OPT Benefits Consultant Jobs
Benefits Consultant roles involve advising clients on health, retirement, and compensation packages, making them a strong fit for OPT students with degrees in HR, business, or finance. Most positions qualify as specialty occupations under F-1 OPT rules, and STEM OPT extensions are available for analytically focused roles at qualifying employers.
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Get Access To All JobsStatewide IL (Benefits Management and Data Analytics Manager)5010 BUS/ADMINV ASSOC 2
Hiring Department: Division of Specialized Care for Children
Location: Springfield, IL USA
Requisition ID: 1042233
FTE: 1
Work Schedule: 8AM-4:30PM
Shift: Days
# of Positions: 1
Workplace Type: Hybrid
Posting Close Date: 8/20/2026
Salary Range (commensurate with experience): $73,000.00 - 83,000.00
About the University of Illinois Chicago
UIC is among the nation’s preeminent urban public research universities, a Carnegie RU/VH research institution, and the largest university in Chicago. UIC serves over 34,000 students, comprising one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation and is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPSI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Through its 16 colleges, UIC produces nationally and internationally recognized multidisciplinary academic programs in concert with civic, corporate and community partners worldwide, including a full complement of health sciences colleges. By emphasizing cutting-edge and transformational research along with a commitment to the success of all students, UIC embodies the dynamic, vibrant and engaged urban university. Recent “Best Colleges” rankings published by U.S. News & World Report found UIC climbed up in its rankings among top public schools in the nation and among all national universities. UIC has nearly 260,000 alumni, and is one of the largest employers in the city of Chicago.
This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.
Position Summary
Supervises Benefits Management Unit, designates and oversees unit assignments. Provides expertise in public/private insurance statutes, regulations and trends as they relate to the University of Illinois at Chicago – Division of Specialized Care for Children (UIC-DSCC). Coordinates all ongoing activities related to the development, implementation, maintenance of, reporting on and adherence to the organization's policies and procedures that support the protection of sensitive and high-risk data as required by federal and state laws and the University and DSCC information security and privacy policies and directives. Supervises the DSCC Data Team by providing guidance and oversight to quality improvement reporting, such as the Scorecard, managed care metrics, family survey data, care coordination reporting tools, etc.
Duties & Responsibilities
-
Supervise BMR and Data Team staff, complete annual performance reviews, hire and discharge employees as appropriate, and perform related duties as assigned. Develop the BMR and Data Team staff, including regular meetings, team building opportunities, and professional development opportunities. Provide direction and oversight to BMR and Data Teams. Participate in leadership and management meetings and training as applicable.
-
Review and interpret State and Federal legislation, administrative rules, and programs related to public funding sources for health insurance and the implications to UIC-DSCC. Monitor public and private insurance industry trends and incorporate them in benefit management strategies. Advise senior administration regarding UIC-DSCC policies and assist in the development of internal operating procedures for benefit management of all programs administered by UIC-DSCC. Participate in Interagency meetings to stay current and advocate on Medicaid policy and programming. Attending external meetings, trainings, and/or conferences to continue education regarding health insurance and healthcare policy and keep abreast of changes. Cultivates relationships with community partners and outside agencies/entities for the purpose of benefits management. Develop and implement benefit management training modules and informational tools for DSCC staff and families, or the general public, on health insurance. Conduct presentations at regional offices and/or web-based presentations as needed. Analyze health insurance benefits for all DSCC participants and prepare a monthly report. Prepare and compose correspondence, technical assistance, surveys, reports, and miscellaneous tasks as assigned.
-
Monitor and provide guidance to DSCC staff on policy and procedure as it relates to the usage of data. Oversee the organization and distribution of surveys for family engagement & satisfaction. This includes analyzing survey results and distributing this information back to DSCC leadership. Oversee the facilitation of meetings that provide information to appropriate audiences with the goal of improvement based upon data. Partner with the IT Team in providing accurate data through reporting tools that guide care coordination activities. Contribute to data infrastructure development and improvement, including data quality control and automation. Manage and oversee the collection, audit, and changes of data from various sources (surveys, program databases, external datasets). Providing team education around data use and data dictionaries when appropriate. Analyze data related to Connect Care program enrollment and reconciliation of monthly Connect Care program enrollment. Oversee file distribution and analysis for managed care data files.
-
In conjunction with the DSCC IT team, complete information security and privacy risk assessments and surveys per University compliance regulations. Conduct ongoing compliance monitoring activities and other compliance and operational assessment functions in coordination with the DSCC’s security and privacy policies.
-
Ensure compliance with security and privacy practices and consistent application of sanction policies for failure to comply with security and privacy policies for all individuals within DSCC, including the extended workforce.
-
Work with DSCC senior management, key departments, and committees to ensure DSCC has and maintains appropriate privacy and confidentiality consent, authorization forms, and information notices and materials that align with University, DSCC, and legal practices and requirements.
-
Oversees, directs, delivers, and ensures delivery of initial security and privacy awareness training and orientation to all employees, interns, volunteers, contractors, business associates, and other appropriate third parties in compliance with UIC regulations.
-
Works cooperatively with DSCC operational teams to support patient rights to inspect, amend, and restrict access to protected health information when appropriate.
-
Maintains current knowledge of applicable federal and state privacy laws and accreditation standards, and monitors advancements in information security and privacy controls to improve organizational compliance.
-
Serves as information security and privacy liaison to the organization for all departments and appropriate entities.
Minimum Qualifications
-
Bachelor's degree in business administration, management, or a field related to the position.
-
Five years of professional business, financial, and/or managerial work experience.
(NOTE: A Master’s Degree in an area consistent with the duties of the position may be substituted for one (1) year (12 months) of work experience.)
A bachelor’s degree in nursing, social work, computer science, statistics, or a related field is required.
Five years of professional experience in social service or clinical settings.
Preferred Qualifications
-
Supervisory Experience preferred
-
HIPAA Experience preferred
To Apply: For fullest consideration click on the Apply Now button, please fully complete all sections of the online application including adding your full work history with specific details of your duties & responsibilities for each position held. Fully complete the education, licensure, certification and language sections. You may upload a resume, cover letter, certifications, licensures, transcripts and diplomas within the application.
Please note that once you have submitted your application you will not be able to make any changes. In order to revise your application you must withdraw and reapply. You will not be able to reapply after the posting close date. Please ensure the application is fully completed and all supporting documents have been uploaded before the posting close date. Illinois Residency is required within 180 days of employment.
The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.
The university provides accommodations to applicants and employees. Request an Accommodation
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.
Statewide IL (Benefits Management and Data Analytics Manager)5010 BUS/ADMINV ASSOC 2
Hiring Department: Division of Specialized Care for Children
Location: Springfield, IL USA
Requisition ID: 1042233
FTE: 1
Work Schedule: 8AM-4:30PM
Shift: Days
# of Positions: 1
Workplace Type: Hybrid
Posting Close Date: 8/20/2026
Salary Range (commensurate with experience): $73,000.00 - 83,000.00
About the University of Illinois Chicago
UIC is among the nation’s preeminent urban public research universities, a Carnegie RU/VH research institution, and the largest university in Chicago. UIC serves over 34,000 students, comprising one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation and is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPSI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Through its 16 colleges, UIC produces nationally and internationally recognized multidisciplinary academic programs in concert with civic, corporate and community partners worldwide, including a full complement of health sciences colleges. By emphasizing cutting-edge and transformational research along with a commitment to the success of all students, UIC embodies the dynamic, vibrant and engaged urban university. Recent “Best Colleges” rankings published by U.S. News & World Report found UIC climbed up in its rankings among top public schools in the nation and among all national universities. UIC has nearly 260,000 alumni, and is one of the largest employers in the city of Chicago.
This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.
Position Summary
Supervises Benefits Management Unit, designates and oversees unit assignments. Provides expertise in public/private insurance statutes, regulations and trends as they relate to the University of Illinois at Chicago – Division of Specialized Care for Children (UIC-DSCC). Coordinates all ongoing activities related to the development, implementation, maintenance of, reporting on and adherence to the organization's policies and procedures that support the protection of sensitive and high-risk data as required by federal and state laws and the University and DSCC information security and privacy policies and directives. Supervises the DSCC Data Team by providing guidance and oversight to quality improvement reporting, such as the Scorecard, managed care metrics, family survey data, care coordination reporting tools, etc.
Duties & Responsibilities
-
Supervise BMR and Data Team staff, complete annual performance reviews, hire and discharge employees as appropriate, and perform related duties as assigned. Develop the BMR and Data Team staff, including regular meetings, team building opportunities, and professional development opportunities. Provide direction and oversight to BMR and Data Teams. Participate in leadership and management meetings and training as applicable.
-
Review and interpret State and Federal legislation, administrative rules, and programs related to public funding sources for health insurance and the implications to UIC-DSCC. Monitor public and private insurance industry trends and incorporate them in benefit management strategies. Advise senior administration regarding UIC-DSCC policies and assist in the development of internal operating procedures for benefit management of all programs administered by UIC-DSCC. Participate in Interagency meetings to stay current and advocate on Medicaid policy and programming. Attending external meetings, trainings, and/or conferences to continue education regarding health insurance and healthcare policy and keep abreast of changes. Cultivates relationships with community partners and outside agencies/entities for the purpose of benefits management. Develop and implement benefit management training modules and informational tools for DSCC staff and families, or the general public, on health insurance. Conduct presentations at regional offices and/or web-based presentations as needed. Analyze health insurance benefits for all DSCC participants and prepare a monthly report. Prepare and compose correspondence, technical assistance, surveys, reports, and miscellaneous tasks as assigned.
-
Monitor and provide guidance to DSCC staff on policy and procedure as it relates to the usage of data. Oversee the organization and distribution of surveys for family engagement & satisfaction. This includes analyzing survey results and distributing this information back to DSCC leadership. Oversee the facilitation of meetings that provide information to appropriate audiences with the goal of improvement based upon data. Partner with the IT Team in providing accurate data through reporting tools that guide care coordination activities. Contribute to data infrastructure development and improvement, including data quality control and automation. Manage and oversee the collection, audit, and changes of data from various sources (surveys, program databases, external datasets). Providing team education around data use and data dictionaries when appropriate. Analyze data related to Connect Care program enrollment and reconciliation of monthly Connect Care program enrollment. Oversee file distribution and analysis for managed care data files.
-
In conjunction with the DSCC IT team, complete information security and privacy risk assessments and surveys per University compliance regulations. Conduct ongoing compliance monitoring activities and other compliance and operational assessment functions in coordination with the DSCC’s security and privacy policies.
-
Ensure compliance with security and privacy practices and consistent application of sanction policies for failure to comply with security and privacy policies for all individuals within DSCC, including the extended workforce.
-
Work with DSCC senior management, key departments, and committees to ensure DSCC has and maintains appropriate privacy and confidentiality consent, authorization forms, and information notices and materials that align with University, DSCC, and legal practices and requirements.
-
Oversees, directs, delivers, and ensures delivery of initial security and privacy awareness training and orientation to all employees, interns, volunteers, contractors, business associates, and other appropriate third parties in compliance with UIC regulations.
-
Works cooperatively with DSCC operational teams to support patient rights to inspect, amend, and restrict access to protected health information when appropriate.
-
Maintains current knowledge of applicable federal and state privacy laws and accreditation standards, and monitors advancements in information security and privacy controls to improve organizational compliance.
-
Serves as information security and privacy liaison to the organization for all departments and appropriate entities.
Minimum Qualifications
-
Bachelor's degree in business administration, management, or a field related to the position.
-
Five years of professional business, financial, and/or managerial work experience.
(NOTE: A Master’s Degree in an area consistent with the duties of the position may be substituted for one (1) year (12 months) of work experience.)
A bachelor’s degree in nursing, social work, computer science, statistics, or a related field is required.
Five years of professional experience in social service or clinical settings.
Preferred Qualifications
-
Supervisory Experience preferred
-
HIPAA Experience preferred
To Apply: For fullest consideration click on the Apply Now button, please fully complete all sections of the online application including adding your full work history with specific details of your duties & responsibilities for each position held. Fully complete the education, licensure, certification and language sections. You may upload a resume, cover letter, certifications, licensures, transcripts and diplomas within the application.
Please note that once you have submitted your application you will not be able to make any changes. In order to revise your application you must withdraw and reapply. You will not be able to reapply after the posting close date. Please ensure the application is fully completed and all supporting documents have been uploaded before the posting close date. Illinois Residency is required within 180 days of employment.
The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.
The university provides accommodations to applicants and employees. Request an Accommodation
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.
See all 319+ OPT Benefits Consultant Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Benefits Consultant Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Benefits Consultant
Target employers with established HR consulting practices
Large insurance brokerages, HR consulting firms, and financial services companies hire Benefits Consultants regularly and are more likely to have immigration compliance teams experienced with OPT work authorization and H-1B visa sponsorship pipelines.
Document the specialty occupation connection clearly
Benefits Consultant roles must tie directly to your degree field. Prepare a brief explanation of how your HR, business, or actuarial science background applies to the technical analysis and compliance requirements of the position before interviews.
Ask about STEM OPT eligibility before accepting an offer
If your degree is in a STEM-designated field like data analytics or information systems, confirm the employer is E-Verify enrolled. STEM OPT extends your work authorization by 24 months and gives you additional H-1B lottery chances.
Prioritize roles with analytical or compliance-heavy responsibilities
Benefits Consultant positions focused on plan design modeling, regulatory compliance, or actuarial analysis are stronger specialty occupation cases. These roles reduce friction during H-1B sponsorship and demonstrate clear degree-to-job alignment for USCIS purposes.
Start the sponsorship conversation during the offer stage
Raise H-1B sponsorship before signing your offer letter, not months later. Firms already sponsoring employees are the easiest path. Ask HR directly whether they've filed H-1B petitions for Benefits Consultants or similar roles in previous years.
Keep your OPT timeline visible in every application
Employers unfamiliar with OPT often assume international candidates need immediate sponsorship. Clarify your exact authorization end date upfront. Knowing they have 12 to 29 months before any petition is needed removes the most common objection to hiring OPT students.
Benefits Consultant OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can F-1 OPT students work as Benefits Consultants in the United States?
Yes. Benefits Consultant roles generally qualify as specialty occupations under F-1 OPT rules because they require a bachelor's degree or higher in a related field such as human resources, business administration, or finance. Your EAD card authorizes full-time employment, and you can begin work on your start date as long as your OPT period is active.
Do Benefits Consultant roles qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Some do. If your undergraduate or graduate degree is in a STEM-designated field, such as data analytics, applied mathematics, or information systems, and the employer is enrolled in E-Verify, you may qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension. Benefits roles with significant quantitative, actuarial, or technology components are the strongest candidates for this extension.
How do I find Benefits Consultant jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically for F-1 OPT students, so you can browse Benefits Consultant openings at employers who are already familiar with OPT work authorization. This saves time compared to applying broadly and discovering late in the process that a company won't consider candidates who need sponsorship.
What happens to my Benefits Consultant job if my OPT expires before I get an H-1B?
If your OPT expires and you're not selected in the H-1B lottery, you'd need to stop working unless another work authorization pathway is available. STEM OPT gives you additional lottery attempts across multiple cap seasons. Some employers will also explore O-1 visas or, if you hold a qualifying nationality, E-3 visa or TN visa alternatives as bridge options.
Do Benefits Consultant employers typically sponsor H-1B visas?
Sponsorship varies by employer size and industry. Large insurance brokerages, national HR consulting firms, and financial services companies are more likely to sponsor because they have existing immigration workflows. Smaller independent brokerages often lack those resources. Asking during the interview process whether the firm has sponsored Benefits Consultants or similar roles in prior years is the most direct way to gauge their willingness.