Director - HR Benefits

#WeAreONEOK - Fortune 500 company. 100+ years in business. Leading midstream service provider. Safety first. Sustainable operations. Environmentally responsible. Employee focused.

JOB SUMMARY
This position is hybrid to Tulsa, OK.
Job Profile Summary

The HR Benefits Director at ONEOK is a pivotal senior leadership role reporting to the HR Benefits & Service Center Senior Director. This position serves as a key strategic advisor and HR leader. This position develops and leads a comprehensive benefits strategy that enhances employee experience, ensures market competitiveness, and aligns with organizational goals. It also oversees retirement programs, such as 401(k) plans and pensions, while driving financial wellness initiatives to support long-term employee security. The HR Benefits Director strategically manages health, disability, life insurance, and holistic wellbeing initiatives to promote employee engagement, resilience, and productivity.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a long-term benefits strategy that aligns with business objectives and enhances the overall employee experience.
• Evaluate and optimize benefits offerings to ensure market competitiveness, cost-effectiveness, and compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Partner with senior leadership and external vendors to drive innovation in benefits programs and total rewards initiatives.
• Oversee the design and administration of retirement programs, including 401(k) plans, pensions, and deferred compensation plans.
• Lead financial wellness initiatives that provide employees with tools and education to enhance their long-term financial security.
• Ensure compliance with ERISA, IRS, and other regulatory requirements while continuously improving retirement plan offerings.
• Drive the strategic direction of health, disability, life insurance, and voluntary benefit programs to support employee wellbeing.
• Implement and enhance mental health, physical health, and work-life balance programs that foster a culture of holistic wellness.
• Analyze benefits utilization data and employee feedback to refine program effectiveness and ensure alignment with workforce needs.
• Partner with executive leadership to ensure benefits programs support business objectives and workforce needs.
• Anticipate future trends in benefits, retirement, and wellbeing programs, positioning the organization as a leader in total rewards.
• Establish trust and credibility with senior leadership by providing expert guidance on benefits-related decisions and long-term strategy.
• Communicate complex benefits and financial wellness concepts in a clear and actionable manner for key stakeholders.
• Influence benefits-related policy and decision-making through data-driven insights and industry benchmarking
• Ensure that benefits offerings reflect the company's commitment to inclusion and diversity aligned with our employee engagement initiatives.
• Use employee feedback and engagement metrics to continuously improve programs and enhance participation.
• Partner with internal stakeholders, including HR, Finance, Legal, and external vendors, to deliver best-in-class benefits solutions.
• Collaborate with Centers of Excellence (COEs) to integrate benefits strategies with broader HR and business initiatives.
• Maintain strong vendor relationships to enhance program offerings and optimize cost structures.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field required; Master's degree or MBA preferred.

Work Experience

• Minimum of 8-10 years of progressively responsible experience in managing benefits programs, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.
• Significant experience in managing and optimizing retirement programs, including 401(k), pension plans, and deferred compensation programs.
• Proven track record of leading financial wellness initiatives, helping employees make informed financial decisions for their long-term security.
• Experience in overseeing comprehensive health, welfare, and wellbeing programs, including health insurance, disability benefits, and mental health initiatives.
• Experience working cross-functionally with HR, finance, legal, and other departments to design and deliver effective benefits programs.
• Demonstrated success in managing relationships with external vendors to enhance benefits offerings and optimize costs.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge and expertise in creating and implementing strategic benefits programs that align with organizational goals and market trends.
• Advanced knowledge in overseeing 401(k), pension, and deferred compensation programs, with a focus on improving financial wellness for employees. Knowledge in managing health, disability, life insurance, and wellbeing programs with a focus on employee resilience and productivity.
• Skills in strong understanding of ERISA, IRS, and other relevant regulations, ensuring compliance in all benefits programs.
• Knowledge and experience in using data, metrics, and employee feedback to drive benefits optimization and measure program effectiveness.
• Ability to build relationships with senior leadership and external vendors to drive benefits initiatives and influence policy decisions.
• Proven ability to mentor and develop high-performing teams, delegating responsibilities and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Deep commitment to creating benefits offerings that support employee wellbeing, financial security, and work-life balance.
• Skills in strong project management, with the ability to lead and execute complex initiatives across diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Skills in exceptional communication and stakeholder engagement, with the ability to build relationships and influence at all organizational levels.
• Ability to lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing benefits team, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Ability to delegate effectively to ensure optimal service delivery while empowering team members to take ownership of their areas of expertise.
• Ability to provide opportunities for professional growth and ensure alignment with best practices in benefits management.
• Ability to design and implement benefits programs that reinforce an environment of employee wellbeing, financial security, and work-life balance.

Licenses and Certifications

• None required

Strength Factor Rating - Physical Demands/Requirements

• Sedentary Work - Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally (Occasionally: activity or condition exists up to 1/3 of the time) and/or a negligible amount of force frequently (Frequently: activity or condition exists from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Strength Factor Description - Physical Demands/Requirements

• Standing: Remaining on one's feet in an upright position at a work station without moving about (Occasionally)
• Walking: Moving about on foot (Frequently)
• Sitting: Remaining in a seated position (Constantly)
• Lifting: Raising or lowering an object from one level to another (includes upward pulling) (Occasionally)
• Carrying: Transporting an object, usually holding it in the hands or arms, or on the shoulder (Occasionally)
• Pushing: Exerting force upon an object so that the object moves away from the force (Occasionally)
• Pulling: Exerting force upon an object so that the object moves toward the force (includes jerking) (Occasionally)
• Climbing: Ladders, Stairs (Occasionally)
• Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling (Occasionally)
• Stooping: Bending the body downward and forward by bending the spine at the waist (Occasionally)
• Kneeling: Bending the legs at the knees to come to rest on the knee or knees (Occasionally)
• Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending the legs and spine (Occasionally)
• Crawling: Moving about on the hands and arms in any direction (Occasionally)
• Reaching: Extending hands and arms in any direction (Constantly)
• Handling: Seizing, holding, grasping, turning or otherwise working with the hand or hands (Manual Dexterity) (Constantly)
• Fingering: Picking, pinching or otherwise working with the fingers primarily (Finger Dexterity) (Constantly)
• Feeling: Perceiving such attributes of objects/materials as size, shape, temperature, texture, movement or pulsation by receptors in the skin, particularly those of the finger tips (Constantly)
• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas/information by means of the spoken word (Frequently)
• Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sound by the ear (Frequently)
• Tasting/Smelling: (Occasionally)
• Near Vision: Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less (Constantly)
• Far Vision: Clarity of vision at 20 feet for more (Frequently)
• Depth Perception: Three-dimensional vision; ability to judge distances and spatial relationships so as to see objects where and as they actually are (Frequently)
• Vision: Color - The ability to identify and distinguish colors (Constantly)

Working Conditions/Environment

• Employee is subject to inside environmental conditions

Working Conditions

• Well lighted, climate controlled areas (Constantly)
• Frequent repetitive motion (Constantly)
• CRT (Computer Monitor(s)) (Constantly)

Travel

• Availability to travel within the U.S. as needed.

Driving

• Based on assigned tasks, employee may be assigned a company vehicle requiring the applicable driver's license

ONEOK is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, national origin, gender identity, disability, military/veteran status, genetic information or any other categories protected by applicable law.

The job description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of ONEOK.

ONEOK is committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request an accommodation email HRSolutions@ONEOK.com or call 1-855-663-6547. #LI-HYBRID

Expected Salary Range
$165,000.00 - $247,000.00