Global Head of Benefits (Chicago)

JLL empowers you to shape a brighter way. Our people at JLL are shaping the future of real estate for a better world by combining world class services, advisory and technology for our clients. We are committed to hiring the best, most talented people and empowering them to thrive, grow meaningful careers and to find a place where they belong. Whether you’ve got deep experience in commercial real estate, skilled trades or technology, or you’re looking to apply your relevant experience to a new industry, join our team as we help shape a brighter way forward. Global Head of BenefitsTotal Rewards | Global HR | JLLThe healthcare and benefits landscape is undergoing a fundamental shift — driven by cost pressure, new care models, AI-enabled navigation, and a workforce with higher expectations and more diverse needs than ever before. JLL’s scale — 110,000 employees, $700M in annual spend, operations across 80+ countries — means that getting this right has real, measurable consequences for people’s lives and for the company’s ability to compete for talent.It requires strategic vision, financial discipline, deep expertise in a rapidly evolving healthcare and benefits landscape, and the ability to translate complexity into programs that employees actually understand and value.That is what the Global Head of Benefits is here to do.This is a role for someone who is genuinely energized by the intersection of human impact and financial stewardship — who sees benefits not as a cost to be managed but as a strategic lever that drives attraction, retention, and workforce resilience. The healthcare space is moving fast. Pharmacy costs, mental health access, the shift toward value-based care, the rise of AI-powered benefits navigation — these are not trends to monitor. They are challenges to act on.The right leader for this role will run toward that complexity, not away from it.Reporting to the Head of Total Rewards and serving as a member of the Global HR Leadership community, you will be accountable for the full lifecycle of JLL’s benefits strategy globally — design, governance, vendor management, financial oversight, and employee experience. You will lead a team of benefits professionals and partner closely with Rewards leaders, and serve as the company’s most senior expert on everything from global insurance architecture to retirement plan governance to wellness strategy.You will be empowered to:Set the StrategyJLL’s benefits programs should be a genuine competitive advantage — with the checks and balances of affordability. You will define the philosophy, build the roadmap, and ensure every major program decision is anchored in data, employee insight, and a clear view of the competitive landscape. You will partner with Finance to make the business case for investment, and you will have the credibility and command of the numbers to win those conversations.Drive Stewardship of a $700M+ PortfolioYou will own the financial management of a large operating expenditure. That means active management of insurance design, disciplined vendor negotiations, multi-national pooling strategy, cost variance analysis, and a relentless focus on ensuring every dollar is working as hard as it should. You will develop the analytics infrastructure to make performance visible — dashboards, trend analysis, benchmarking — and you will use that data to drive decisions, not just report on them.Enhance the Employee ExperienceA benefits program that employees don’t understand is a benefits program that isn’t working. You will lead the design of communications, enrollment tools, and education strategies that close the gap between what JLL offers and what employees actually use. You will bring a marketer’s sensibility to benefits communication — clear, relevant, differentiated by population — and you will measure engagement and utilization to know whether it’s landing.The Work, SpecificallyGlobal Benefits Strategy & GovernanceDefine and continuously evolve JLL’s global benefits philosophy, ensuring alignment with business priorities, workforce needs, and the competitive marketplaceProvide strategic oversight of benefit plan design across all geographies, identifying opportunities to improve quality, close gaps, and manage financial riskLead governance across the global benefits portfolio, including regulatory compliance (ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, and local equivalents globally), plan documentation, and fiduciary oversight of retirement programsDirect due diligence for M&A activities — identifying benefits-related risk, designing integration approaches, and ensuring acquired populations are onboarded effectivelyFinancial Management & AnalyticsPartner with Finance to build and manage benefits budgets globally, providing regular reporting on costs, utilization, and performance against targetsDevelop a robust analytics capability — benchmarking, trend analysis, actuarial review — that drives proactive decision-making rather than reactive reportingLead cost optimization initiatives including insurance design, multi-national pooling, and vendor fee management, with accountability for measurable outcomesBuild and maintain executive-level dashboards that give senior stakeholders a clear, current view of benefits cost, performance, and riskVendor Management & Broker RelationshipsOwn the company’s relationships with benefits brokers, TPAs, actuaries, insurers, and specialized service providers globallyLead competitive RFP processes and contract negotiations, ensuring performance guarantees and financial terms that reflect JLL’s scale and expectationsImplement a structured vendor governance model with regular performance reviews, escalation paths, and continuous improvement accountabilityAmericas Benefits LeadershipDirectly oversee benefits design, administration, communication, and employee experience for JLL’s Americas population where our largest spend residesEnsure full compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local benefits regulationsLead open enrollment strategy and execution, including vendor coordination, communication campaigns, and post-enrollment analysisWellness & Wellbeing StrategyPartner across HR and business leadership to evolve JLL’s approach to holistic wellbeing — physical, mental, financial, and social — with a focus on programs that move the needle on workforce health outcomesLead wellness program delivery and provide strategic direction globally, ensuring programs are evidence-based and measurableTeam Leadership & Stakeholder PartnershipLead, develop, and inspire a team of benefits professionals, setting clear expectations for performance, growth, and the standard of workServe as a trusted strategic advisor to HR Business Partners, business leaders, and senior executives on benefits mattersBuild strong collaborative relationships with Finance, Legal, HR Operations, and regional Rewards leaders to ensure seamless delivery globallyWhat We’re Looking ForYou bring at least 15 years of progressive experience leading benefits for a large, complex, multinational organization. You have operated at the intersection of strategy and execution — comfortable making the case for investment, and equally capable of rolling up your sleeves to solve a vendor performance problem or untangle a compliance issue in a new market.You understand healthcare economics. You can read an actuarial report, interrogate a vendor’s medical loss ratio, and explain stop-loss structure to a CFO. You know what pharmacy trend means for next year’s renewal and you have opinions about it — informed ones.You are a strong leader of people. You build teams that are proud of their work, hold high standards without burning people out, and invest in development because you genuinely care about your team’s careers, not just their output.And you communicate well — to employees who just want to know what’s covered, to benefits brokers who need clear direction, and to the CHRO who needs to understand the implications of a $40M cost variance.Qualifications15+ years of benefits leadership experience in a large, global organizationDeep expertise in U.S. health and welfare plan design, retirement programs, and global benefits structuresDemonstrated experience managing multi-hundred-million-dollar benefits budgets with accountability for financial outcomesStrong command of benefits-related regulations: ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, and equivalent frameworks globallyProven track record of complex vendor negotiations and multi-national broker/insurer managementExperience leading benefits due diligence and integration in M&A environmentsExceptional analytical skills — comfortable building a business case, reading actuarial data, and designing dashboards that drive decisionsExperience developing and executing benefits communication strategies that demonstrably improve employee engagement and utilizationProven team leadership across both direct reports and matrixed global partnersBachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or professional certification (CEBS, CBP) preferredThis position does not provide visa sponsorship. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.Estimated compensation for this position:215,000.00 – 263,000.00 USD per yearThis range is an estimate and actual compensation may differ. Final compensation packages are determined by various considerations including but not limited to candidate qualifications, location, market conditions, and internal considerations.Location:On-site –Chicago, ILIf this job description resonates with you, we encourage you to apply, even if you don’t meet all the requirements. We’re interested in getting to know you and what you bring to the table!Personalized benefits that support personal well-being and growth:JLL recognizes the impact that the workplace can have on your wellness, so we offer a supportive culture and comprehensive benefits package that prioritizes mental, physical and emotional