Director, Global Benefits

Secure Every Identity, from AI to Human Identity is the key to unlocking the potential of AI. Okta secures AI by building the trusted, neutral infrastructure that enables organizations to safely embrace this new era. This work requires a relentless drive to solve complex challenges with real-world stakes. We are looking for builders and owners who operate with speed and urgency and execute with excellence. This is an opportunity to do career-defining work. We're all in on this mission. If you are too, let's talk. Empower Every Employee, Everywhere At our core, we believe our people are our greatest asset. Building innovative technology requires a world-class employee experience where wellness, security, and total well-being are seamlessly integrated into everyday life. We are looking for builders and owners who operate with speed, empathy, and strategic excellence. This is an opportunity to do career-defining work by scaling a global benefits strategy that attracts, retains, and supports top tech talent across the globe. Role Overview As the Director, Global Benefits, you will be the strategic architect and operational leader of our global health, wellness, retirement, and leave programs. Reporting directly to the VP of Total Rewards, you will lead a high-performing team responsible for designing, evaluating, and executing benefit strategies that reflect our culture, support diverse employee needs, and scale across global markets. You will combine data-driven insights, deep market benchmark awareness, and human-centered design to deliver a benefits package that stands out in the competitive tech landscape. This is a hybrid role based in the San Francisco Bay Area, requiring 2 days per week in our San Francisco office. What You’ll Do Strategic Design & Vision • Global Benefits Strategy: Define and execute a multi-year global benefits roadmap aligned with business objectives, financial parameters, and market trends across North America, EMEA, and APAC. • Executive & Finance Advisory: Serve as the subject matter expert to HR leadership and Executives on global benefit trends, cost strategies, and strategic investments. Operational Excellence & Vendor Management • Partner & Broker Relations: Manage relationships with global brokers, TPAs, carriers, and vendors to ensure maximum ROI, top-tier service delivery, and competitive renewal pricing. • Benefits Operations & Tech Stack: Oversee annual open enrollment, system integrations (e.g., Workday), and day-to-day administration to ensure a frictionless employee experience. • Compliance & Governance: Ensure strict adherence to global labor laws and regulations, including ERISA, HIPAA, ACA, COBRA, and local statutory requirements in international jurisdictions. • Fiduciary Governance: Lead the 401(k) Investment Committee and Global Benefits Committee to oversee plan administration, plan audits, investment options, and fiduciary risk management. • M&A & Global Expansion: Lead benefits due diligence and integration for mergers and acquisitions, and architect local benefit packages when entering new global markets. • KPIs & Metrics: Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and utilization metrics to measure plan health, employee engagement, and program ROI. Financial Analysis & Strategic Planning • Finance Collaboration: Partner closely with the Finance and FP&A teams on long-term cost modeling, quarterly forecasting, and budget projections to ensure sustainable benefit expenditure. • Cost Optimization & ROI: Conduct rigorous financial analyses to evaluate plan performance, claims data, and self-insurance funding strategies to optimize spend without compromising plan quality. Well-Being & Wellness Programs • Program Strategy & Execution: 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. Employee Engagement & Analytics • Data-Driven Insights: Analyze utilization metrics, claim trends, and employee feedback to continuously refine benefits offerings and measure program effectiveness. • Communications & Education: Partner with People Communications to build intuitive, clear, and engaging benefits education that helps employees navigate their Total Rewards. Leadership & Team Development • Build & Scale: Inspire, lead, and mentor a high-performing team of benefits professionals, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous growth. What You’ll Bring to the Role • Proven Expertise: 10+ years of progressive HR/Total Rewards experience with at least 5+ years leading global benefits strategy in a high-growth SaaS, tech, or enterprise environment. • Broker & Partnership Management: Proven track record of managing and maximizing top-tier global broker partnerships, leading annual marketing efforts, RFP processes, and plan negotiations. • Financial & Analytical Rigor: Deep financial acumen with hands-on experience performing quantitative financial analyses, running scenario projections alongside Finance, and managing multi-million-dollar global budgets. • Global Knowledge: 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. • Tech-Forward Mindset: Experience leveraging HRIS tools (Workday, BenAdmin platforms) and AI-driven benefits technologies to automate workflows and elevate the employee experience. • Collaborative Leadership: A track record of building human-centered programs and leading teams with empathy, clear communication, and strategic focus. • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven track record of working closely with Payroll, Legal, and Systems teams to ensure seamless execution and compliance. P10611_3550914 The annual base salary range for this position for candidates located in the San Francisco Bay area is between: $215,000—$295,900 USD