Senior Manager - Global Benefits (Strategy, Product & Governance)

Freshworks•San Mateo, CA

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Manager - Global Benefits is responsible for evolving the strategy, design, and performance of the global benefits ecosystem. This role operates as a product owner and strategic leader, ensuring benefits programs are competitive, cost-effective, compliant, and deliver a seamless employee experience through a combination of vendors, digital tools, and operational partners. This critical People Team role will partner with key stakeholders to support our Employee Value Proposition at Freshworks and enhance our brand. This position shifts away from transactional administration and instead focuses on strategy, governance, vendor orchestration, and data-driven decision-making, leveraging AI and automation to scale globally. Please note: This is a hybrid role that will be based in San Mateo, CA and requires an in-office presence three days per week (Tuesday - Thursday).

Requirements

7–10+ years of experience in global benefits, total rewards, or related fields
Proven experience managing multi-country benefits programs and vendor ecosystems
Strong understanding of benefits governance, compliance, and financial management
Demonstrated ability to operate at both strategic and execution levels
Experience leveraging data, technology, and automation to improve outcomes
Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills

Responsibilities

Define and execute a global benefits and wellbeing strategy aligned with business priorities, workforce demographics, and market competitiveness
Design and evolve benefits programs across health, retirement, wellbeing, and leave, ensuring scalability across regions
Establish a cohesive global framework with appropriate local flexibility
Lead innovation in benefits design, including digital-first and AI-enabled solutions
Own the end-to-end employee benefits experience, from onboarding through life events and offboarding
Define and optimize the employee journey, ensuring clarity, accessibility, and engagement
Partner with internal teams to deliver a digital-first experience (e.g., portals, AI assistants, decision support tools)
Continuously improve experience through employee feedback, utilization data, and behavioral insights
Lead the selection, design, and management of a global vendor ecosystem (health plans, wellbeing providers, retirement partners, etc.)
Establish clear performance expectations, SLAs, and accountability frameworks
Drive integration across vendors to deliver a cohesive, high-quality employee experience
Conduct regular market assessments and negotiate solutions to ensure cost efficiency and innovation
Ensure compliance with local, national, and international regulations (e.g., ERISA, global statutory requirements)
Oversee plan governance, including plan documents, policies, audits, and regulatory filings
Partner with Legal, Finance, and external advisors to mitigate risk and maintain strong controls
Maintain clear governance structures for decision-making and program oversight
Own benefits financials, including budgeting, forecasting, and cost trend analysis
Identify and manage key cost drivers (utilization, vendor pricing, plan design)
Develop and execute strategies to improve ROI and long-term sustainability
Present clear, data-driven insights and recommendations to senior leadership
Leverage data analytics to evaluate program performance, engagement, and outcomes
Translate data into actionable insights and strategic recommendations
Build reporting frameworks that enable real-time visibility into benefits performance
Support executive decision-making with clear, concise, and outcome-focused analysis
Define and manage a modern benefits operating model, leveraging:
Vendor-led service delivery
Centralized operations (e.g., HR Ops/shared services)
AI and digital tools for employee support
Ensure efficient execution of key processes such as enrollment, life event changes, and employee support, without reliance on manual intervention
Continuously identify opportunities to automate, streamline, and scale operations globally