Manager, Global Benefits

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Manager, Global Benefits based in Canada.

This role leads the strategy, design, and administration of employee benefits programs across multiple international markets.
You will shape globally consistent yet locally responsive programs aligned with total rewards and employee experience objectives.
The position combines strategic leadership with hands-on oversight of benefits planning, vendor management, compliance, and cost optimization.
You will also play a key role in modernizing benefits operations through AI-enabled technology, analytics, and process improvements.
The role provides strategic partnership to HR leadership, Finance, and senior stakeholders while supporting organizational growth and M&A activity.
You will lead and develop a global team while working with brokers, insurers, administrators, technology providers, and regional partners.
This is an opportunity to influence benefits strategy at scale within a fast-paced, technology-focused, and globally distributed environment.

• Develop and execute a globally consistent but locally responsive benefits strategy, leading annual planning activities such as plan design reviews, renewals, benchmarking, negotiations, and cost modeling across multiple regions.
• Oversee benefits program administration across Canada, the United States, EMEA including Dubai and the UAE, LATAM, and other active markets, ensuring programs meet local statutory requirements, market expectations, cultural considerations, and reporting obligations.
• Lead benefits due diligence and integration activities for mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures by assessing existing programs, identifying risks and harmonization opportunities, and developing integration plans that balance employee experience, cost, and compliance.
• Champion the use of AI tools, benefits technology, and data analytics to improve program effectiveness, employee experience, operational efficiency, utilization forecasting, cost modeling, decision support, and personalization.
• Establish standardized operating procedures, ticketing protocols, and workflow processes to systematize benefits inquiries, reduce ad-hoc demand, and create additional capacity for strategic work.
• Manage relationships with global brokers, insurers, third-party administrators, and technology vendors, including RFP processes, contract negotiations, service reviews, and performance management.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of benefits specialists and administrators across regions, establishing performance expectations and strengthening the team's capabilities.
• Develop and execute global benefits communication strategies that increase awareness, engagement, and informed decision-making across a diverse and multilingual workforce.
• Ensure benefits programs comply with applicable legislation and governance requirements across jurisdictions, overseeing regulatory filings, audits, and plan documentation.
• Establish and monitor benefits KPIs, preparing executive-level reporting and presenting insights, recommendations, and strategic opportunities to senior leadership.

Requirements

• Bring 8–10 years of overall benefits management experience, including at least 5 years in a global capacity, with demonstrated expertise in vendor contract negotiation, executive-level reporting, strategic recommendations, and international data privacy requirements such as GDPR and PIPEDA.
• Have 3–5 years of supervisory experience managing benefits specialists or administrators, along with 2–3 years of experience operating in a matrixed or global HR environment.
• Hold a bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field, with equivalent combinations of education and progressive global benefits experience considered.
• Professional certifications such as CEBS, CHRL or equivalent, GPHR, SHRM-SCP, or SHRM-CP are preferred.
• Demonstrate the ability to develop and execute multi-year global benefits strategies aligned with business priorities, workforce trends, and competitive talent markets.
• Possess deep knowledge of benefits design and administration across multiple geographies, particularly North America, EMEA including Dubai and the UAE, and LATAM.
• Have demonstrated experience conducting benefits due diligence and leading benefits integration activities during mergers and acquisitions.
• Be comfortable leveraging AI-enabled HR technology, benefits platforms, analytics tools, and data-driven approaches to improve program design and administration.
• Demonstrate strong people leadership skills, including the ability to coach, mentor, develop, and motivate benefits professionals across regions.
• Be highly capable of modeling benefit costs, analyzing utilization data, evaluating vendor proposals, and preparing financial summaries for senior stakeholders.
• Have excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex benefits information for audiences ranging from frontline employees to executive leadership.
• Be able to manage multiple concurrent initiatives, including open enrollment, plan transitions, M&A integrations, technology implementations, and other strategic benefits projects.
• Possess strong working knowledge of multi-jurisdictional employment law, benefits regulations, governance requirements, and compliance practices.
• Be willing to travel approximately 10–20%, including international travel for broker and vendor meetings, M&A site visits, and quarterly visits to headquarters.

Benefits

• Hiring range of CAD $116,200–$155,000 annually , with actual compensation influenced by skills, qualifications, education, experience, location, internal equity, and local market data.
• Flexible hybrid working arrangements supported by systems, policies, collaboration tools, and asynchronous ways of working.
• Home office reimbursement program to support remote work.
• Competitive medical and dental benefits for eligible full-time permanent employees.
• Retirement savings program.
• Baby bonus and parental leave top-up program.
• Electric vehicle purchase incentive program.
• Online learning and networking opportunities to support professional growth.
• A flexible, inclusive work environment that supports work-life balance and accessibility.
• Employment offers are contingent upon proof of eligibility to work and the ability to pass a background check.