Director Benefits at Honeywell in Bracknell, Berkshire, United Kingdom

Director Benefits

Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, United Kingdom

Honeywell is a global technology and manufacturing leader focused on developing solutions that improve quality of life and create new markets. Operating in more than 75 countries, Honeywell delivers industry-specific solutions, including control technologies for buildings and industry and performance materials. Join us in developing innovative solutions to address some of the world’s toughest challenges.

Position Summary: We are seeking an experienced, strategic Benefits Director to partner with business leaders and oversee benefits strategy and execution across Europe and META. This role is critical to keeping Honeywell competitive in attracting and retaining top talent through comprehensive benefits strategies aligned with our growth-focused business objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

Pension & Retirement Strategy 40-50%

• Lead the strategic direction, governance, and oversight of all pension and retirement programs across Europe and META, ensuring plans support business objectives, workforce needs, and long-term financial sustainability.
• Serve as the company's senior regional expert on pension and retirement matters, advising executive leadership on plan design, funding strategies, regulatory developments, and emerging market trends.
• Oversee a diverse portfolio of retirement programs, including defined contribution, legacy defined benefit, hybrid, and statutory pension arrangements where applicable.
• Partner closely with Finance, Treasury, Legal, Tax, Procurement, and external advisors to manage pension risks, optimize plan performance, and ensure strong fiduciary governance.
• Develop multi-year retirement strategies that balance employee retirement readiness, market competitiveness, financial risk management, and cost effectiveness.
• Lead pension governance committees and support Board, Trustee, and fiduciary meetings, ensuring appropriate oversight, decision-making, and documentation.
• Monitor pension funding levels, investment performance, actuarial valuations, and financial exposures, providing insights and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Direct relationships with pension trustees, investment managers, actuaries, administrators, consultants, and regulatory bodies to ensure effective plan management and accountability.
• Evaluate opportunities to modernize retirement offerings through plan redesign, harmonization initiatives, vendor changes, and implementation of innovative retirement solutions.
• Ensure compliance with local pension regulations, fiduciary obligations, governance requirements, and evolving legislative frameworks across all countries within the region.
• Support mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and organizational restructuring activities by assessing pension implications, liabilities, integration requirements, and potential risks.
• Identify and execute opportunities to improve operational efficiency, reduce administrative complexity, and manage long-term pension costs while maintaining a competitive employee value proposition.
• Establish metrics and reporting frameworks to monitor retirement program effectiveness, participation, employee outcomes, governance compliance, and return on investment.

Medical & Health Benefits

• Oversee regional medical, wellness, life, disability, and other health-related benefit programs.
• Develop innovative solutions that support employee well-being while balancing affordability and business sustainability.
• Evaluate utilization trends, claims experience, and market developments to recommend design enhancements and cost-management strategies.
• Ensure programs meet local statutory requirements and align with company standards.

Vendor Management

• Lead relationships with insurers, brokers, consultants, administrators, and other benefit service providers.
• Establish performance metrics, service-level agreements, and governance frameworks to ensure service excellence.
• Conduct periodic vendor reviews, renegotiations, and procurement activities to maximize value and control costs.
• Manage complex regional RFPs and vendor transitions.

Financial Management & Cost Efficiency

• Develop and manage regional benefits budgets.
• Identify and implement opportunities for cost optimization, process improvement, and operational efficiency.
• Analyze financial and utilization data to support forecasting, planning, and investment decisions.
• Deliver measurable savings while maintaining market competitiveness and employee satisfaction.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing regional benefits team.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous learning, and customer service excellence.
• Build organizational capability through succession planning, mentoring, and development opportunities.
• Establish clear goals, priorities, and performance expectations.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with all applicable legal, regulatory, tax, and governance requirements across Europe and META.
• Monitor legislative changes and assess potential impacts on benefit programs.
• Partner with Legal, HR, Finance, and Compliance teams to manage benefit-related risks and maintain strong governance practices.
• Support audits and regulatory reviews as required.

Stakeholder Partnership

• Collaborate closely with HR Business Partners, regional leadership teams, Finance, Legal, Procurement, and external advisors.
• Present benefit strategies, business cases, and program results to senior leaders.
• Drive effective communication and change-management efforts related to benefit initiatives.

Act as the regional subject matter expert on benefits and retirement programs.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in benefits, retirement, pension, or Total Rewards leadership roles.
• Significant experience managing benefits programs across multiple European countries and the META region.
• Deep knowledge of pension and defined contribution retirement plans, healthcare programs, and vendor management.
• Demonstrated success leading complex regional projects and transformations.
• Strong analytical, financial, and strategic planning capabilities.
• Experience managing and developing professional teams.
• Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.
• Fluency in English is required; proficiency in additional European languages is a plus.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and discretion in handling confidential information.

What We Offer:

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development within a global organization.
• A dynamic and inclusive work environment that values diversity and collaboration.
• The chance to make a significant impact on the company's success and employee satisfaction.

Honeywell is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Honeywell Technologies is a global, pure-play automation company with a legacy of innovating to help solve the world’s most mission-critical challenges, enhancing the quality of life for people and communities around the world. We serve the building, industrial and process sectors with a broad portfolio of services, solutions and products, underpinned by our Honeywell Technologies Accelerator operating system and Honeywell Technologies Forge intelligence layer. By combining the deep domain expertise of our more than 50,000 employees with decades of data from our global installed base, we are uniquely positioned to lead the industrial sector’s transition from automation to autonomy.