Director, Retirement Plans (U.S. & Puerto Rico)

Abbott (abbottcareers2 board); Illinois; On-site; USD 220,000 - 320,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Training and career development

Financial security

Health care programs

Paid time off

401(k) retirement savings

Company stability

Job summary

Abbott, a global healthcare leader, seeks a Director, Retirement Plans to lead strategy, governance, and administration of the U.S. and Puerto Rico retirement programs, including defined benefit, defined contribution, and student loan initiatives.

You will partner with Benefits & Wellness, Finance, Legal, Payroll, M&A, Executive Compensation, HR, and external providers to deliver programs that support Abbott's workforce, retirees, and business objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree and/or professional certification preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in retirement, benefits, or related fields, including leadership responsibility in a large, complex organization.
• Experience managing retirement programs within a large corporate environment; Fortune 500 experience preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing retirement programs, external vendors, consultants, and cross-functional stakeholder relationships.
• Experience leading retirement plan vendor evaluations, RFPs, implementations, and ongoing governance processes.
• Experience supporting retirement-related aspects of mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, integrations, or other significant organizational changes.
• Strong knowledge of defined benefit and defined contribution plans, including applicable U.S. and Puerto Rico regulatory requirements.
• Proven analytical, project management, communication, and influencing skills, with the ability to lead complex initiatives and engage senior leader
• Acts as a strategic leader who balances participant experience, compliance, governance, operational excellence, and financial stewardship.

Responsibilities

• Lead retirement plan strategy, design, governance, and compliance for U.S. and Puerto Rico retirement programs.
• Monitor legislative, market, and business developments and recommend program enhancements.
• Support audits, actuarial valuations, and retirement plan integration activities related to M&A transactions.
• Lead retirement plan vendor selection processes, including RFPs, contract negotiations, transitions, and implementation activities.
• Oversee administration of defined benefit, defined contribution, and student loan repayment programs.
• Ensure effective plan operations, vendor performance, regulatory compliance, and participant experience.
• Resolve complex administrative, regulatory, and participant matters.
• Manage relationships with external providers, consultants, and key internal stakeholders.
• Serve as the primary retirement subject matter expert, influencing decisions across functions and leadership levels.
• Direct retirement communications, education, and engagement strategies for employees and retirees.
• Lead and develop the retirement plans team while driving continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Oversee retirement program financial performance, pension funding activities, budgets, and risk management controls.

Job description

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 122,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

The Director, Retirement Plans is responsible for the strategy, governance, administration, and ongoing evolution of Abbott's U.S. and Puerto Rico retirement programs, including defined benefit pension plans, defined contribution savings plans, and the Freedom 2 Save student loan program. The role provides strategic leadership for retirement program design, regulatory compliance, vendor management, participant experience, and operational excellence while ensuring programs remain competitive, financially sustainable, and aligned with Abbott's total rewards philosophy.

The position partners closely with Benefits & Wellness leadership, Finance, Legal, Payroll, M&A, Executive Compensation, Human Resources, and external service providers to deliver retirement programs that support Abbott's workforce, retirees, and business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead retirement plan strategy, design, governance, and compliance for U.S. and Puerto Rico retirement programs.
• Monitor legislative, market, and business developments and recommend program enhancements.
• Support audits, actuarial valuations, and retirement plan integration activities related to M&A transactions.
• Lead retirement plan vendor selection processes, including RFPs, contract negotiations, transitions, and implementation activities.
• Oversee administration of defined benefit, defined contribution, and student loan repayment programs.
• Ensure effective plan operations, vendor performance, regulatory compliance, and participant experience.
• Resolve complex administrative, regulatory, and participant matters.
• Manage relationships with external providers, consultants, and key internal stakeholders.
• Serve as the primary retirement subject matter expert, influencing decisions across functions and leadership levels.
• Direct retirement communications, education, and engagement strategies for employees and retirees.
• Lead and develop the retirement plans team while driving continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Oversee retirement program financial performance, pension funding activities, budgets, and risk management controls.
• Responsible for retirement programs supporting approximately 42,000 U.S. employees, 1,500 Puerto Rico employees, and 38,000 retirees.
• Oversees defined contribution plans with approximately $19 billion in assets and defined benefit plans with approximately $7.5 billion in projected benefit obligations.
• Reports to the Divisional Vice President, Benefits & Wellness and leads a team of two direct reports.
• Influences retirement strategy and decision-making across multiple functions, business units, and leadership levels.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree and/or relevant professional certification preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in retirement, benefits, or related fields, including leadership responsibility in a large, complex organization.
• Experience managing retirement programs within a large corporate environment; Fortune 500 experience preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing retirement programs, external vendors, consultants, and cross-functional stakeholder relationships.
• Experience leading retirement plan vendor evaluations, RFPs, implementations, and ongoing governance processes.
• Experience supporting retirement-related aspects of mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, integrations, or other significant organizational changes.
• Strong knowledge of defined benefit and defined contribution plans, including applicable U.S. and Puerto Rico regulatory requirements.
• Proven analytical, project management, communication, and influencing skills, with the ability to lead complex initiatives and engage senior leader
• Acts as a strategic leader who balances participant experience, compliance, governance, operational excellence, and financial stewardship.
• Builds trusted partnerships across the organization, drives continuous improvement, and develops high-performing teams while advancing Abbott's retirement strategy and long-term workforce objectives.

WHAT WE OFFER

At Abbott, you can have a good job that can grow into a great career. We offer:

• Training and career development, with onboarding programs for new employees and tuition assistance
• Financial security through competitive compensation, incentives and retirement plans
• Health care and well-being programs including medical, dental, vision, wellness and occupational health programs
• Paid time off
• 401(k) retirement savings with a generous company match
• The stability of a company with a record of strong financial performance and his