 401K Match: Smarsh provides a 4% 401K match for which employees are fully vested on day one.
- Sabbatical: The Smarsh sabbatical programme provides a time to recharge, study or simply do something you are passionate about away from the workplace. Employees are eligible after six years of service.
- Recognition: We’re big on kudos for a job well done. Our employee-recognition programme enables co-workers to nominate their peers who best embody our core values for recognition.
The above salary range represents Smarsh's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible base compensation at the time of posting.
Any applicable bonus programs will be discussed during the recruiting process.
The salary for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, location, specialty and training.
Don't meet every requirement? Apply anyway! We value diverse candidates and encourage applications, even if you don't perfectly match the job description. Studies have shown that some strong candidates may self-select out of the interview process prematurely; at Smarsh we encourage an inclusive, high-performing environment.
Smarsh is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to their race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. Smarsh invites all qualified interested applicants to apply for career opportunities. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Including frequency of functions
About our culture
Smarsh hires lifelong learners with a passion for innovating with purpose, humility and humor. Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. We work closely with the most popular communications platforms and the world’s leading cloud infrastructure platforms. We use the latest in AI/ML technology to help our customers break new ground at scale. We are a global organization that values diversity, and we believe that providing opportunities for everyone to be their authentic self is key to our success. Smarsh leadership, culture, and commitment to developing our people have all garnered Comparably.com Best Places to Work Awards. Come join us and find out what the best work of your career looks like.
Who are we?
Smarsh empowers its customers to manage risk and unleash intelligence in their digital communications. Our growing community of over 6500 organizations in regulated industries counts on Smarsh every day to help them spot compliance, legal or reputational risks in 80+ communication channels before those risks become regulatory fines or headlines. Relentless innovation has fueled our journey to consistent leadership recognition from analysts like Gartner and Forrester, and our sustained, aggressive growth has landed Smarsh in the annual Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing American companies since 2008.
The Global Benefits & Leave Specialist supports the design, administration, and continuous improvement of Smarsh’s global benefits, wellness, and leave programs across multiple countries. This role serves as a key operational partner within the Total Rewards function, ensuring employees receive a high-quality experience while maintaining compliance with country-specific regulations and company policies.
The Global Benefits & Leave Specialist independently manages day-to-day benefits and leave administration activities, partners with external vendors and internal stakeholders, and provides guidance to employees and managers regarding benefit offerings, leave programs, wellness initiatives, and related processes. This role also supports global program scaling as the organization continues to grow internationally.
This position requires strong knowledge of benefits and leave administration, experience supporting global employee populations, sound judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to manage sensitive and confidential information in a fast-paced environment.
How will you contribute?
Global Benefits Administration
- Administer global employee benefits programs including medical, dental, vision, retirement, life insurance, disability, wellness initiatives, and supplemental benefit offerings across multiple countries.
- Support benefit operations in the US and international regions, including coordination with country-specific vendors, brokers, and administrators.
- Serve as a subject matter resource for employees regarding benefit eligibility, enrollment, life event changes, and plan utilization.
- Manage benefits onboarding and annual open enrollment processes, including employee communications, education sessions, and system coordination.
- Ensure accurate benefits data management and payroll deductions through HRIS and payroll systems.
- Partner with the Global Benefits/Total Rewards Manager to support program enhancements, renewals, benchmarking, and process improvements.
- Identify opportunities to improve employee experience, operational efficiency, and scalability of global benefits processes.
Leave of Absence Administration
- Administer leave of absence programs including FMLA, statutory leave programs, disability, parental leave, sick leave, and country-specific leave requirements.
- Coordinate directly with employees, managers, HR partners, and third-party administrators regarding leave eligibility, documentation requirements, timelines, and return-to-work processes.
- Track employee leave status and maintain accurate documentation while ensuring confidentiality and compliance.
- Support international leave administration and coordinate with regional partners to ensure alignment with local regulations and practices.
- Escalate complex or high-risk leave matters appropriately while exercising sound judgment in routine case management.
Wellness & Employee Experience
- Coordinate and support global wellness initiatives and employee wellbeing programs in partnership with Total Rewards and People teams.
- Assist in the development and execution of employee education and engagement efforts related to benefits and wellness offerings.
- Support communication strategies that improve employee understanding and utilization of available programs and resources.
- Gather employee feedback and identify opportunities to enhance participation and overall employee experience.
Compliance & Governance
- Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and international regulations related to benefits and leave administration, including ACA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, and applicable country-specific requirements.
- Maintain accurate records, documentation, and reporting for audits, renewals, and regulatory compliance activities.
- Support annual compliance filings, benefits audits, and vendor reporting requirements.
- Monitor changes in legislation and escalate potential impacts to leadership.
Vendor & Stakeholder Partnership
- Partner with brokers, insurance carriers, leave administrators, and external vendors to ensure timely issue resolution and quality service delivery.
- Assist with vendor management activities including enrollment accuracy, billing reconciliation, reporting validation, and operational issue resolution.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with Payroll, HR Operations, Legal, Finance, and People Business Partners to support effective program administration.
- Contribute to ongoing process documentation and operational best practices.
What will you bring?
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
- 4+ years of experience in benefits, leave administration, HR operations, or Total Rewards.
- Experience supporting global employee populations and/or benefits administration outside the US strongly preferred.
- Knowledge of US benefits and leave regulations including FMLA, ACA, ERISA, COBRA, and HIPAA.
- Familiarity with international benefits and leave practices in countries such as the UK, India, Canada, or EMEA/APAC regions preferred.
- Experience working with HRIS, benefits administration systems, and payroll platforms.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines independently.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
- Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
- Demonstrated customer service orientation and employee support mindset.
What do we offer?
- Healthcare insurance: We provide medical, dental, and vision insurance, and a flexible spending account that allows you to set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for eligible out-of-pocket expenses.
- Stock options.
- Personal time off: A healthy work-life balance is critical to your success at the office. Smarsh offers a “take-what-you-need” time off policy as well as flexible work arrangements.
- 401K Match: Smarsh provides a 4% 401K match for which employees are fully vested on day one.
- Sabbatical: The Smarsh sabbatical programme provides a time to recharge, study or simply do something you are passionate about away from the workplace. Employees are eligible after six years of service.
- Recognition: We’re big on kudos for a job well done. Our employee-recognition programme enables co-workers to nominate their peers who best embody our core values for recognition.
The above salary range represents Smarsh's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible base compensation at the time of posting.
Any applicable bonus programs will be discussed during the recruiting process.
The salary for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, location, specialty and training.
Don't meet every requirement? Apply anyway! We value diverse candidates and encourage applications, even if you don't perfectly match the job description. Studies have shown that some strong candidates may self-select out of the interview process prematurely; at Smarsh we encourage an inclusive, high-performing environment.
Smarsh is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to their race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. Smarsh invites all qualified interested applicants to apply for career opportunities. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Including frequency of functions
About our culture
Smarsh hires lifelong learners with a passion for innovating with purpose, humility and humor. Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. We work closely with the most popular communications platforms and the world’s leading cloud infrastructure platforms. We use the latest in AI/ML technology to help our customers break new ground at scale. We are a global organization that values diversity, and we believe that providing opportunities for everyone to be their authentic self is key to our success. Smarsh leadership, culture, and commitment to developing our people have all garnered Comparably.com Best Places to Work Awards. Come join us and find out what the best work of your career looks like.
See all 189+ H-1B Visa Benefits Specialist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new H-1B Visa Benefits Specialist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as a Benefits Specialist
Verify your degree field supports specialty occupation
USCIS requires a direct relationship between your degree and the Benefits Specialist role. Degrees in human resources, business administration, or organizational management are the strongest fit. A general business degree without HR coursework can trigger a Request for Evidence.
Use OFLC Wage Search before salary negotiations
Look up the prevailing wage for Benefits Specialist under SOC code 13-1141 in your target metro before any offer discussion. Your employer must certify this wage on the LCA, so knowing Level I through Level IV ranges prevents surprises after the offer is signed.
Target employers with self-administered benefits programs
Large employers who manage health, retirement, and leave programs in-house rather than fully outsourcing to third-party administrators file more H-1B petitions for Benefits Specialists. Focus your search on companies with 500-plus employees that list internal HR operations roles regularly.
Search Migrate Mate for verified H-1B sponsors
Filter your job search by employers with confirmed H-1B LCA filing history in HR and compensation roles. Migrate Mate surfaces this DOL data by occupation code, so you can target companies that have already cleared the specialty occupation bar for Benefits Specialists.
Get your offer letter before the March registration window
H-1B cap registration opens in March each year. Your employer needs a confirmed offer letter and your credentials verified before submitting your registration. Benefits roles often involve internal approval chains, so start employer conversations no later than January to avoid missing the window.
Confirm your employer's E-Verify enrollment before accepting
Some Benefits Specialist roles are at companies that have never sponsored an H-1B and aren't enrolled in E-Verify. USCIS requires E-Verify enrollment for cap-subject petitions filed under certain programs. Ask HR directly before investing time in their hiring process.
H-1B Visa Benefits Specialist: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Benefits Specialist role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes, in most cases. USCIS evaluates whether the role normally requires at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field. Benefits Specialists working in compensation analysis, ERISA compliance, or benefits plan design typically meet this standard. Roles that are more administrative, such as data entry or enrollment support, can face higher scrutiny and are more likely to receive a Request for Evidence.
Which degree fields satisfy the H-1B specialty occupation requirement for this role?
Human resources, business administration, organizational management, and industrial-organizational psychology are the most accepted fields. USCIS looks for a direct and logical connection between your degree and the specific duties listed in the job description. If your degree is in an unrelated field, your employer's attorney will need to build a stronger evidentiary record, including expert opinion letters and industry norms documentation.
How do I find Benefits Specialist jobs where the employer has H-1B sponsorship experience?
Search on Migrate Mate, which filters employers by verified H-1B LCA filing history in HR and compensation occupations. Companies that have filed Labor Condition Applications for Benefits Specialists before are far less likely to withdraw sponsorship mid-process due to unfamiliarity with the requirements. First-time sponsors can still work, but expect longer internal approval timelines.
What SOC code is used for Benefits Specialists on the LCA, and why does it matter?
Most employers file under SOC code 13-1141, Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists. This code determines the prevailing wage your employer must certify on the LCA. You can verify current wage levels for your specific metro area using the OFLC Wage Search tool. If the employer assigns the wrong SOC code, it can create wage compliance issues that surface during audits or green card sponsorship later.
Can my employer sponsor my H-1B while I'm in the U.S. on OPT as a Benefits Specialist?
Yes. If your OPT is still valid and your employer files your H-1B petition before October 1 of the fiscal year, the cap-gap rule extends your OPT authorization automatically while your petition is pending. You can continue working throughout this period. If you're on STEM OPT, you have additional runway, but your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, which is also required for cap-subject H-1B filings.