HR Benefits Manager

Summary

The HR Benefits Manager is responsible for the overall strategic decision making to, compliance, vendor management, and continuous improvement of Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (AOI) employee benefit programs. This role serves as the primary benefits subject matter expert within HR Operations and provides leadership and oversight for the day-to-day Benefits function.

The Benefits Manager oversees health and welfare plans, PTO policy, retirement benefits, COBRA administration, life and disability insurance, benefits data integrity, audits, employee communications, and carrier relationships. This position directly supervises the HR Benefits & Onboarding Administrator and partners closely with Payroll, Finance, Accounting, Legal, HRIS, benefit brokers, carriers, and third-party administrators to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant benefits administration.

Responsibilities

• Lead the administration and oversight of AOI employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, voluntary life, disability, HSA/FSA programs, COBRA, 401(k), wellness programs, and other company-sponsored benefits.
• Supervise, coach, and develop the Benefits & Onboarding Administrator and provide guidance on day-to-day benefits administration, onboarding support, employee inquiries, and escalated cases.
• Ensure benefit enrollments, terminations, qualifying life events, dependent changes, beneficiary updates, and other benefit transactions are processed accurately and timely.
• Lead AOI's annual Open Enrollment process, including planning, system configuration, employee communications, enrollment materials, carrier coordination, and post-enrollment audits.
• Serve as a primary HR contact for benefit brokers, insurance carriers, COBRA administrators, retirement plan providers, and other benefits vendors.
• Manage and escalate complex employee benefit issues, including enrollment discrepancies, dependent coverage issues, claims concerns, life insurance matters, disability cases, and carrier data errors.
• Conduct routine audits and reconciliations between ADP Workforce Now, payroll deductions, carrier systems, eligibility records, and vendor files to identify and correct discrepancies.
• Partner with Payroll to ensure employee deductions, employer contributions, benefit changes, and other benefit-related payroll transactions are accurate.
• Oversee COBRA administration and ensure qualifying events, notices, elections, premium requirements, and coverage effective dates are administered in accordance with applicable requirements.
• Provide HR oversight of AOI's 401(k) plan administration and coordinate with the plan recordkeeper, Payroll, Finance, Accounting, and external advisors regarding eligibility, contributions, plan changes, audits, and employee questions.
• Support employees and beneficiaries with complex life insurance, voluntary life, disability, death benefit, beneficiary, and surviving spouse matters and coordinate directly with carriers when escalation is required.
• Ensure AOI benefit programs are administered in accordance with applicable ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, IRS, Department of Labor, and other federal and state requirements.
• Maintain benefit-related policies, procedures, plan documents, required notices, records, and supporting documentation for audit and compliance purposes.
• Support internal and external audits involving employee benefits, retirement plans, eligibility, enrollment, payroll deductions, and HR controls.
• Monitor benefit carrier data feeds and system integrations and partner with HRIS, IT, ADP, and vendors to resolve transmission, eligibility, or enrollment issues.
• Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), internal controls, and backup procedures for critical benefits processes.
• Develop recurring benefits reports and metrics covering enrollment, utilization, plan costs, participation, employee service levels, vendor performance, and operational trends.
• Partner with HR leadership and AOI's benefits broker on annual renewals, plan design evaluations, market benchmarking, cost analysis, and recommendations for benefit program changes.
• Assist with annual benefits budgeting and forecasting and provide supporting analysis to HR, Finance, and leadership.
• Develop employee benefit communications and educational materials and support new hire orientation to improve employee understanding and utilization of AOI benefit programs.
• Identify opportunities to automate, streamline, and strengthen Benefits processes while improving employee experience, administrative accuracy, and vendor accountability.
• Maintain confidentiality of employee and dependent health, financial, beneficiary, and benefits information.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support HR Operations and organizational objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field; equivalent directly related experience may be considered.
• 5+ years of progressively responsible employee benefits experience.
• Demonstrated experience administering health and welfare benefits, retirement plans, COBRA, life insurance, disability, and related employee benefit programs.
• Experience managing benefit carriers, brokers, third-party administrators, and vendor escalations.
• Experience supporting annual Open Enrollment, benefit renewals, audits, reconciliations, and compliance activities.
• Working knowledge of ERISA, COBRA, ACA, HIPAA, IRS, Department of Labor, and other regulations affecting employee benefit programs.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills and experience analyzing and reconciling benefits data.
• Experience with ADP Workforce Now or a comparable HRIS/payroll platform.
• Strong written and verbal communication, analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to handle sensitive employee and beneficiary matters with discretion, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Benefits Administration & Compliance
• Vendor & Carrier Management
• Employee Service & Issue Resolution
• Benefits Data Integrity & Reconciliation
• Open Enrollment & Employee Communication
• Retirement Plan Administration
• Audit Readiness & Internal Controls
• Team Leadership & Development
• Analytical Problem Solving
• Continuous Improvement

Location

This position will be on-site based in Sugar Land, Texas.

Why AOI?

In addition to competitive salary, AOI offers

• Flexible and competitive health (medical, dental, vision) plans offer the employee with the right options to meet individual and family needs
• Employer matching on 401(k) deferrals
• Generous PTO policy, with unused PTO payout at end of the year
• Relocation package available within US
• Immigration sponsorships (Must be currently authorized to work in the US)