Senior Director, Legal - Employee Benefits

Join us in pioneering breakthroughs in healthcare. For everyone. Everywhere. Sustainably.
Our inspiring and caring environment forms a global community that celebrates diversity and individuality. We encourage you to step beyond your comfort zone, offering resources and flexibility to foster your professional and personal growth, all while valuing your unique contributions.
The Senior Director, Legal – Employee Benefits serves as a senior legal advisor providing strategic and practical counsel on employee benefits, executive compensation, and related governance matters across Siemens Healthineers' North American operations. The position partners closely with Human Resources, Compensation & Benefits, Finance, Tax, Corporate Governance, and business leadership to support the design, implementation, administration, and compliance of employee benefit and executive compensation programs.
This role is a highly skilled individual contributor position requiring deep substantive expertise in ERISA, retirement plans, health and welfare plans, executive compensation, and related tax and governance matters. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with internal stakeholders and outside counsel to identify legal risks, develop practical solutions, and support the Company's business objectives in a highly regulated healthcare environment.
This position is remote within the United States, with preference given to candidates located in or near Malvern, Pennsylvania.
Key Responsibilities
As Senior Director, Legal – Employee Benefits, you will:
Employee Benefits
Serve as primary legal counsel supporting employee benefits matters across the United States.
Advise on the design, implementation, amendment, interpretation, and administration of qualified retirement plans, health and welfare plans, deferred compensation arrangements, and other employee benefit programs.
Provide guidance regarding ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code, COBRA, HIPAA, ACA, and other federal and state laws governing employee benefits.
Review and advise on plan documents, summary plan descriptions, participant communications, administrative procedures, and governance materials.
Counsel internal stakeholders regarding fiduciary responsibilities, plan administration, and compliance obligations.
Assist with benefits-related audits, investigations, governmental inquiries, claims, and litigation matters.
Executive Compensation
Provide legal advice regarding executive compensation arrangements affecting senior leaders and key employees.
Support the drafting and negotiation of employment agreements, retention agreements, severance arrangements, and change-in-control protections.
Advise on annual incentive plans, long-term incentive arrangements, deferred compensation programs, and executive benefit plans.
Counsel stakeholders regarding applicable legal and tax requirements, including Sections 409A and 280G of the Internal Revenue Code.
Support compensation-related governance activities and documentation as needed.
Corporate Transactions and Strategic Projects
Provide employee benefits and executive compensation support for mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, reorganizations, and other strategic transactions.
Conduct legal due diligence relating to employee benefit and compensation programs.
Assist in identifying and mitigating benefits-related risks arising from acquisitions, integrations, restructurings, and workforce changes.
Support cross-functional projects involving compensation, workforce planning, and organizational transformation initiatives.
Compliance and Risk Management
Monitor legal and regulatory developments affecting employee benefits and executive compensation and provide practical guidance to stakeholders.
Partner with HR, Finance, Compliance, and Tax colleagues to maintain and enhance compliance programs and governance processes.
Assist in developing policies, procedures, and training materials related to employee benefits and compensation matters.
Manage outside counsel on specialized benefits, executive compensation, and tax-related matters, as appropriate.
Provide clear, risk-based legal guidance that enables business objectives while protecting the Company's interests.
Qualifications
Required
Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
Active membership in at least one U.S. state bar.
Minimum 8 years of legal experience with significant responsibility for ERISA and employee benefits matters.
Deep experience advising on:
Qualified retirement plans
Health and welfare benefit plans
Executive compensation arrangements
Deferred compensation programs
ERISA fiduciary and governance issues
Strong knowledge of ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code, and related employee benefits regulations.
Experience supporting senior Human Resources and Compensation & Benefits leaders.
Demonstrated ability to work independently and manage complex legal matters with minimal supervision.
Excellent analytical, drafting, negotiation, and communication skills.
Preferred
Experience in both a major law firm and an in-house legal department.
Experience supporting a large multinational employer.
Experience advising on executive compensation and public-company governance matters.
Experience supporting mergers, acquisitions, and post-acquisition integrations.
Experience in the healthcare, medical device, life sciences, or other highly regulated industries.
Key Attributes
Trusted advisor capable of delivering practical, business-oriented legal advice.
Strong executive presence and ability to interact effectively with senior management.
Ability to translate complex legal requirements into actionable business guidance.
Excellent judgment and problem-solving skills.
Strong collaboration skills and ability to work effectively across legal and business functions.
High integrity and ability to manage highly sensitive and confidential matters.
Self-starter who can successfully manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
Travel
Limited domestic travel, generally less than 10%.
Who we are: We are a team of more than 72,000 highly dedicated Healthineers in more than 70 countries. As a leader in medical technology, we constantly push the boundaries to create better outcomes and experiences for patients, no matter where they live or what health issues they are facing. Our portfolio is crucial for clinical decision-making and treatment pathways.
How we work: When you join Siemens Healthineers, you become one in a global team of scientists, clinicians, developers, researchers, professionals, and skilled specialists, who believe in each individual’s potential to contribute with diverse ideas. We are from different backgrounds, cultures, religions, political and/or sexual orientations, and work together, to fight the world’s most threatening diseases and enable access to care, united by one purpose: to pioneer breakthroughs in healthcare. For everyone. Everywhere. Sustainably.
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