Head of Benefits - NAM

With over 200 brands sold in nearly 180 countries, Diageo is home to some of the world’s most iconic drinks. From Johnnie Walker and a Guinness to Tanqueray, Smirnoff and Don Julio, we craft brands chosen for life’s moments — from everyday connections to landmark celebrations.

Bring your talent, curiosity and ambition, and strive for your personal best alongside people who challenge, support and learn from each other. Together, as one outstanding team, we keep learning, improving and raising the bar for our brands, our business and each other.

Join us and play your part in making life’s moments mean a little more. 

The Head of Benefits, NAM is the senior benefits leader for North America within the Global Performance and Reward team, accountable for shaping and delivering Diageo’s non-pension benefits strategy across the United States and Canada.

The role oversees a broad portfolio of health and welfare, wellbeing, and time away/leave programs, translating Diageo’s global benefits framework and Minimum Standards of Care into locally relevant, competitive and compliant solutions.

Operating across a complex employee population, including union and non-union environments, this role combines strategic leadership, governance, commercial stewardship, vendor leadership and technology-enabled delivery to strengthen employee wellbeing and experience while ensuring sustainable value for the business.

• Set the North America non-pension benefits roadmap and operating priorities within the approved global framework and market budgets.
• Lead strategic decisions on annual renewals and vendor performance interventions within delegated authority.
• Determine the governance, controls, service standards, measures and escalation actions required to maintain compliant and effective benefit delivery.
• Prioritize technology, process and communication improvements that simplify the employee experience and strengthen data quality.

• Recommend material plan design, funding, contribution or vendor changes requiring senior market/global approval.
• Advise the Global Pension and Benefits Director on market competitiveness, regulatory change, Minimum Standards of Care gaps and investment priorities.
• Recommend cost-optimization actions based on utilization, claims, vendor performance and employee outcomes, assessing the impact on both value and employee experience.
• Provide benefits recommendations for M&A, reorganizations and other business changes.

• Accountable for forecasting, budgeting, monitoring and optimizing the budget in annual North America non-pension benefit spend, including associated administration and vendor costs.
• Own variance analysis, renewal economics, business cases and cost-containment/value-creation initiatives, with a clear focus on total cost, employee value and measurable ROI

• Regional remit across the United States and Canada, navigating differing federal, state/provincial and local regulatory environments and supporting both union and non-union populations.
• The role balances global principles and Minimum Standards of Care with local market practices, business affordability and employee needs, while managing a broad ecosystem of brokers, carriers, administrators and specialist vendors.

• Create and execute the North America non-pension benefits strategy and multi-year roadmap within Diageo’s global benefits framework.
• Translate external trends, employee needs, utilization and claims insights, and business priorities into clear design choices and investment recommendations. Continually improve benefit effectiveness, affordability, equity, accessibility and employee experience, while identifying and addressing material gaps against Diageo’s Minimum Standards of Care.
• Leadership Responsibilities
• Operate as the senior North America subject-matter expert for non-pension benefits, influencing across a complex global and regional stakeholder environment.
• Partner closely with Global Reward Leadership, the NAM Compensation Manager, HR Directors and HR Business Partners, Reward Hub, Finance, Procurement, Legal, Payroll and Tax.
• Externally, lead relationships and accountability across benefits consultants and brokers, insurers, TPAs, wellbeing and leave providers, technology partners, auditors and external counsel.

• Maintain robust governance and regulatory compliance across in-scope programs.
• Monitor legislative change; ensure plan documents, required filings, notices, audits and controls are complete and effective; partner with Legal/Compliance and advisers; identify and remediate risk; and provide benefits input to M&A and organizational change.

• Own broker, carrier, administrator and benefit-vendor performance. Lead sourcing/RFPs, contracting input, negotiations, SLAs and governance.
• Forecast and manage benefit spend; analyze claims, utilization and vendor data; identify cost optimization opportunities; and measure value and ROI without compromising required standards of care or employee outcomes.

• Ensure benefits are delivered accurately, simply and consistently through effective administration and technology.
• Use communications and education to improve understanding, access and utilization, and resolve systemic service issues.

• Serve as a senior benefits subject-matter expert and key representative for North America benefits.
• Maintain a strong external perspective on benefits innovation and emerging practices.
• Convert market, employee and program data into actionable insights; influence senior stakeholders and governance forums; lead cross-functional projects; and coach internal teams and partners to drive continuous improvement and measurable outcomes.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience in Human Resources, Business, Finance or a related discipline.
• Experience managing employee benefits across multiple U.S. states, with an understanding of the complexity of differing state requirements and employee populations.
• Benefits/Total Rewards professional qualification (e.g., CEBS or equivalent) desirable.
• Strong working knowledge of North America health and welfare benefits and applicable U.S./Canadian regulatory requirements.
• Typically 8+ years of progressive Benefits/Total Rewards experience, with substantial ownership of complex health and welfare programs in a large, matrixed organization.
• Demonstrated experience developing benefits strategy and plan design, leading renewals and complex implementations, and influencing senior stakeholders across HR, Finance, Legal, Procurement and Technology.
• Strong vendor and commercial management experience, including RFPs, negotiation, performance governance and service improvement.
• Strong financial and analytical capability, including budgeting, forecasting, claims/utilization analysis, cost modeling, business cases and ROI/value assessment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of benefits compliance and governance, including audits, plan documentation and regulatory change management.
• Experience improving digital employee journeys, integrations and data quality.
• Strategic, consultative and pragmatic leadership style, with the ability to move from insight and design to disciplined execution in a fast-paced environment.

Flexibility is key to our success. Talk to us about what flexibility means to you so that you’re supported to manage your wellbeing and balance your priorities from day one.

We recognise and value performance, offering our people a highly competitive Rewards and Benefits package.

Our purpose is crafting iconic drinks chosen for life’s moments. And it’s our people, with their different experiences, perspectives and talents, who make that possible.

We value diversity in its broadest sense and want everyone to feel they can belong, contribute and strive for their personal best. You’ll work alongside people with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives — challenging, supporting and learning from one another as one outstanding team.

Together, we’re constantly learning and improving, combining the strength of our people, capabilities and iconic brands to raise the bar, grow and win.

Wherever you join us, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute, make an impact and play your part in making life’s moments mean a little more.

Ready to bring your best? This could be your opportunity.

If you require a reasonable adjustment, please ensure that you capture this information when you submit your application. 

Recruitment Scam Warning

Protecting candidates is very important to us. All communications regarding your application will come from an email address ending in @diageo.com. In our recruitment process, we'll never ask for money. 

At Diageo certain roles are eligible for additional rewards, including annual incentive payment and stock awards. US-based employees are eligible for healthcare benefits, retirement benefits , short-term and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance, wellness benefits and industry leading parental leave, among others.  (Benefits/perks listed may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Diageo and the country where you work.)  The salary range displayed is the salary range for the role’s primary location.