Principal Specialist, Rewards

National Grid; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

National Grid seeks a senior Principal, Global Benefits who will own and advance the company's global benefits strategy across the U.S. and U.K., reporting to the Global Benefits Director.

You will lead evaluations of health, retirement, and other benefit programs, benchmark against competitors, perform financial modeling, and present executive recommendations to drive workforce value and business outcomes.

Qualifications

• 8+ years progressive experience in employee benefits or Total Rewards.
• 5+ years leading or key role in benefits strategy, plan design, benchmarking, pricing analysis.
• Experience with UK and US benefits or global benefits strategy preferred.
• Experience leading consultant and vendor RFPs, strategic sourcing initiatives, and vendor evaluations.
• Experience supporting M&A due diligence, benefit integration, and harmonization.
• Strong analytical, financial, project management, communication, and executive presentation skills.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and lead enterprise-wide strategic initiatives without direct people management.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain National Grid's global benefits strategy and multi-year roadmap aligned with business and Total Rewards objectives.
• Lead strategic evaluations of health, welfare, retirement, leave, wellbeing, life, disability, and voluntary benefit programs.
• Conduct market benchmarking and competitive assessments to evaluate plan competitiveness and emerging industry trends.
• Develop benefit plan design recommendations supported by market intelligence, workforce insights, financial modeling, and employee experience data.
• Develop benefits scorecards, executive dashboards, and evaluation frameworks measuring competitiveness, utilization, financial performance, and return on investment.
• Lead pricing analyses, contribution strategy modeling, healthcare trend analysis, financial forecasting, and business case development.
• Lead consultant and vendor RFPs, including requirements development, proposal evaluation, pricing comparisons, finalist recommendations, and contract strategy.
• Partner with internal teams, and external consultants to evaluate strategic opportunities and optimize benefit investments.
• Support mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and organizational restructuring through benefits due diligence, integration planning, and harmonization strategies.
• Monitor U.S. and global benefits trends, legislative developments, and market innovations to inform future strategy.
• Present strategic recommendations and executive-level materials to senior leadership and governance committees.
• Partner with Benefits Operations, Compliance, Payroll, and Communications teams to ensure strategic initiatives are effectively implemented
• Lead or support special projects and strategic initiatives as assigned in support of Total Rewards and broader People Function priorities.

Skills

Consulting mindset

Benefits strategy

Plan design

Financial analysis

Executive stakeholder engagement

Analytical skills

Project management

Executive presentation

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA

CEBS certification

Job description

This is a senior individual contributor role with significant autonomy within the Total Rewards organization, responsible for developing and advancing National Grid's global benefits strategy across the U.S. and U.K. The role reports directly to the Global Benefits Director, and leads strategic evaluation of employee benefit programs, market competitiveness assessments, plan design, benchmarking, pricing analysis, and executive recommendations that support the Company's workforce and business objectives.

The Principal partners with internal and external partners to evaluate benefit investments, develop short-term and long-term benefit strategies, lead consultant and vendor Requests for Proposal (RFPs), support mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and additional initiatives, and recommend innovative, market-leading benefit solutions. The ideal candidate brings a strong consulting mindset with extensive experience in benefits strategy, plan design, financial analysis, and executive stakeholder engagement.

This position is located in Brooklyn, NY or Waltham, MA and will work a flexible, hybrid schedule.

What You'll Do

• Develop and maintain National Grid's global benefits strategy and multi-year roadmap aligned with business and Total Rewards objectives.
• Lead strategic evaluations of health, welfare, retirement, leave, wellbeing, life, disability, and voluntary benefit programs.
• Conduct market benchmarking and competitive assessments to evaluate plan competitiveness and emerging industry trends.
• Develop benefit plan design recommendations supported by market intelligence, workforce insights, financial modeling, and employee experience data.
• develop benefits scorecards, executive dashboards, and evaluation frameworks measuring competitiveness, utilization, financial performance, and return on investment.
• Lead pricing analyses, contribution strategy modeling, healthcare trend analysis, financial forecasting, and business case development.
• Lead consultant and vendor RFPs, including requirements development, proposal evaluation, pricing comparisons, finalist recommendations, and contract strategy.
• Partner with internal teams, and external consultants to evaluate strategic opportunities and optimize benefit investments.
• Support mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and organizational restructuring through benefits due diligence, integration planning, and harmonization strategies.
• Monitor U.S. and global benefits trends, legislative developments, and market innovations to inform future strategy.
• Present strategic recommendations and executive-level materials to senior leadership and governance committees.
• Partner with Benefits Operations, Compliance, Payroll, and Communications teams to ensure strategic initiatives are effectively implemented
• Lead or support special projects and strategic initiatives as assigned in support of Total Rewards and broader People Function priorities.

What You'll Need

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA, Master's degree, or CEBS certification preferred.
• Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in employee benefits, Total Rewards, benefits strategy, or benefits consulting.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience leading or playing a key role in benefits strategy, plan design, benchmarking, pricing analysis, benefit evaluations, or strategic consulting engagements.
• Demonstrated expertise in both UK and US benefits, or broader global benefits strategy, is preferred.
• Experience leading consultant and vendor RFPs, strategic sourcing initiatives, and vendor evaluations.
• Demonstrated experience conducting benefit program evaluations, market benchmarking, pricing analysis, financial modeling, and executive business case development.
• Experience supporting M&A due diligence, benefit integration, and harmonization.
• Experience working within a consulting firm (e.g., Mercer, WTW, Aon) or a large complex organization is preferred.
• Strong analytical, financial, project management, communication, and executive presentation skills.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and lead enterprise-wide strategic initiatives without direct people management.

About Us

More Information

Brooklyn: $158,000-$185,000

Waltham: $148,000-$173,000

National Grid will not be providing visa sponsorship for this position now or in the future. You must have the ability to work without a need for current or future visa sponsorship.

National Grid utilizes an assessment that evaluates the job qualifications/characteristics using AI or statistically based scoring. For more information, please view NYC Local Law 144.

This position has a career path which provides for advancement opportunities within and across bands as you develop and evolve in the position; gaining experience, expertise and acquiring and applying technical skills. Candidates will be assessed and provided offers against the minimum qualifications of this role and their individual experience.

National Grid is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment regardless of protected class. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. National Grid maintains affirmative action programs for individuals with disabilities and protected veterans.

Our employment practices are designed to ensure that all individuals are treated fairly and with respect throughout the hiring process and during employment. National Grid complies with all applicable federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws. We are dedicated to fostering a workplace that is free from unlawful discrimination and harassment, and we encourage a culture of respect for all.