Senior Benefits Leader

Senior Benefits & Compliance Leader

Position Summary

The Senior Benefits & Compliance Leader leads the strategy and governance of the organization’s global benefits programs while ensuring compliance with diverse regulations. Reporting directly to the Vice President Total Rewards, this role partners closely with HR, Legal, Finance, and regional leaders to design competitive, cost‑effective benefits and maintain a strong global compliance framework. A key component of this role is providing leadership for M&A due diligence and integration, ensuring benefits and compliance processes are evaluated, harmonized, and executed effectively across newly acquired entities.

Key Responsibilities

Global Benefits Strategy & Governance

• Develop and execute a global benefits strategy framework that balances competitiveness, cost, and cultural relevance across regions.
• Oversee the design, evaluation, and as appropriate harmonization of global health, welfare, retirement, leave, and wellbeing programs within critical-mass countries.
• Conduct global market benchmarking and trend analysis to assess and/or recommend plan enhancements or redesigns.
• Ensure global benefits governance, including plan documentation, policy development, and internal controls.
• Ensure alignment of global benefits with organizational values and total rewards philosophy.

M&A Due Diligence & Integration

• Lead the benefits compliance for global M&A activity, from early‑stage due diligence through post‑close integration.
• Assess target company benefits programs, compliance posture, liabilities, and risks across all countries of operation.
• Develop recommendations for harmonization, transition strategies, and cost modeling for acquired populations.
• Partner with HR, Legal and Finance to evaluate regulatory exposure, contractual obligations, and integration timelines.
• Oversee the transition of acquired employees into company benefits programs, ensuring a smooth employee experience and full compliance with local laws.

Compliance & Regulatory Management

• Serve as the global subject‑matter expert on benefits‑related regulations, including ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, GDPR, and country‑specific statutory requirements.
• Partner with Benefit colleagues, oversee global compliance audits, filings, and reporting (e.g., 5500, ACA reporting, nondiscrimination testing, statutory filings).
• Partner with Legal to interpret regulatory changes and implement required updates across all regions.
• Maintain global compliance calendars, documentation, and risk‑mitigation processes.
• Ensure benefits policies meet local legal requirements while supporting global consistency.

Vendor, Broker & Consultant Management

• Manage day-to-day relationships with brokers, carriers, and consultants to ensure service quality and contractual compliance.
• Oversee and consult on RFPs and vendor selection processes for global and regional benefits programs, especially in critical-mass countries.
• Steward benefits data accuracy, integrations, and employee usability.
• Monitor vendor performance through SLAs, KPIs, and regular business reviews.

Communications & Issue Resolution

• Provide guidance to regional HR teams on complex benefits and compliance matters.
• Lead global benefits communication strategies to ensure clarity, consistency, and employee understanding.
• Develop, design, and/or review global benefits education materials, toolkits, and training for HR teams and employees.
• Oversee escalated employee issues, ensuring timely and accurate resolution.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field; Master’s degree or HR certification (CEBS, GPHR, SHRM‑SCP, SPHR) preferred.
• 8–12+ years of progressive experience in benefits, with at least 3–5 years managing global programs.
• Demonstrated experience leading benefits and compliance workstreams for M&A due diligence and integration.
• Strong knowledge of global benefits design, statutory requirements, and compliance frameworks.
• Experience overseeing benefits across multiple regions (e.g., North America, EMEA, APAC, LATAM).
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and drive strategic decisions.
• Excellent communication, vendor‑management, and project‑management capabilities.
• Proven ability to influence senior leaders and collaborate across functions and geographies.
• Experience with global HRIS and benefits administration platforms preferred.

Success Profile

A successful Senior Manager, Benefits & Compliance is:

• Globally minded, understanding cultural and regulatory nuances across regions.
• Strategic, balancing cost, competitiveness, and employee experience.
• Detail‑oriented, ensuring accuracy in compliance and plan administration.
• Integration‑focused, able to navigate the complexities of M&A with confidence and clarity.
• Collaborative, partnering effectively with global HR teams and business leaders.
• Proactive, anticipating regulatory changes and organizational needs.
• Empathetic, supporting employees navigating complex benefits situations.