Role purpose
The EMEA Benefits Senior Specialist is responsible for the maintenance, administration and continuous process improvement of employee benefits programmes across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
The role also provides support across a range of HR activities, policies, processes and employee experience initiatives, ensuring alignment with ERM's people strategy and business objectives.
The postholder will collaborate with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to ensure benefits programmes and HR processes are communicated, compliant, efficient, cost-effective and aligned with business needs. This includes providing guidance and support on benefits, employee lifecycle matters, people policies and HR processes, while helping to deliver a positive employee experience.
Acting as the regional subject matter expert for benefits, the role will oversee the ongoing administration and governance of benefit programmes, working with the global reward team to ensure compliance with local legislative requirements, market practices and internal reward policies.
The postholder will also contribute to broader HR initiatives and projects, supporting process improvement, policy implementation, operational excellence and continuous enhancement of the employee experience across the region.
The role will work closely with stakeholders across the business and external providers to maintain current programmes, identify opportunities for improvement and support the delivery of people-focused solutions that meet organisational and employee needs.
Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities
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Benefits strategy and governance: Collaborating with the global/regional reward teams to maintain an EMEA benefits portfolio that is aligned to the global strategy, supporting attraction, retention, employee wellbeing, fairness, affordability and local market relevance.
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Regional programme management: Oversee benefits across multiple EMEA countries, including pensions, healthcare, risk benefits and flexible benefits supported by the global/regional reward teams and local HR.
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Compliance and risk management: Working with the global and regional reward team to ensure benefits arrangements meet statutory, regulatory, tax, data privacy and employment requirements in each country, working with local HR, Legal, Payroll and external advisers as needed.
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Market review and benchmarking: Supporting the global/regional reward teams with regard to reviewing benefit competitiveness (using market data, employee feedback, provider insights and business priorities), making practical recommendations for improvement.
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Provider and broker management: Maintain relationships with insurers, brokers, pension providers, benefits platforms and other vendors, ensuring strong service delivery and effective issue resolution.
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Renewals: Support the global/regional reward teams with renewal activity.
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Invoicing: Working with finance to ensure effective invoicing approvals and payments.
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Process improvement: Simplify and standardise benefits processes where appropriate, improving governance, documentation, employee access, manager guidance and handoffs between HR, Payroll and Finance.
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Employee experience and communications: Work with the People Services and Advisory teams and local HR around clear, engaging and accessible benefit related information and communication, so employees understand the benefits available to them and how to access them.
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Data and reporting: Maintain accurate benefits data, reporting and audits.
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Mergers and acquisitions: Support due diligence, integration planning and benefits harmonisation for acquired businesses, identifying risks, costs and employee impact.
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Stakeholder partnering: Provide advice regarding benefits queries and escalations.
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Project delivery: Support local and regional reward projects, for example new benefits implementation, platform changes, policy updates and legislative changes.
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HR Processes and delivery: Providing guidance and support on employee lifecycle matters, people policies and HR processes, while helping to deliver a positive employee experience.
Key Stakeholders
The role involves working with the following stakeholders:
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People Services and broader HR Advisory teams: to ensure benefit processes are efficient, well known and cater for a great employee experience
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The global/regional reward teams and benefits brokers: to ensure that benefits are compliant, competitive, cost-effective, aligning with ERMs benefits strategy and frameworks, business needs and employee experience objectives
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Payroll: for any benefit payroll related actions
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Finance: for invoicing and payment purposes
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Internal Stakeholders: Providing advice and guidance to employees across the employee lifecycle
Skills and Experience
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Experience and awareness of employee benefits across multiple EMEA countries.
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Good understanding of pensions, healthcare and risk benefits.
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Experience working in a complex, matrixed, multi-country organisation.
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Knowledge of benefits governance, compliance, renewals, vendor management and employee communications.
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Ability to interpret local legislative and market requirements and translate them into clear operational actions.
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Experience of renewals, changing benefits and implementing new benefits.
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Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to collaborate with other teams e.g global/regional reward teams, HR, Finance, payroll etc
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Previous awareness of HR systems and benefits platforms.
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Experience improving processes, documentation, governance and employee self-service.
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Exposure to M&A, benefits harmonisation or regional HR transformation would be advantageous.
Person characteristics
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Highly organised, with the ability to manage competing priorities across countries and stakeholders.
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Pragmatic and solutions-focused, able to balance consistency with local flexibility.
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Strong attention to detail, particularly in relation to compliance, data, costs and employee communications.
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Collaborative and confident working across internal teams (global/regional reward, HR finance, payroll) and external providers.
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Comfortable with getting into the detail when needed.
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Clear communicator who can explain complex benefits information in simple, employee-friendly language.
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Curious and improvement-minded, with a willingness to challenge existing processes and recommend better ways of working.
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Resilient and adaptable in a changing, fast-paced regional environment.
Qualifications
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Relevant CIPD, HR, Reward, Benefits, Finance or Business qualification preferred.
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Equivalent practical experience in regional benefits will also be considered.
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ERM is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to thrive, it’s an essential part of what makes ERM a great place to build a career and helps us create better solutions for our clients.
We welcome talent from all backgrounds and provide equal opportunities for every candidate. If you have a disability, are neurodivergent, or need accommodations during the selection process, we’re here to support you. Our commitment doesn’t stop at hiring. Once you join us, we’ll ensure you have the tools, support, and adjustments needed to succeed and feel a true sense of belonging. Learn more about our Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging (DIB) efforts by visiting our website or exploring our 2025 Sustainability Report..
