Director, Global Benefits

Okta•San Francisco, CA

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

Okta is seeking a Director, Global Benefits to serve as the strategic architect and operational leader of their global health, wellness, retirement, and leave programs. This role reports directly to the VP of Total Rewards and will lead a high-performing team responsible for designing, evaluating, and executing benefit strategies that align with Okta's culture, support diverse employee needs, and scale globally. The position requires a data-driven approach, deep market awareness, and human-centered design to create a competitive benefits package. This is a hybrid role based in the San Francisco Bay Area, requiring two days per week in the San Francisco office.

Requirements

10+ years of progressive HR/Total Rewards experience
At least 5+ years leading global benefits strategy in a high-growth SaaS, tech, or enterprise environment.
Proven track record of managing and maximizing top-tier global broker partnerships, leading annual marketing efforts, RFP processes, and plan negotiations.
Deep financial acumen with hands-on experience performing quantitative financial analyses, running scenario projections alongside Finance, and managing multi-million-dollar global budgets.
Deep expertise in US health & welfare, 401(k) fiduciary governance, self-funded plans, as well as statutory and supplemental benefit structures across EMEA and APAC.
Experience leveraging HRIS tools (Workday, BenAdmin platforms) and AI-driven benefits technologies to automate workflows and elevate the employee experience.
A track record of building human-centered programs and leading teams with empathy, clear communication, and strategic focus.
Proven track record of working closely with Payroll, Legal, and Systems teams to ensure seamless execution and compliance.

Responsibilities

Define and execute a multi-year global benefits roadmap aligned with business objectives, financial parameters, and market trends across North America, EMEA, and APAC.
Serve as the subject matter expert to HR leadership and Executives on global benefit trends, cost strategies, and strategic investments.
Manage relationships with global brokers, TPAs, carriers, and vendors to ensure maximum ROI, top-tier service delivery, and competitive renewal pricing.
Oversee annual open enrollment, system integrations (e.g., Workday), and day-to-day administration to ensure a frictionless employee experience.
Ensure strict adherence to global labor laws and regulations, including ERISA, HIPAA, ACA, COBRA, and local statutory requirements in international jurisdictions.
Lead the 401(k) Investment Committee and Global Benefits Committee to oversee plan administration, plan audits, investment options, and fiduciary risk management.
Lead benefits due diligence and integration for mergers and acquisitions, and architect local benefit packages when entering new global markets.
Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and utilization metrics to measure plan health, employee engagement, and program ROI.
Partner closely with the Finance and FP&A teams on long-term cost modeling, quarterly forecasting, and budget projections to ensure sustainable benefit expenditure.
Conduct rigorous financial analyses to evaluate plan performance, claims data, and self-insurance funding strategies to optimize spend without compromising plan quality.
Design and manage core mental health resources, family-building/fertility programs, gender-affirming care, and flexible wellness stipends to support overall employee health and well-being.
Analyze utilization metrics, claim trends, and employee feedback to continuously refine benefits offerings and measure program effectiveness.
Partner with People Communications to build intuitive, clear, and engaging benefits education that helps employees navigate their Total Rewards.
Inspire, lead, and mentor a high-performing team of benefits professionals, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous growth.