Ritu Agarwal

• Specialist on total rewards strategy and optimization, change management, compliance review, communication, project management and policy, program, process review, development, and implementation.
• Interpret data into actionable insights, strategies, and financial plans as global, strategic, and objective thinker.
• Integrate total rewards with overall business operating objectives & culture, improving program and process effectiveness.

Dover Corporation, Downers Grove, IL                                                                                                                        May 2021- Current

Sr Manager, Global Benefits & Rewards

Responsible for developing Global employee benefit, wellbeing, mobility programs and global strategy and framework as Dover continues HR transformation journey and centralizes the programs & policies in 40+ countries with 12K+ employees in partnership with Segment, Operating company leaders and local HRBP. 

• Responsible for developing Dover’s global benefits philosophy, strategic direction, planning, design and financial oversight of global benefit, wellness and mobility programs.
• Partner with Executive Leadership to, assess, design, and implement a comprehensive Global benefit offering that attracts and retains top talent. 
• Ensure market competitiveness and recommend methods to enhance Dover's employee value proposition throughout the globe. 
• Facilitate Country HR Councils for all non-US employees to integrate to a common rewards platform. 
• Act as a strategic partner for business leaders to develop and implement cost-effective global mobility solutions for the relocation of top talent in alignment with business strategies, while ensuring compliance with regulatory and tax requirements. 
• Act as a subject matter expert in due diligence of acquisitions and manage post-acquisition integration in alignment with Dover's benefits strategy. 
• Provide broad governance and leadership of retirement programs, and interface with providers, brokers and auditors. Work with consultants and third-party vendors to manage networks, coverage, services, and costs. 
• Ensure that service levels and costs from key benefits vendors are providing maximum value for Dover and its employees. Accountable for overall benefits budget; manage renewals and approvals for global benefit programs.
• Develop engaging communications designed to keep employees and management knowledgeable about company benefit offerings from a Total Rewards perspective. 
• Stay up-to-date with local and global market practices, trends, and requirements to ensure benefit offerings remain market-competitive, financially sound, and legally compliant. 
• Enforce global benefits governance framework for ongoing plan compliance in partnership with Benefits and Investment Committee.

OERLIKON, Schaumburg, IL                                                                                                                                                        Dec 2015 – Aug 2019

Head of Reward, Americas

Developed, implemented, and continuously improved the Total Rewards strategy and related processes, tools and systems in a highly matrixed, hi-tech manufacturing organization which were key to the business and HR team success. Drove accomplishment of organization and TR strategy & goals through strategic partnerships with the CHRO, HRBPs, Business & Functional Leaders and HR operation teams regionally & globally.

• Developed Americas Total Rewards strategy and implemented changes improving competitive position of compensation and benefits program supporting talent acquisition and retention.
• Designed and managed salary structure, job classifications, pay equity/market compensation analyses, salary budget planning and incentive programs in the region.
• Developed and implemented global salary review process in 37 countries and 12,000+ employees. This included end-to-end solution including policy, governance, process, system & communication tools for merit increases and off-cycle pay adjustments (new hires, promotions, job enlargements).
• Managed brokers & third-party provider relationships to ensure compliance with service level agreements. Harmonized benefits across different business segments and generated significant cost savings (> $1.5 million).
• Periodically conducted analysis of existing benefits to ensure programs are competitive with market practices, are cost effective, of suitable quality, are applied equitably and are flexible. Managed DB (frozen) & DC retirement plans and served on the Investment committee.
• Managed due diligence and post-integration planning and implementation activities for multiple merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions.
• Managed Mobility policy & program for consistent, timely and effective administration of expatriate assignments.
• Partnered with CHRO, HRBP and HR Ops to develop tools, processes and communication vehicles that increase managers and employee understanding of compensation & benefits programs and the value they deliver.
• Worked with key internal HR stakeholders and other functional departments to build, integrate, and maintain HR process and system interfaces to drive efficiencies.
• Ensured compliance with federal, state, local and foreign laws, and regulations.

DEVRY EDUCATION GROUP, Downers Grove, IL                                                                                                                                      Jul 2013 – Oct 2015

Senior Manager, International Total Rewards

Directed strategy development, analysis, design, implementation, communication, and administration of compensation and benefit programs, supporting global operations in Center of Expertise (COE) model.

• Designed & implemented 5-year compensation & benefits strategy and implementation plan for fast growing institution in Brazil by collaborating with leadership teams.
• Structured compensation and benefits policies and programs to ensure compliance with local legal and regulatory requirements, for large local & expatriate population residing in Caribbean.
• Partnered with & evaluated vendors, program roll-out, communication and administration of the benefits programs during annual open enrollment.
• Improved program and process effectiveness by identifying key problem areas, authoring detailed inventory and process map of global compensation and benefits plans, talent acquisition and payroll processes.
• Cultivated and operationalized international Human Resources merger and acquisition (M&A) playbook by collaborating with various functional teams.
• Reduced call volume for trivial issues by utilizing regular issue and client survey reviews, training service center team and enhancing employee communication materials.
• Designed DeVry Groups Mobility policy & program for consistent, timely and effective administration of expatriate assignments.

MERCER                                                                                                                                                                                                                 May 2005 – Jun 2013

Associate, International Consulting Group, Chicago, IL                                                                                                                     2008 – 2013

Delivered consulting advice and services to US multi-national companies for broader benefits issues for global operations, as key national resource. Developed and reviewed intellectual capital, global publications, proposals, and training materials for global teams.

• Generated total annual revenue of $750K to $2M by promoting global governance philosophy, benefits and wellness strategies, and centralized benefit management for multiple large GBM clients present in more than 40 countries.
• Coordinated renewals in line with corporate philosophy for clients across different industries.
• Realized significant cost savings by conducting multi-country benefits inventory and benchmarking, plan harmonization, vendor integration, and multi-national pooling reviews.
• Designed, marketed, and implemented expatriate plans for medical, life, disability, and pensions, leading to significant cost savings, and plan and process efficiencies.
• Fostered professional growth of emerging professionals across various business lines, as core committee member of Rising Professionals Network, and liaison between senior management and colleagues.

Client Manager, Employee Benefits Practice, Mumbai, India                                                                                                          2005 – 2006

Consultant and broker within start-up health and benefits practice. Contributed towards growth and expansion of new H&B segment, and business achievement within Mercer.

• Identified MNC clients / prospects risks and benefits needs by customizing service and product combinations and addressed issues and objectives by designing market competitive programs to attract and retain employees.
• Analyzed compliance and cost effectiveness of existing benefits, integrating various employee benefits plans, applying knowledge of leading-edge products and ideas.

• Master of Business Administration (MBA), Finance, Henry W. Bloch School of Business and Public Administration, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas, City, MO
• Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Accounting and Economics, Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics, Bombay University, Bombay, India
• Certificate in Global Benefits Management, International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP), US
• CEBS® Certification, IFEBP, US, CCP® Certification, World at Work, US, GRP® Certification, World at Work, US (80% complete)