Director, US Health and Welfare Benefits

Visa is a world leader in payments and technology, with over 259 billion payments transactions flowing safely between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities in more than 200 countries and territories each year. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable, and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive while driven by a common purpose – to uplift everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.

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The Global Benefits COE is seeking a US Benefits leader with extensive knowledge and experience in leading and driving the US Health and Welfare (H&W) benefits strategy and end-to-end delivery. The Director, US Benefits is responsible for strategy, design, operational delivery and team leadership for the US H&W teams. Programs include medical, dental, vision, life and accident insurance, time off, disability, and all other voluntary benefits available to US employees. This role is accountable to lead and drive how we deliver our US H&W programs in an operationally effective, financially prudent, legally compliant, competitive, and innovative way. 

Reporting to the Senior Director, North America Benefits, the Director, US H&W Benefits is accountable for delivery of all in scope benefits elements, including program and vendor management, financial management, compliance and governance, operational delivery and employee experience. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Partner with other leaders within the Global Benefits COE to enable US benefits to be part of a cohesive and aligned function across benefits strategy, delivery and financial management.
• Evolve and deliver a holistic, multi-year US benefits H&W strategy that aligns with overall Visa and People Team (HR) objectives. Bring well thought out recommendations and strategies to senior leadership showing a comprehensive view by program and investment.
• Manage and lead the team responsible for end-to-end delivery of medical, dental, vision, life insurance, absence management, time off, disability, and ancillary programs.  Role will include managing programs.
• Lead and direct external partners and the H&W team through the process of benchmarking and market research and drive the strategy to ensure our benefits offerings remain competitive and attractive to current and potential employees.
• Develop and maintain metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the impact and value of in-scope programs.  Prepare regular reports on benefits utilization, costs, and employee satisfaction to inform decision-making by senior leadership.
• Lead and manage benefits vendors and external partners to ensure programs are delivered with the highest service levels and positive employee experience.
• Lead and manage Request for Proposal (RFP) activity for all programs, work with consultants, Visa sourcing and legal to bring recommendations to senior leadership
• Collaborate and partner with the internal People Team shared services and employee relations teams on effective management of employee issues and escalation support.
• Monitor and report on the effectiveness and utilization of in scope benefits programs and bring recommendations to leadership for improvements or modifications.
• Lead and drive audits and assessments and ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and ensure all in scope benefits comply with legislative requirements, such as the Affordable Care Act (ACA), HIPAA, ERISA, FMLA, and other applicable regulations (making timely necessary adjustments to benefits programs and policies).
• Collaborate with legal and compliance teams to develop and maintain documentation and reporting necessary for audits and regulatory filings.
• Develop and implement effective communication strategies that drive engagement and value and educate employees about our benefits programs.
• Prepare and ensure timely distribution of benefits communications, including plan documents, summary plan, descriptions and enrollment materials.
• Lead and mentor a team of benefits professionals, providing guidance, support, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and development.
• Partner with internal finance teams on budgeting, fringe accounting and manage the governance, approval process and reporting for budgeting and funding of in scope benefits.
• Lead ad hoc projects related to H&W benefits assessments and delivery.
• Identify areas for program improvement such as simplification of the policy, enhancements and harmonization.
• Provide benefits leadership and oversight for M&A activity that touches in scope benefit programs.

Key Competencies for Success in the Role:

1. Relationship Building and Influencing: Demonstrated ability to build executive level relationships by establishing mutual respect, credibility, and trust, while also able to relate to employees at all organizational levels. Strong influencing skills combining high-level human capital knowledge with deep organizational understanding. Influences through expertise, data, respect, integrity, and persuasion.
2. Results Oriented: Energetic, resourceful, with strong service orientation and positive can-do attitude. Fully committed to the job and to deliver outstanding work. Never satisfied with status-quo, continually striving for excellence. Enjoys working hands-on.
3. Agility: Role model agile and adaptive mindset. Quick study, able to handle complex matters, with multiple initiatives going on simultaneously. Able to deal effectively with strategic issues, as well as tactical operational details. Able to quickly pivot and re-prioritize in a fast paced, rapidly changing environment. The ability to manage in a highly complex and often ambiguous environment.
4. Values and Leadership: Demonstrates alignment to Visa's building blocks (Innovation, Trust, Access and Prosperity).  Highly ethical and can be trusted to do only the right thing for the employees, shareholders, and others. Follows a balanced approach without compromising integrity.
5. Change Agent: Ability to formulate and implement change management plans. Knowledgeable about when and how to introduce change, in such a way that it is broadly accepted and institutionalized. Comfortable designing for the future, while managing day-to-day delivery. Able to anticipate risks and propose practical plans to mitigate them. Appreciates the Benefits function’s impact and how Benefits is an integral part of the company's business strategy. 
6. Data driven mindset: Ability to identify trends and extrapolate insights from complex organizational data using this information to make informed decisions and recommendations to leadership.
7. Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Operates and communicates in a transparent fashion. Perceptive and intuitive nature with ability to translate observations into feedback and coaching.  Must be adept at storytelling and use of PowerPoint and data to do so.
8. Execution and Decision Making: Outcome orientated and able to act decisively and deliver. Ability to leverage strong judgment to make effective and balanced decisions. Comfortable with analyzing data for the use in decision making and to inform actions. 

This is a hybrid position. Expectation of days in the office will be confirmed by your Hiring Manager.

Basic Qualifications:

• 10 or more years of work experience with a Bachelor’s Degree or at least 8 years of work experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g. Masters/ MBA/JD/MD) or at least 3 years of work experience with a PhD

Preferred Qualifications:

• 12 or more years of work experience with a Bachelor’s Degree or 8-10 years of experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g. Masters, MBA, JD, MD) or 6+ years of work experience with a PhD
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance or other related areas preferred.
• 8+ years of human resources leadership with exposure to an innovative, agile business, one that continues to reinvent their business proposition. Industry is open with a preference for a global technology company.
• 8+ years of progressive US H&W benefits management with experience working with executive leadership on strategies and investments that will meet business objectives.
• Must be a highly experienced US H&W benefits leader with experience managing benefits in a complex organization.
• Strong program and vendor performance management, cost benefit analysis and budget management experience.
• Strong expertise in regulations and laws that apply to US H&W benefit plans and thorough knowledge of how the benefits function operate and impacts the business.
• Demonstrated business, financial, and HR acumen with strong project management capability, deep analytical ability, and creative problem-solving skills.
• Proven track record of translating vision into executable strategy and successfully navigating ambiguity.
• Ability to use data insights and metrics to create rationale for recommendations.

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 protected veteran status.  Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.

Visa will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable local law, including the requirements of Article 49 of the San Francisco Police Code.

U.S. APPLICANTS ONLY: The estimated salary range for a new hire into this position is $162,600.00 to $211,500.00 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.