VP, Head of Global Benefits

About Us
Visa is a world leader in payments technology, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories, dedicated to uplifting everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.

At Visa, you'll have the opportunity to create impact at scale — tackling meaningful challenges, growing your skills and seeing your contributions impact lives around the world.

Join Visa and do work that matters – to you, to your community, and to the world. Progress starts with you.

Job Description

Visa is seeking a Vice President, Global Benefits to lead the strategy, governance, design, and delivery of benefits and wellbeing programs for a global workforce of more countries. This executive will be responsible for shaping a benefits portfolio that strengthens Visa’s employee value proposition, supports attraction and retention, advances employee wellbeing, and aligns with the company’s business priorities.

Reporting to the Senior Vice President, Total Rewards, the Vice President will lead the Global Benefits Center of Excellence and serve as a key member of the Total Rewards Leadership Team. The role will establish the global benefits vision and operating model, set enterprise-wide priorities, and partner closely with regional People teams and cross-functional leaders to deliver programs that are globally consistent, locally relevant, financially sustainable, and compliant with applicable requirements.

This leader will bring strategic perspective, operational discipline, and strong executive judgment to a complex global portfolio. They will advise senior leaders, manage risk, guide major investments, oversee vendor and partner performance, and lead transformation efforts that modernize the benefits experience for employees while supporting Visa’s long-term growth.

Key Responsibilities

Global Benefits Strategy

• Define and execute a comprehensive global benefits and wellbeing strategy aligned with Visa's business priorities, workforce needs, and People Team objectives.
• Establish enterprise-wide principles and standards that balance global consistency with regional flexibility and compliance requirements.
• Continuously evaluate market trends, workforce demographics, employee expectations, and competitive practices to inform program evolution and innovation.
• Ensure benefits and wellbeing programs contribute meaningfully to employee engagement, talent attraction, retention, and workforce productivity.

Global Governance, Risk, and Compliance

• Establish and oversee governance frameworks that enable effective decision-making, accountability, and compliance across Visa's global benefits portfolio.
• Provide oversight of regulatory requirements, fiduciary responsibilities, controls, audits, and risk management activities across all regions.
• Partner closely with Legal, Compliance, Risk, Tax, Payroll, Finance, Sourcing, Global People Solutions, and regional People leaders to ensure sustainable and compliant program administration.
• Anticipate emerging legislative and regulatory developments and proactively guide organizational responses.

Financial Stewardship and Investment Management

• Lead financial strategy and stewardship for Visa's global benefits programs, ensuring effective management of investments and operating expenditures.
• Guide annual planning, forecasting, funding strategies, and long-range financial modeling.
• Evaluate investment opportunities, business cases, and trade-offs to optimize employee experience, organizational value, and financial sustainability.
• Partner with Finance and executive leadership on enterprise-level workforce investment decisions.

Benefits Operations and Service Delivery

• Ensure operational excellence across all aspects of benefits administration, service delivery, employee support, and vendor performance.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that simplify processes, improve employee experiences, and increase organizational efficiency.
• Develop scalable operating models that enable global consistency while supporting regional market needs.
• Maintain a strong focus on quality, service, execution, and measurable outcomes.

Digital Transformation, Technology, and Analytics

• Lead the evolution of the benefits technology ecosystem to enhance employee experiences and operational effectiveness.
• Leverage data, analytics, automation, and emerging technologies to inform decisions and improve program performance.
• Establish measurement frameworks that provide actionable insights into utilization, engagement, cost, outcomes, and return on investment.
• Drive innovation and digital transformation initiatives that modernize benefits delivery and employee navigation experiences.

Vendor and External Partner Management

• Oversee Visa's global benefits vendor ecosystem, including strategic partner selection, governance, performance management, contract negotiations, and service delivery.
• Build strong relationships with consultants, insurers, healthcare partners, retirement providers, and other external stakeholders.
• Ensure third-party partnerships drive innovation, quality, risk mitigation, operational effectiveness, and value creation.

Corporate Initiatives and Mergers & Acquisitions

• Serve as the benefits subject matter expert and strategic advisor for mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and enterprise transformation initiatives.
• Lead assessment, integration, harmonization, and change management activities related to benefits programs and employee impacts.
• Contribute to enterprise projects that require broad People Team, regulatory, workforce, or financial expertise.

Executive Advisory and Cross-Functional Leadership

• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on benefits strategy, workforce wellbeing, financial investments, risk management, and employee experience.
• Influence business and People Team decisions through data-driven insights, thoughtful analysis, and practical recommendations.
• Build strong partnerships across Total Rewards, Talent, People Business Partners, Finance, Sourcing, Legal, People and Enterprise Technology, Communications, and regional People organizations.

Organizational Leadership

• Lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing global Benefits COE.
• Build organizational capabilities, succession plans, operating practices, and talent strategies that support long-term success.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, accountability, inclusion, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Continue evolving the Global Benefits COE to meet the changing needs of Visa's workforce and business strategy.

Leadership Characteristics

Enterprise Perspective: Demonstrates the ability to connect benefits strategy to broader business, workforce, and organizational objectives while balancing employee experience, financial stewardship, risk management, and operational excellence.

Strategic Agility: Combines long-term vision with practical execution. Anticipates future trends and translates complexity into actionable strategies and solutions.

Influence and Partnership: Builds trusted relationships across functions, regions, and leadership levels. Successfully navigates ambiguity and drives alignment among diverse stakeholders.

Innovation and Continuous Improvement: Champions new ideas, technologies, and approaches that improve outcomes for employees and the organization.

Data-Driven Decision Making: Leverages insights, analytics, and sound judgment to identify opportunities, manage risk, and drive business results.

People Leadership: Develops talent, builds high-performing teams, and creates

an environment where employees can grow, contribute, and succeed.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• 12 or more years of work experience with a Bachelor’s Degree or at least 10 years of experience with an Advanced degree (e.g. Masters/ MBA/JD/MD) or at least 8 years of work experience with a PhD.

Preferred Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in global benefits, total rewards, People functions, or a related discipline.
• Significant experience leading complex global programs across multiple regions, geographies, and regulatory environments.
• Proven track record developing and executing enterprise-level strategies and operating models.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing large-scale budgets, forecasting, investment evaluations, and business case development.
• Demonstrated success influencing executive leaders and leading through ambiguity, transformation, and organizational change.
• Experience building and leading high-performing global teams and cross-functional partnerships.
• Strong analytical, communication, and executive presentation skills.
• Experience within a large, global organization preferred, with exposure to technology, financial services, or other highly regulated industries.

Information for US Applicants

For roles located in the US, the estimated salary range for this position is $222,500 to $360,000 USD per year, which may include potential sales incentive payments (if applicable). Salary may vary depending on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location. In addition, this position may be eligible for bonus and equity.Visa has a comprehensive benefits package for which this position may be eligible that includes Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k), FSA/HSA, Life Insurance, Paid Time Off, and Wellness Program.

Work Hours

Varies upon the needs of the department.

Travel Requirements

This position requires travel 5-10% of the time.

Mental/Physical Requirements

This position will be performed in an office setting. The position will require the incumbent to sit and stand at a desk, communicate in person and by telephone, frequently operate standard office equipment, such as telephones and computers.

Visa is an EEO Employer

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protect veteran status. Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the EEOC guidelines and applicable local law, including the requirements of Article 49 of the San Francisco Police Code.