Senior Tax Director, Compensation & Benefits, Orthopedics

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical tax and legal counsel on the design, administration, and governance of employee compensation and benefit plans and programs.
• Advise on U.S. federal tax requirements affecting qualified retirement plans, executive compensation, equity and stock-based compensation, health and welfare benefits, fringe benefits, and other employee programs.
• Counsel business and functional leaders on compliance with ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code, and related regulatory and fiduciary requirements.
• Provide tax and benefits advice in connection with mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, reorganizations, and other corporate transactions, including due diligence, agreement review, and integration or separation planning.
• Advise on payroll tax withholding, reporting, information returns, and employee mobility matters, coordinating with payroll, finance, human resources, and external advisors as appropriate.
• Support the review and documentation of compensation and benefit arrangements, plan amendments, participant communications, policies, and governance materials.
• Advise fiduciaries and internal stakeholders on plan asset investment, prohibited transaction, and related governance matters.
• Monitor legislative, regulatory, and judicial developments and translate complex requirements into practical guidance, risk assessments, and recommended actions for management.
• Manage and coordinate advice from outside counsel and other external experts, as needed, to deliver timely and commercially practical solutions.

Qualifications

Education Required: Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school and active admission in good standing to at least one U.S. state bar or the District of Columbia bar. Preferred: LL.M. in Taxation or comparable advanced training in employee benefits, executive compensation, or tax law.

Experience and Skills Required: Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience at a law firm, accounting firm, and/or major corporation advising on employee compensation and benefits tax and legal matters. Strong working knowledge of Internal Revenue Code provisions applicable to employee compensation and benefits, including qualified retirement plans, executive compensation, equity and stock-based compensation, health and welfare benefits, and fringe benefits. Demonstrated knowledge of ERISA and related fiduciary, reporting, disclosure, and compliance requirements. Experience advising on compensation and benefits matters arising in mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and other corporate transactions. Experience with payroll withholding and reporting requirements and plan asset investment matters. Ability to analyze complex legal and tax issues, exercise sound judgment, and provide clear, practical, and business-oriented advice. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain highly technical matters to leaders and stakeholders with varying levels of subject-matter expertise. Strong collaboration, project management, and relationship-building skills in a global, matrixed environment.