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

1003 Abbott Laboratories; United States; On-site; USD 149,000 - 299,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Training and career development

Financial security through competitive

Health care and well-being programs

Paid time off

401(k) retirement savings with company

Community involvement

Job summary

Abbott is seeking a Director of Retirement Plans to lead the strategy, governance, and administration of U.S. and Puerto Rico retirement programs.

You will shape plan design, ensure compliance, and partner with Finance, Legal, Payroll, and external providers to support employees and retirees. The role oversees defined benefit, defined contribution, and student loan programs, manages vendor relations, and drives continuous improvement while aligning with Abbott’s total rewards philosophy.

Qualifications

• 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.
• Fortune 500 experience preferred.
• 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.
• Strategic leadership across functions to advance Abbott’s retirement strategy.

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.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree

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 history of being actively involved in local communities

Learn more about our benefits that add real value to your life to help you live fully: www.abbottbenefits.com

Follow your career aspirations to Abbott for diverse opportunities with a company that provides the growth and strength to build your future.

Job Family: Compensation & Benefits

DIVISION: CHR Corporate Human Resources

LOCATION: United States > Abbott Park : AP06B

ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS:

WORK SHIFT: Standard

TRAVEL: Not specified

MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE: Not Applicable

SIGNIFICANT WORK ACTIVITIES: Continuous sitting for prolonged periods (more than 2 consecutive hours in an 8 hour day), Keyboard use (greater or equal to 50% of the workday)

Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer of Minorities/Women/Individuals with Disabilities/Protected Veterans.

EEO is the Law link - English: http://webstorage.abbott.com/common/External/EEO_English.pdf

EEO is the Law link - Espanol: http://webstorage.abbott.com/common/External/EEO_Spanish.pdf

Abbott is about the power of health. For more than 135 years, Abbott has been helping people reach their potential — because better health allows people and communities to achieve more. With a diverse, global network serving customers in more than 160 countries, we create new solutions — across the spectrum of health, around the world, for all stages of life. Whether it’s next‑generation diagnostics, life‑changing devices, science‑based nutrition, or novel reformulations, we are advancing some of the most innovative and revolutionary technologies in healthcare, helping people live their best lives through better health.

The people of Abbott come to work each day with relentless energy, enthusiasm and a promise to enhance the health and well‑being of millions of people. They push the boundaries to help manage and treat some of life’s greatest health challenges.

We invite you to explore opportunities at Abbott, to see if your talents and career aspirations may fit with our openings. An equal opportunity employer, Abbott welcomes and encourages diversity in our workforce. Follow Us: Facebook LinkedIn YouTube Twitter

The base pay for this position is $149,300.00 – $298,700.00 In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.