Firmwide Director of Benefits & Compensation

Perkins&Will•Chicago, IL

About The Position

The Firmwide Director of Benefits and Compensation provides strategic leadership for the design, administration, communication, and ongoing improvement of Perkins&Will’s benefits programs. The role focuses primarily on delivering comprehensive, competitive, employee-centered health, welfare, retirement, leave, and well-being offerings that align with the firm’s culture, talent strategy, and business objectives. The director oversees programs across the firm’s geographic locations, including knowledge of Canadian benefit plan administration and strategic oversight of other international benefits programs. In partnership with the Chief Talent Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the director supports compensation programs with market intelligence, benchmarking, workforce analytics, and compensation analyses. The role also oversees total rewards communications, benefits compliance and governance, benefits operations and technology, vendor relationships, and benefits-team development. The director collaborates with Corporate Leadership, Talent, Finance, Legal, IT, external advisors, and colleagues across the firm to support the employee experience and the attraction, engagement, and retention of talent. The position also participates in acquisition due diligence and integration efforts.

Requirements

10+ years of progressive experience in Benefits or Total Rewards leadership roles.
Experience developing and administering complex employee benefits programs.
Experience supporting compensation programs through benchmarking, analytics, and administration.
Deep knowledge of benefits administration, retirement programs, leave management, wellness strategies, and total rewards practices.
Strong understanding of ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, and related regulatory requirements.
Strong analytical and financial acumen, including the ability to interpret data and develop recommendations.
Experience using workforce and market data to support business decisions.
Exceptional leadership, relationship-building, communication, and influencing skills.
Ability to partner effectively with senior leadership and manage complex vendor relationships.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a professional services environment.
Experience supporting multinational employee populations.
Experience with Workday and other HR technology platforms.

Responsibilities

Lead the design, administration, and continuous improvement of health and welfare programs, including retirement, leave of absence, and well-being programs.
Monitor benefits trends and best practices, evaluate plan design opportunities, and make recommendations to Leadership.
Oversee annual renewals, open enrollment, and ongoing benefits administration across the firm’s geographic locations.
Negotiate contracts and manage relationships with brokers, consultants, carriers, auditors, and third-party administrators.
Develop well-being initiatives and review engagement and spending to assess program effectiveness and employee experience.
Provide strategic oversight of international benefits programs and ensure alignment with local market practices; administer Canadian benefit plans.
Partner with the Chief Talent Officer and Chief Financial Officer on the firm’s compensation philosophy and programs.
Provide market intelligence, benchmarking, and workforce analytics to inform compensation planning and decisions.
Assist with annual compensation programs, including salary reviews and bonus processes.
Conduct compensation analyses related to market competitiveness, pay equity, and internal alignment.
Maintain compensation structures, job architecture frameworks, and supporting documentation.
Advise Talent leaders on compensation policies, practices, and market trends.
Develop and oversee the firm’s total rewards communication strategy and create educational resources for enrollment and ongoing employee awareness.
Oversee benefits-related content in employee-facing systems and internal resources, and support Talent Acquisition in communicating total rewards to prospective employees.
Handle escalated employee questions and concerns about benefits and rewards programs.
Ensure compliance with applicable benefits laws and regulations, including ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, and FMLA.
Oversee plan documents, policies, agreements, amendments, audits, Form 5500 filings, and benefits-related recordkeeping.
Monitor legislative and regulatory developments and recommend program changes; partner with Legal and external advisors on governance and risk management.
Provide strategic oversight of benefits administration processes and operating procedures.
Ensure HRIS systems support benefits administration, compensation processes, reporting, and vendor integrations; collaborate with IT on enhancements, analytics, and process improvements.
Ensure accurate payment and reconciliation of vendor invoices and program expenses.
Lead and develop benefits-team members and provide training and consultation to Talent Team members and firm leaders.
Partner with Finance, Legal, Talent Acquisition, and Corporate Leadership on firmwide initiatives affecting employee rewards and experience.
Participate in acquisition due diligence and integration, including benefits evaluation, transition planning, and employee communications.