Director of Global Benefits and Mobility

Novanta Inc.•Bedford, MA

22d

About The Position

Build a career powered by innovations that matter! At Novanta, our innovations power technology products that are transforming healthcare and advanced manufacturing—improving productivity, enhancing people’s lives and redefining what’s possible. We create for our global customers engineered components and sub-systems that deliver extreme precision and performance for a range of mission-critical applications—from minimally invasive surgery to robotics to 3D metal printing. Novanta is one global team with over 26 offices located in The Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Looking for a great place to work? You have found it with a culture that embraces teamwork, collaboration and empowerment. Come explore Novanta. Role Overview The Director of Global Benefits and Mobility is responsible for the strategic design, governance, and delivery of benefits programs that support the company’s global business objectives, workforce strategy, and employer value proposition. This role leads the development and execution of competitive, compliant, and cost‑effective benefit programs across multiple geographies, supporting approximately 3,200 employees worldwide. Operating as a key member of the Total Rewards leadership team, the Director of Global Benefits and Mobility partners closely with HR, Finance, Legal, and business leaders to ensure benefit programs enable attraction, retention, engagement, and wellbeing for a highly skilled workforce in the medical technology and industrial automation sector.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
10+ years of progressive global benefits experience within multinational organizations; experience in manufacturing, medical technology/life science, or industrial/engineering environments strongly preferred.
Demonstrated success leading benefits strategy in organizations with a geographically distributed and diverse workforce.
Strong knowledge of U.S. benefits programs with proven experience supporting benefits outside the U.S.
Deep understanding of benefits compliance, mobility, governance, and vendor management.

Nice To Haves

Strategic leader with a practical, execution‑oriented mindset.
Strong financial acumen with experience managing large, complex budgets.
Influential communicator capable of engaging senior leaders and cross‑functional partners.
Experience supporting M&A activity, integrations, or global expansion initiatives.
Comfort operating in a growth‑oriented environment.

Responsibilities

Benefits Strategy & Program Design Develop and execute a global benefits strategy aligned with business objectives, workforce needs, and the company’s long‑term growth plans.
Design and oversee health and welfare, retirement, time off, wellness, and ancillary benefit programs across regions, balancing global consistency with local market competitiveness.
Evaluate emerging benefit trends relevant to a technical, manufacturing‑oriented workforce, including mental health, wellbeing, family support, and financial wellness programs.
Mobility Strategy & Operations Lead the design, governance, and delivery of global mobility programs that support the company’s talent strategy, including international assignments, immigration, relocations, transfers, and cross‑border arrangements.
Develop mobility policies that balance business needs, employee experience, and market competitiveness while ensuring compliance with global tax, immigration, social security, and labor requirements.
Oversee end‑to‑end mobility operations including vendor management, employee counseling, relocation support, and assignment lifecycle management—to ensure a seamless mobility experience.
Global Governance & Compliance Establish global governance frameworks, policies, and controls to ensure consistency, scalability, and risk mitigation across regions.
Ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations across all countries of operation, partnering with Legal, outside counsel, and regional HR leaders.
Oversee global benefits harmonization efforts connected to acquisitions, integrations, and organizational changes.
Financial Management & Vendor Oversight Own the global benefits budget, including forecasting, cost modeling, and long‑range planning.
Drive cost‑management strategies while maintaining competitive offerings and strong employee experience.
Lead vendor selection, contract negotiations, renewals, and performance management for brokers, consultants, insurers, and third-party administrators.
Leadership & Stakeholder Partnership Serve as a trusted advisor to the VP of Total Rewards, HR leadership, and senior business stakeholders on benefits strategy and implications.
Collaborate closely with regional HR teams to support local implementation and change management.
Lead Investment Committee, working with broker to ensure compliance with Company’s fiduciary responsibilities Employee Experience & Communication Partner with internal communications and HR teams to design clear, effective communications that drive employee understanding and engagement.
Leverage data, employee feedback, and benchmarking to continuously improve program effectiveness and satisfaction.
Analytics & Continuous Improvement Use data and analytics to assess utilization, cost drivers, and program outcomes.
Develop dashboards and reporting for executive leadership to support informed decision‑making.
Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency through technology, automation, and process optimization.