Job Description

Grant Thornton is seeking a Director of Benefits to join the team in Chicago, IL or Downers Grove, IL.

The Director of Benefits is a senior-level leader responsible for the overall strategic design, administration and execution of our employee benefit offerings/programs. This includes health insurance, retirement plans and all wellness initiatives. Reporting to the U.S. Managing Director of People and partner closely with the Chief People Officer, this role is a key member of the People & Culture (P&C) People Experience leadership team.

This individual will be a partner in the development of our holistic Global Total Rewards strategy to develop policies, programs, recommending and implementing approved, new, or modified plans, and procedures that are aligned with the firm’s strategic goals and competitive objectives. The Benefits Director will lead a team of dedicated professionals focused on the discipline of Total Rewards, which includes colleagues both in the United States and across the multinational platform.

The Director of Benefits will partner and work closely with other Grant Thornton operations within the People & Culture (P&C) function across the multinational platform, to use best practices, data, insights, and trends to design and implement innovative strategies, benefits and resources to support Grant Thornton’s commitment to putting people first in supporting employee health and wellness. The Benefits Director will execute effective benefits and wellbeing programs and will be a visible leader and key partner in helping to bring Total Rewards forward. This role will present the benefits vision and initiatives in key business meetings. They will also lead complex, large-scale change initiatives, emphasizing stakeholder engagement, enterprise level financial and risk management, and operational excellence.

Key responsibilities include leveraging data and insights to inform program design and measurement strategy, managing vendor relationships to optimize service delivery and costs, and staying updated on industry best practices and legislative changes to ensure compliance and program effectiveness.

Areas of responsibility include but are not limited to the following:

Core Responsibilities

Strategy, Design, and Governance

• Develop and execute a comprehensive benefits and wellbeing strategy aligned to business objectives, firm values, and Total Rewards priorities.
• Lead the evaluation, design, and ongoing optimization of health, welfare, retirement, absence, and ancillary benefit programs.
• Monitor market trends, healthcare landscape changes, and industry best practices to ensure programs remain competitive and innovative.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive benefits and wellbeing strategy aligned to business objectives, firm values, and Total Rewards priorities.
• Lead the evaluation, design, and ongoing optimization of health, welfare, retirement, absence, and ancillary benefit programs
• Monitor market trends, healthcare landscape changes, and industry best practices to ensure programs remain competitive and innovative.
• Design and implement effective communication strategies to educate employees about benefits programs.

Compliance, Risk, and Financial Management

• Ensure all benefits programs comply with applicable federal, state, and local regulations (including ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, FLSA, and related requirements).
• Oversee audits, regulatory filings, and retirement plan governance; support and advise the retirement plan committee.
• Develop and manage the benefits budget, including forecasting, cost modeling, and financial reporting.
• Partner with actuaries and consultants to evaluate benefit costs, funding strategies, and plan sustainability.

Operations, Vendors, and Delivery Excellence

• Lead planning and execution of key annual processes, including open enrollment and regulatory reporting.
• Manage and negotiate vendor, broker, and consultant relationships to optimize service quality, cost, and performance.
• Drive operational excellence through process improvement, documentation, controls, and effective use of HR and Total Rewards technology.
• Resolve complex and escalated employee benefits issues with sound judgment and discretion.

Leadership, Collaboration, and Change

• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing benefits team across onshore and offshore locations.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and employee-centric service.
• Partner closely with global P&C leaders and business stakeholders to translate strategy into effective implementation across geographies.
• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing benefits team across onshore and offshore locations.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and employee-centric service.
• Partner closely with global P&C leaders and business stakeholders to translate strategy into effective implementation across geographies.

Insights, Analytics, and Communication

• Use data, metrics, and insights to inform decision-making, identify trends, and drive systemic improvements.
• Design and execute clear, effective communication strategies to drive employee understanding, engagement, and utilization of benefits programs.
• Present benefits strategy, outcomes, and recommendations in senior leadership and business forums.

The ideal candidate will be:

Experience and Expertise

• 10+ years of progressive HR or Total Rewards experience, preferably within a professional services or partnership environment.
• Deep technical expertise in U.S. health and welfare and retirement programs, including experience redesigning legacy plans.
• Experience supporting retirement plan mergers and terminations in the context of M&A activity.
• Demonstrated success leading complex programs, vendor negotiations, and enterprise-scale change initiatives.

Leadership and Capabilities

• Proven people leader with a strong track record of coaching, mentoring, and developing high-performing teams.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to operate effectively at both enterprise and operational levels.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence at all levels across a matrixed organization.
• Highly analytical and metric-driven, with the ability to translate data into actionable business decisions.
• Exceptional judgment, integrity, discretion, and attention to detail.

Skills and Attributes

• Strong negotiation, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Action-oriented, adaptable, and comfortable operating in ambiguity.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and Outlook.

Education and Other Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a related field.
• Ability to travel up to travel (~10% or as needed)

The base salary range for this position in the firms Chicago, IL and Downers Grove, IL office is between $187,500 and $312,500 per year.

At Grant Thornton, we believe in making business more personal and building trust into every result – for our clients and you. Here, we go beyond your expectations of a career in professional services by offering a career path with more: more opportunity, more flexibility, and more support. It’s what makes us different, and we think being different makes us better.

In the U.S., Grant Thornton delivers professional services through two specialized entities: Grant Thornton LLP, a licensed, certified public accounting (CPA) firm that provides audit and assurance services ― and Grant Thornton Advisors LLC (not a licensed CPA firm), which exclusively provides non-attest offerings, including tax and advisory services.

In 2025, Grant Thornton formed a multinational, multidisciplinary platform with Grant Thornton Ireland. The platform offers a premier Trans-Atlantic advisory and tax practice, as well as independent American and Irish audit practices. With $2.7 billion in revenues and more than 50 offices spanning the U.S., Ireland and other territories, the platform delivers a singular client experience that includes enhanced solutions and capabilities, backed by powerful technologies and a roster of 12,000 quality-driven professionals enjoying exceptional career-growth opportunities and a distinctive cross-border culture.

Grant Thornton is part of the Grant Thornton International Limited network, which provides access to its member firms in more than 150 global markets.