Global Benefits Director

About us

Every day we deliver safe and secure energy to homes, communities, and businesses. We are there when people need us the most. We connect people to the energy they need for the lives they live. The pace of change in society and our industry is accelerating and our expertise and track record puts us in an unparalleled position to shape the sustainable future of our industry. To be successful we must anticipate the needs of our customers, reducing the cost of energy delivery today and pioneering the flexible energy systems of tomorrow. This requires us to deliver on our promises and always look for new opportunities to grow, both ourselves and our business.

At National Grid, we aim to create an environment where everyone is welcomed for who they are and where our differences are celebrated. We utilize the insights of our employees that come from all different cultures, backgrounds, and beliefs to better serve our customers and communities.

National Grid is hiring a Global Benefits Director. This hybrid role can sit in either our Brooklyn, NY or Waltham, MA location. 

Job Purpose

The Director of Global Benefits is responsible for implementing and managing employee benefit programs across the U.S. and U.K. in alignment with established strategy. This role focuses on Benefit Plan management, vendor and contract management, compliance, policy creation, maintenance, and execution, and employee communications. Working closely with various stakeholders, this position ensures operational excellence and legal compliance across a complex, multi-state and multi-union environment, including support for retirees. 

This role has strong growth and development potential within the Reward organization.  We are looking for a highly motivated self-starter individual who is passionate about Benefits, likes to challenge the norm, reduce complexity and is keen to progress into a longer-term career in Reward. 

Key Accountabilities

• Administer and manage global benefit plans including health, welfare, various point solutions, wellness, voluntary programs and related policies, as well as PMI, Salary Sacrifice, statutory leave and paid time off programs.
• Provide leadership, guidance and direction while ensuring the regional deployment of the company’s benefits programs including annual open enrolment and benefits flex enrollment
• Champion the transformation of the Benefits function into a Global platform.
• Provide oversight, expertise and guidance to the People Support group responsible for shared services (HRIS, payroll, outsourced administration). 
• Ensure compliance with ERISA, HIPAA, ACA, IRS, DOL, and other federal/state/local regulations in the U.S., and in the national insurance and private medical requirements in the U.K.
• Maintain and update plan reporting and disclosure, including SPDs, SMMs, SARs, 5500 and other regulatory filings.
• Manage relationships and accountability of external vendors, consultants, and third-party administrators.
• Negotiate and oversee contracts and service level agreements with benefit providers.
• Support labor negotiations related to benefit plans and policies.
• Manage retiree benefit programs, including retiree medical, dental, vision and life insurance, and ensure service quality and cost control.
• Collaborate with internal teams including People Support, Labor Relations, Finance, Treasury, Legal and Tax.
• Implement benefit programs and changes in collaboration with the Benefits Strategy team.
• Lead benefit communications and employee education initiatives to enhance understanding and engagement.
• Support M&A due diligence and integration activities related to benefits.
• Support rate case filings by drafting testimony and providing exhibits in support of the successful recovery of benefit cost elements in rates.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree or CEBS certification preferred.
• 10+ years of extensive experience in benefits strategy, plan management, vendor management, policies and compliance in large, complex organizations.
• Experience managing benefit programs in unionized environments and for retiree populations.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. and U.K. benefits regulations and compliance requirements.
• Proven ability to manage vendors, contracts, and benefit operations.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills at the executive level.
• Experience with digital benefit platforms and employee self-service tools.

More Information