OPT Benefits Manager Jobs
Benefits Manager jobs are open to F-1 OPT students with degrees in human resources, business administration, or a related field. Most roles qualify as specialty occupations for H-1B visa sponsorship. Your 12-month OPT window, or 24-month STEM extension if eligible, gives you time to prove your value and secure long-term sponsorship.
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INTRODUCTION
At Keeley Companies, we believe in empowering our people and fulfilling career aspirations. Keeley is a career destination with countless opportunities for advancement, and a world-class family culture that is centered around creating the best possible environment for our people to thrive.
Keeley Companies is looking to hire a Benefits and Compliance Specialist to our People Operations team in St. Louis, Missouri.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Process benefit enrollments and changes for new hires, qualifying life events, eligibility changes, terminations, and 401(k) activities, ensuring accurate and timely processing.
- Serve as a resource for routine team member benefit questions, escalating complex plan, eligibility, or claim issues to the Benefits Manager as appropriate.
- Maintain accurate benefit records and data across HRIS, payroll, benefit administration, and vendor systems; conduct monthly audits and reconcile enrollment, deduction, and eligibility discrepancies.
- Support annual Open Enrollment and ongoing benefit administration, including communications, enrollment tracking, dependent eligibility verification, WEX contribution files, annual physical documentation, and required notices.
- Coordinate monthly random drug screenings and pre-access drug screens/background checks, including scheduling, tracking, follow-up, and documentation.
- Support I-9 and E-Verify administration, required compliance training, employment verifications, unemployment documentation, corrective-action records, and recurring employment notices.
- Process unemployment claims.
- Maintain accurate and confidential benefits and compliance files, trackers, forms, templates, standard operating procedures, and supporting documentation.
- Monitor recurring benefits and compliance deadlines, identify missing documentation or data discrepancies, and coordinate timely follow-up with team members, managers, and People Operations.
- Support internal and external audits, recurring reporting, vendor requests, compliance projects, and process improvement initiatives by gathering and validating required information.
- Partner with the Benefits Manager, HR Business Partner, Payroll, Safety, and People Operations to ensure benefits and compliance processes are completed accurately, consistently, and on time.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Psychology, Communications, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Minimum of 2 years of experience in Human Resources, Benefits Administration, Compliance, or a related field.
- Working knowledge of benefit administration processes and HR compliance requirements.
- Basic understanding of federal and state employment laws and regulations.
- Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
- Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion.
- Strong customer service and interpersonal skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
- Experience working within HRIS and benefit administration systems preferred.
- Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong problem-solving, analytical, and follow-up skills.
LI-BM1
All Keeley Brands (Keeley Construction Group, Keeley Properties, Keeley Restoration, Keeley Companies) do not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms, headhunters, or agencies. Any resume submitted to any employee of a Keeley company without a prior written search agreement will be considered unsolicited and the property of any Keeley Company. Please, no phone calls or emails.
All Keeley companies are proud to be an equal opportunity employer regardless of race, color, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religious beliefs, marital status, genetic information, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Benefits Manager
Target employers with HR infrastructure
Large and mid-size companies with dedicated HR departments are far more likely to sponsor Benefits Managers than small businesses. Look for organizations with 500 or more employees, where benefits administration is a defined, ongoing function requiring specialized expertise.
Emphasize your specialty occupation fit
Benefits Manager roles qualify as H-1B visa specialty occupations when a degree in HR, business, or finance is a genuine requirement. Make sure your resume connects your specific degree field to the technical demands of the role, not just general business experience.
Get SHRM certified before applying
A SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP credential signals professional seriousness and strengthens your specialty occupation case for future H-1B sponsorship. Many employers see certification as a proxy for long-term commitment, which matters when they're evaluating sponsorship risk.
Raise sponsorship early in the process
Bring up OPT work authorization and your sponsorship timeline in the first substantive conversation with a recruiter. This filters out employers unwilling to sponsor and saves both parties time before an offer is extended and expectations are set.
Highlight compliance and regulatory knowledge
Benefits Managers must navigate ERISA, ACA, and FMLA compliance. Demonstrating familiarity with U.S. benefits regulations in your cover letter and interviews signals you can handle the role's legal complexity, which strengthens your case for employer investment in sponsorship.
Build relationships in total rewards teams
Many Benefits Manager hires come through internal referrals within compensation and total rewards functions. Connecting with benefits analysts and HR operations professionals in your network can surface sponsorship-friendly openings before they are posted publicly.
Benefits Manager OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Benefits Manager jobs qualify for OPT work authorization?
Yes. Benefits Manager roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT when they are directly related to your degree field, such as human resources, business administration, or finance. Your employment must be at least 20 hours per week and in a role that USCIS would recognize as consistent with your major area of study.
Can F-1 OPT students get H-1B sponsorship for Benefits Manager roles?
Benefits Manager positions generally meet the H-1B specialty occupation standard because the role requires at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field like HR or business. Employers with established HR and legal teams are most likely to sponsor. Search Migrate Mate to find Benefits Manager openings at companies with a demonstrated history of sponsoring OPT workers.
Do Benefits Manager jobs qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension?
Most Benefits Manager roles do not qualify for the STEM extension on their own because HR and business administration are not STEM-designated fields. However, if your undergraduate degree was in a STEM field and the Benefits Manager role involves significant data analytics, compensation modeling, or HR technology, a case could be made. Verify your degree's CIP code against the official STEM OPT list with your DSO.
What types of employers are most likely to sponsor Benefits Managers on OPT?
Employers in healthcare, financial services, technology, and professional services tend to have the HR infrastructure and legal resources needed to support OPT and H-1B sponsorship for Benefits Managers. Companies with 500 or more employees and a dedicated total rewards or benefits function are the strongest candidates. Smaller organizations rarely have the bandwidth or experience to manage sponsorship.
When should I start looking for Benefits Manager jobs on OPT?
Begin your search at least three to four months before your OPT start date. Benefits Manager roles often involve longer hiring timelines due to seniority and compliance responsibilities. Starting early gives you time to find sponsorship-friendly employers without the pressure of an expiring authorization window. Migrate Mate filters jobs by OPT eligibility, which makes the process more efficient.