Director, Benefits – Americas Region (U.S., Canada, Costa Rica)

Who We Are

Applied Materials is a global leader in materials engineering solutions used to produce virtually every new chip and advanced display in the world. We design, build and service cutting-edge equipment that helps our customers manufacture display and semiconductor chips – the brains of devices we use every day. As the foundation of the global electronics industry, Applied enables the exciting technologies that literally connect our world – like AI and IoT. If you want to push the boundaries of materials science and engineering to create next generation technology, join us to deliver material innovation that changes the world. 

What We Offer

Salary:

$176,000.00 - $242,000.00

Location:

Austin,TX, Santa Clara,CA

You’ll benefit from a supportive work culture that encourages you to learn, develop, and grow your career as you take on challenges and drive innovative solutions for our customers. We empower our team to push the boundaries of what is possible—while learning every day in a supportive leading global company. Visit our Careers website to learn more. 

At Applied Materials, we care about the health and wellbeing of our employees. We’re committed to providing programs and support that encourage personal and professional growth and care for you at work, at home, or wherever you may go. Learn more about our benefits. 

The Director of Benefits, Americas Region is responsible for consistent and compliant administration of all US benefit health & welfare, retirement, time off, leaves of absence, and wellness programs, including management of our onsite health and fitness centers. This role also leads the design of benefit programs across Canada and Costa Rica, with administration managed locally. As a key member of the Global Total Rewards team, the Director partners with internal partners and external vendors to deliver a modern employee experience and programs, aligned with business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership:
  • Partner with the Managing Director, Global Benefits, to develop and implement a comprehensive benefits strategy for the Americas region, ensuring alignment with global Total Rewards philosophy and local market practices.
  • Influence senior leadership on benefits initiatives that support talent attraction, retention, and engagement.
• Program and Process Management:
  • Oversee administration of health (medical, dental, vision), retirement (401(k), deferred compensation), tax advantage (HSA, FSA), risk (life, AD&D, disability) paid time off, wellness, and leave of absence programs.
  • Manage annual enrollment processes and ensure accurate, timely execution of all benefits operations.
  • Lead due diligence and integration of benefits-related M&A and divestiture activities
• Compliance & Governance:
  • Ensure adherence to federal, state, and local regulations, including ERISA, ACA, and other applicable laws.
  • Manage required filings (e.g., Form 5500), plan documents, SPDs, and non-discrimination testing.
• Vendor & Budget Management:
  • Negotiate and manage vendor relationships to optimize cost, quality, and service delivery.
  • Monitor benefits trends and provide data-driven insights for pricing, cost forecasting, and plan design.
• Employee Experience & Communication:
  • Drive clear, engaging communication and support strategies to educate on benefits programs
  • Champion wellness initiatives, including management of onsite health and fitness centers, mental health resources, and financial well-being.
• Team Leadership:
  • Lead and develop U.S.-based team of benefits professionals, fostering collaboration and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Education:  Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business, or related field (master’s preferred).
• Experience:
  • 10+ years in HR with at least 5+ years in benefits leadership and 3+ years managing teams.
  • Deep expertise in U.S. benefits and retirement plans (401(k) and Deferred Compensation); experience with Canadian and Costa Rican benefits preferred but not required.
  • Strong background in design, administration and compliance of health and welfare, retirement, and leave of absence programs.

Skills & Competencies

• Strategic thinking with ability to influence at all levels.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams and manage vendor partners.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation abilities.
• Proven vendor management and budget oversight experience.
• Ability to thrive in a global, matrixed environment and guide through ambiguity.

Preferred Experience

• High-tech industry experience.
• Multi-national benefits management exposure.

Additional Information

Time Type:

Full time

Employee Type:

Assignee / Regular

Travel:

Yes, 10% of the Time

Relocation Eligible:

No

The salary offered to a selected candidate will be based on multiple factors including location, hire grade, job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and with consideration of internal equity of our current team members. In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, candidates may be eligible for other forms of compensation such as participation in a bonus and a stock award program, as applicable.

For all sales roles, the posted salary range is the Target Total Cash (TTC) range for the role, which is the sum of base salary and target bonus amount at 100% goal achievement.

Applied Materials is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law.

In addition, Applied endeavors to make our careers site accessible to all users. If you would like to contact us regarding accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact us via e-mail at Accommodations_Program@amat.com, or by calling our HR Direct Help Line at 877-612-7547, option 1, and following the prompts to speak to an HR Advisor. This contact is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.