Director, Benefits Strategy & Design

GAF • Parsippany, NJ

6d

About The Position

At GAF, we cover more than buildings. We cover each other. No matter what role, tenure, or track, under this roof you are empowered to be there for your teammates, your customers, and especially your community. Under this roof, we don’t back down from hard work– we support one another in pursuit of something bigger. We define the future while leading the present. And under this roof, we own our opportunities. Becoming the market leader only happens when everyone feels they have the opportunity, and the support, to thrive. We are GAF. And under this roof, we protect what matters most. Job Summary The primary and critical mandate for the Director, Benefits Strategy & Design is to strategically lead the integration and harmonization of all benefits programs and administration for operating companies, ensuring a unified, seamless, and efficient offering across the entire enterprise. This role serves as the key strategic architect and leader responsible for the entire lifecycle of the company's comprehensive benefits portfolio—from visionary design and development through to flawless enterprise-wide execution and optimization. Operating as a high-impact change agent, the Director is responsible for transforming the benefits landscape (spanning health, retirement, financial, and wellbeing offerings) to be a powerful driver of employee engagement, talent retention, and cultural alignment. This position is explicitly focused on defining what the benefits are and how they will be delivered, while partnering closely with internal HR Operations teams who handle the day-to-day administration.

Requirements

• Applicants currently residing in the following states will be considered: AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, ME, MI, MN, MT, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OR, RI, TX, UT, VT, WI, WV, HI, SD, WY.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field required
• 10+ years of progressive experience focused on benefits strategy, program design, and enterprise-wide execution.
• 10+ years of experience managing and mentoring a professional team.
• Integration Success: Demonstrated success in leading and designing complex benefits integration and harmonization projects across multiple organizations.
• Specialized Knowledge: Expert-level regulatory knowledge, including specific experience with the benefits component of union contracts/CBAs.
• Strategic Business Acumen: Advanced critical thinking, financial acumen, and the ability to link benefits strategy directly to business and talent objectives.
• Transformational Influence: Proven ability to navigate, influence, and build trust-based relationships with senior leadership, internal partners, and external vendors in a complex stakeholder environment.
• Results-Oriented: A drive for measurable impact, focusing on the quality of design and execution outcomes rather than routine administrative tasks.
• Communication: Exceptional ability to translate complex legislative and plan design information into clear, effective communications for all levels of the organization.

Nice To Haves

• Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) or equivalent designation.
• Experience managing self-insured health plans.
• Global or multi-national benefits experience.
• Travel Requirements: 20%-50% (depending on location) for strategic meetings, vendor reviews, and integration project leadership.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Benefits Design: Lead the continuous evolution and modernization of the entire benefits portfolio to maintain market competitiveness, align with corporate objectives, and proactively meet the evolving needs of a diverse workforce, including specialized union requirements.
• Integration Strategy: Design and architect the complex integration strategy for harmonizing benefits plans, policies, and systems following business acquisitions, ensuring seamless alignment and operational readiness for the HR Service Center.
• Financial Modeling & Analytics: Drive data-driven decision-making by analyzing complex benefits data, cost trends, and plan utilization. Oversee financial modeling and forecasting to ensure fiscal responsibility and maximum ROI on benefit spend.
• Governance & Process Excellence: Establish and maintain the governance framework for all benefits plans. Champion process re-design and innovation to optimize the end-to-end employee and administrative experience.
• Vendor Strategy & Negotiation: Provide strategic direction and high-level oversight to all third-party benefits administrators (TPAs), brokers, and carriers. Lead major vendor contract negotiations, renewals, and performance management reviews to ensure maximum value and best-in-class service delivery.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Partner strategically with executive stakeholders and cross-functional teams, including HRIS (Workday), Payroll, Finance, and Legal, to build the necessary technology and operational infrastructure required for seamless program execution.
• Union Contract Interpretation: Interpret union contract provisions and Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) to design compliant benefits offerings and define the proper execution path for the HR Service Center, in partnership with Labor Relations.
• Compliance & Risk Mitigation: Maintain expert-level knowledge of all federal and state regulations (ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, etc.). Proactively anticipate and establish mitigation strategies for compliance risks across the benefits landscape.
• Team & Stakeholder Leadership: Oversee and mentor the internal Benefits Strategy staff, providing coaching and development. Lead the communication strategy for all benefits, ensuring materials are effective, compliant, and drive maximum employee engagement. Act as the final escalation point for the most complex benefits issues requiring strategic decision-making.

Benefits

• We offer a wide range of health insurance options that include medical, dental, and vision for you and your family.
• Our Family-Building benefits support the many different journeys to fertility and parenthood.
• Our robust 401K plan includes an employer match contribution with your pre-tax and/or Roth contributions.
• Other exciting programs and perks are available to help employees achieve work-life balance, including (but not limited to) a wellness program, free financial coaching, a referral program, and product rebates when purchased for an employee’s primary residence.
• Professional growth and development are very important to us! We offer internal training programs and courses, as well as a generous tuition reimbursement program.
• We're committed to fostering a culture that reflects our values to connect, empower, evolve, and inspire. We offer many opportunities for employees to connect with one another, including through our Employee Resource Groups who focus on education and allyship for all of our employees.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director