Director Americas Benefits Strategy & Enterprise Initiatives
Danaher Corporation
Summary
As the Director Americas Benefits Strategy & Enterprise Initiatives you'll design and deliver health and welfare programs that truly matter balancing cost, compliance, innovation, and associate experience across the Americas. With a primary focus on the U.S., and support for Canada, Brazil, and Mexico, you'll lead end-to-end benefit initiatives, partner deeply across HR and Finance, and use data to drive smarter decisions.
Job description
In this role you will have the opportunity to:
- Shape the Strategy by designing and leading a multi-year strategy for Americas health and welfare programs, including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life, disability, voluntary benefits, wellbeing, time away and global wellbeing programs, including EAP and targeted wellbeing solutions.
- Build compelling business cases using benchmarking, ROI analysis, and risk assessment.
- Balance associate experience with disciplined cost management and long-term sustainability.
- Guide and improve U.S. absence management programs (FTO, PTO, vacation, paid sick leave).
- Lead benefits integration for M&A activity, including acquisitions, carveouts, and divestitures.
- Partner cross-functionally with Finance, Legal, Inclusion & Belonging, Talent Acquisition, People Analytics, Internal Communications, and HR leaders across the business.
- Coach and guide benefit partners globally, building capability and consistency while respecting local needs.
- Serve as a trusted subject-matter expert and escalation point for complex issues.
- Monitor cost and utilization trends using market benchmarks and engagement data.
- Own the U.S. Benefits Data Warehouse—turning insights into clear, actionable recommendations.
- Lead feasibility studies and analytic efforts, with hands-on accountability for outcomes (not just reports).
- Apply a continuous improvement mindset to benefit design, delivery, and communications.
- Define success metrics and ensure programs remain competitive, compliant, and easy to use.
- Oversee vendor performance, service delivery, and contractual compliance.
- Lead vendor reviews, renewals, and negotiations.
- Create meaningful associate insights through surveys, storytelling, and advanced analytics tools.
Requirements
- 7+ years of experience in benefits strategy and delivery
- Deep expertise in U.S. Health & Welfare programs
- Experience managing benefits on a large-market scale, across multiple vendors and large employee populations
- Consulting experience preferred
- Bachelor's degree preferred
- Experience with Benefit-related M&A preferred
- Exposure to global benefits, particularly Canada and LATAM preferred
- Experience with disability and absence programs preferred
- North America Retirement experience preferred
Benefits
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- 401(k)
- Paid time off
- Wellbeing programs
Company overview
Danaher Corporation is a leading global science and technology innovator headquartered in Washington, D.C., specializing in biotechnology, life sciences, and diagnostics. Founded in 1984 by brothers Steven and Mitchell Rales, the company has evolved from its origins as a manufacturing conglomerate into a premier healthcare technology organization with approximately 63,000 employees worldwide. Danaher operates through three core divisions: biotechnology (28% of revenues), which develops products for therapeutic development; life sciences (31% of revenues), focused on disease identification, new therapies, and drug testing/manufacturing; and diagnostics (41% of revenues), providing instruments, consumables, and software for disease diagnosis. The company's portfolio includes renowned brands such as Beckman Coulter, Cytiva, Pall Corporation, Cepheid, Leica Microsystems, and Abcam, serving pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, healthcare providers, and research institutions globally. Danaher is distinguished by its Danaher Business System (DBS), a continuous improvement methodology that drives innovation and operational excellence. With 2024 revenues of $23.9 billion, the company ranks 180th on the Fortune 500 and plays a critical role in advancing scientific research, improving diagnostic capabilities, and accelerating the development of life-saving therapies.