Director Benefits, Pension and Risk, Europe

Sandoz continues to go through an exciting and transformative period as a global leader and pioneering provider of sustainable Biosimilar and Generic medicines. As we continue down this new and ambitious path, unique opportunities will present themselves, both professionally and personally.

As a newly independent company we are focused on growth. We see growth as the engine powering everything we want to achieve for patients. It will allow us to innovate & pioneer greater access to high-quality medicines, but we can only do this by bringing the best and the brightest minds together.

We are seeking an experienced Benefits Director to lead design, governance and execution of our benefits programs in region Europe with a strong emphasis on pension strategy, risk management and data-driven insights. Within their scope of responsibility, the Benefits Director will drive strategic initiatives for global benefits, including insured benefits management, pooling and other global programs.

The Benefits Director will work closely with regional and global teams (rewards, benefits, finance, procurement and People & Organization) to design, implement and manage benefits programs aligned with the Sandoz's global philosophy and strategy.

This role is pivotal in shaping a benefits philosophy that supports Sandoz talent strategy while ensuring compliance, cost-efficiency and competitiveness.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Oversee the design, implementation and management of core regional employee benefits programs across Europe, ensuring compliance with lo0cal regulations and alignment with company policies
• Develop and communicate practices and guidelines to rewards for further engagement of all levels of the organization, including senior executives
• Conduct regular market trends analysis and benchmarking to ensure competitive and cost-effective benefits offering aligned with benefits philosophy and strategy as well as country specific needs.
• Partner with regional Rewards team to support regional and country P&O and resolve complex/non-standard benefits issues (not dealing with individual employee queries).
• Manage relationships with core/global benefit vendors and providers (specifically pensions and insured benefits via global actuary and global broker where appropriate), ensuring service quality and cost effectiveness).

Global Programs and Insured Benefits

• Lead the administration and strategy for global insured benefits programs, including life, disability and health insurance
• Oversee global pooling arrangements, manage multinational pooling networks to optimize benefit costs and enhance programs value.
• Collaborate with global broker, local providers, Rewards Business Partners, regional P&O and other key stakeholders, as needed to align regional programs with global strategy and objectives.
• Act as the primary point of contact for global benefits vendors and third-party administrators, monitoring contract compliance, service level and renewals.

Strategy and stakeholder engagement

• Contribute to the development and alignment of country programs with Sandoz's global benefits strategy, ensuring it meets regional needs and supports overall business and talent objectives
• Provide expertise on emerging benefits trends, regulatory changes and best practices in the employee benefits space
• Present insights and recommendations on benefits programs to Rewards Business Partners, senior leadership, regional P&O and other key stakeholders, as needed
• Develop and execute communication strategies to increase awareness, understanding and engagement with benefits programs among employees and stakeholders.

Financial management and reporting

• Oversee the benefits cost and budget for Europe, ensuring alignment with Sandoz's financial objectives.
• Track and analyse benefit cost and spend, identify cost saving opportunities and recommend adjustments to optimise program efficiency
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting on benefits utilization, cost trends and program effectiveness

Partnering

• Foster a culture of collaboration and best practice sharing across the Europe organization and globally where it makes sense to do so
• Participate in Europe Region Rewards team forums, providing counsel and strategic recommendations on regional and global Rewards program design, considering the needs of the region
• Closely collaborate with regional Rewards Business Partners dedicated to Europe Region and ensure overall support is aligned with One Rewards function

What you need to bring to the role:

• University degree or equivalent professional experience
• Excellent English spoken and written, German a strong plus
• 10+ years of progressive experience in benefits, with deep expertise in pensions and risk benefits in Europe region (strong focus on Germany, Austria and Switzerland), including vendor management.
• Knowledge of global benefits practices and industry trends.
• Experience at leading or advising on de-risking strategies and pension governance.
• Excellent communication and storytelling skills - able to convey complex issues simply.
• Demonstrated ability to use data and analytics to drive decision-making and influence at executive levels
• Proven change agent with significant project and program experience and proficient user of Microsoft Office tools.
• Experience of global or matrixed organization
• Exposure to M&A integration, divestitures or harmonization of legacy benefit programs
• Actuarial or finance background is a strong plus

Why Sandoz?

Generic and Biosimilar medicines are the backbone of the global medicines industry. Sandoz, a leader in this sector, touched the lives of almost 500 million patients last year and while we are proud of this achievement, we have an ambition to do more!

With investments in new development capabilities, state-of-the-art production sites, new acquisitions, and partnerships, we have the opportunity to shape the future of Sandoz and help more patients gain access to low-cost, high-quality medicines, sustainably.

Our momentum and entrepreneurial spirit is powered by an open, collaborative culture driven by our talented and ambitious colleagues, who, in return for applying their skills experience an agile and collegiate environment with impactful, flexible-hybrid careers, where diversity is welcomed and where personal growth is encouraged!

The future is (y)ours to shape!

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:

Sandoz is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams representative of the patients and communities we serve.

Pioneering access for patients

Join our Sandoz Network: If this role is not suitable to your experience or career goals but you wish to stay connected to hear more about Sandoz and our career opportunities, join the Network here: Sandoz Talentpool ()