Global Director, Benefits

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Job Description

Albemarle is hiring for a Global Director, Benefits. This position is hybrid and located in Charlotte, NC.

The Role

The Global Director, Benefits serves as the enterprise leader responsible for shaping the strategy, design, governance, and transformation of Albemarle's global benefits programs within the Total Rewards COE. Reporting to the Vice President, Total Rewards & Executive Compensation, this role defines the long-term vision for benefits and ensures programs are competitive, compliant, financially sustainable, and aligned with enterprise and workforce strategy. This role serves as the enterprise owner of global benefits philosophy, policy, and governance standards.

Operating within a matrixed model, this leader partners closely with the Director, Total Rewards Service Delivery to translate strategic intent into operational excellence. While program strategy and vendor governance reside within the COE, this role collaborates closely with Service Delivery to ensure seamless implementation, strong employee experience, and scalable administration.

This role will lead the modernization of the Benefits function globally - reimagining plan design, simplifying processes, strengthening governance frameworks, and establishing an optimized operating model that clearly defines ownership between strategy and execution.

What You Will Do

Scope of Responsibility

• Supports approximately 7,000 employees globally, including ~2,000 employees in the United States, across more than 20 countries.

• Oversees all global benefit programs including medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D, short- and long-term disability, wellness incentives, PTO programs, EAP, and voluntary benefits.

• Leads strategic partnership with global benefits broker for annual renewals, market benchmarking, and benefit design across international locations.

• Retirement, compensation, and equity programs are managed within other Total Rewards COE functions.

Key Responsibilities

Global Strategy & Design

• Develop and execute a multi-year global benefits strategy aligned with enterprise objectives, workforce needs, and financial targets.

• Reimagine benefit design to ensure competitiveness, equity, affordability, and simplicity.

• Drive harmonization where appropriate while balancing local market requirements and regulatory considerations.

• Partner with Finance to develop sustainable cost strategies and long-range financial planning models.

• Serve as the executive advisor to leadership on benefits trends, risk management, and cost containment strategies.

Vendor Strategy & Governance

• Own enterprise-wide benefits vendor strategy, including selection, negotiation, renewal, and vendor rationalization decisions.

• Lead vendor RFP and RIF processes, making data-driven recommendations to optimize cost, service quality, and scalability.

• Establish global vendor governance frameworks, performance scorecards, and KPIs.

• Partner with Procurement and Legal to structure contracts aligned with enterprise risk and compliance standards.

• Ensure vendor ecosystems support digital enablement, automation, and improved employee experience.

U.S. Benefits Oversight

• Lead strategic oversight of U.S. benefits programs including plan design, renewal strategy, compliance governance, and cost management.

• Partner closely with Total Rewards Service Delivery to ensure successful execution of Annual Enrollment and ongoing administration.

• Ensure compliance with ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, and other applicable regulations.

Global Governance & Broker Partnership

• Serve as primary strategic partner to the global benefits broker for all international locations.

• Provide oversight of country-level benefit offerings to ensure alignment with global philosophy and cost discipline.

• Monitor global regulatory changes and establish governance mechanisms to ensure compliance.

• Partner with regional HR leaders to balance local competitiveness with enterprise consistency.

Transformation & Operating Model Excellence

• Lead the design and execution of strategic transformation initiatives across the global Benefits function, partnering with Service Delivery to ensure initiatives are well-structured, implementation-ready, and optimized for delivery.

• Drive continuous improvement in partnership with Service Delivery to enhance efficiency, service quality, and employee experience.

• Identify and advance process simplification, automation, and digital enablement opportunities, including optimization of Workday and related systems.

• Partner closely with Total Rewards Service Delivery to ensure effective transition of new programs and processes into scalable operations.

• Establish clear RACI models and decision rights between COE and Service Delivery to drive accountability and efficiency.

Data, Analytics & Decision Support

• Leverage data and analytics to evaluate utilization, financial trends, risk exposure, and program effectiveness.

• Provide executive-level reporting and actionable insights to inform design decisions and cost strategies.

• Develop dashboards and reporting capabilities in partnership with HRIS and Service Delivery teams.

What You Bring

Required

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will bring deep global benefits expertise, strong business acumen, and demonstrated success leading transformation within a complex, multinational organization.

Experience

• 12+ years of progressive experience in global benefits strategy and governance.

• Demonstrated success designing and transforming benefit programs in a multinational environment.

• Proven experience leading vendor strategy, negotiations, RFPs, and vendor rationalization initiatives.

• Strong knowledge of U.S. regulatory requirements and global compliance considerations.

• Experience operating effectively within a matrixed organization.

Capabilities

• Strategic thinker with strong financial and operational acumen.

• Ability to translate strategy into scalable operating models.

• Strong executive presence and communication skills.

• Data-driven decision maker with high attention to detail.

• Proven change leadership capability.

Education

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred.

• CEBS, SHRM, SPHR, or similar certifications a plus. #LI-JH3

Benefits of Joining Albemarle

• Competitive compensation

• Comprehensive benefits package

• A diverse array of resources to support you professionally and personally.

We are partners to one another in pioneering new ways to be better for ourselves, our teams, and our communities. When you join Albemarle, you become our most essential element and you can anticipate competitive compensation, a comprehensive benefits package, and resources that foster your well-being and fuel your personal growth. Help us shape the future, build with purpose and grow together.