Executive Director, Total Rewards

Key Responsibilities:

Total Rewards Strategy & Enterprise Ownership

• Own and evolve the enterprise total rewards philosophy, strategy, and multi-year roadmap in direct partnership with the CHRO and executive leadership team
• Ensure programs support retention of critical talent, scalability, and performance differentiation at an enterprise level, including through periods of growth, restructuring, and M&A
• Partner with the CEO, CFO, and Finance leadership to align total rewards investment with company financial strategy, workforce planning, and long-range business plans
• Serve as the senior-most subject matter expert and escalation point for HR leadership and business executives on compensation, benefits, and total rewards governance
• Represent total rewards strategy and recommendations directly to the Board and Compensation Committee, including preparation of executive and Board-level materials

Compensation Strategy & Design

• Set enterprise compensation architecture, including job architecture, global salary structures, incentive plan design, and philosophy
• Own the design, governance, and Board reporting of executive compensation programs, including equity, in partnership with the CPO and outside compensation counsel/consultants
• Direct annual compensation planning cycles enterprise-wide, including merit, bonus, and equity processes, ensuring consistency, compliance, and cost discipline
• Direct ongoing market analyses and benchmarking strategy to ensure internal equity and external competitiveness across all geographies
• Provide executive counsel on organizational design, workforce planning, and retention strategy at the enterprise level

Benefits & Wellbeing Strategy

• Own the enterprise strategy and governance for health, wellness, retirement, and absence programs, balancing employee experience, cost management, and compliance across a growing global footprint
• Set benefits governance strategy, including plan design philosophy, vendor strategy, funding approach, and program performance standards
• Own the enterprise wellbeing strategy, including mental health and workforce sustainability initiatives, as a driver of engagement and retention
• Direct open enrollment strategy and execution, ensuring a seamless, high-quality employee experience at scale

Operational Excellence & Vendor Management

• Own end-to-end governance of total rewards operations, including annual cycles, audits, renewals, and open enrollment, with accountability to the CPO and executive leadership for outcomes
• Direct strategic relationships with external partners, consultants, and vendors, negotiating enterprise agreements that optimize service delivery, risk, and cost efficiency
• Drive enterprise-wide process transformation and scalable infrastructure across total rewards operations
• Ensure data integrity and process governance across HRIS platforms and vendor integrations, setting standards for the broader team
• Own payroll governance, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant processing across all jurisdictions and alignment with total rewards strategy

Data, Insights & Technology Enablement

• Set the strategic agenda for how HRIS data, analytics, and modern tools are used to drive total rewards decision-making and transparency enterprise-wide
• Champion the adoption of automation and AI in compensation benchmarking, pay equity analysis, and workforce insights, evaluating build/buy/partner decisions
• Establish enterprise metrics and executive dashboards to evaluate program effectiveness, cost, and engagement, translating insights into executive-ready recommendations
• Ensure use of technology aligns with data privacy, regulatory requirements, and ethical standards

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Serve as a trusted strategic partner to the CEO, CFO, General Counsel, and business unit leaders on total rewards matters
• Own the enterprise communication strategy for total rewards, ensuring employees and managers understand and value the full offering
• Build manager and HR Business Partner capability enterprise-wide in understanding and applying compensation and benefits programs

Team Leadership

• Build, lead, and develop a global total rewards organization spanning compensation, benefits, systems, and payroll functions
• Develop the next generation of total rewards leadership through coaching, succession planning, and structured development
• Foster a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and data-driven decision-making across the function

Required Qualifications:

• 15+ years of progressive experience in total rewards, including 8+ years in a senior leadership role directing compensation, benefits, and/or HRIS/payroll functions
• Demonstrated experience owning total rewards strategy at an enterprise or executive level, including direct exposure to Board or Compensation Committee reporting
• Proven track record designing and governing compensation and benefits programs, including executive compensation, in complex, global organizations
• Deep expertise in compensation governance, equity administration, and regulatory compliance across multiple jurisdictions
• Experience leading total rewards through high-growth, transformation, or M&A environments, including due diligence and post-merger integration
• Strong financial and executive-level analytical acumen, with a track record of connecting rewards strategy to business and shareholder outcomes
• Demonstrated ability to leverage data, analytics, and HR technology to drive operational efficiency and strategic insight at scale
• Experience working with global teams, including India and/or EU-based talent
• Extensive HRIS knowledge; Dayforce experience strongly preferred
• Executive-level influencing and communication skills, with credibility at the CEO, CFO, and Board level
• Experience preparing compensation materials for a Board, Compensation Committee, or public company disclosure context
• This role requires approximately 20–25% annual travel, including collaboration events, HR meetings, and regular engagement with executive leadership.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in technology companies, SaaS specifically, private equity ownership exposure highly preferred
• Demonstrated experience taking a company self-funded or self-insured
• Experience leading enterprise-wide modernization or transformation of total rewards programs or processes
• Familiarity with AI, automation, or advanced analytics solutions in HR or business operations
• CCP (Certified Compensation Professional) or equivalent certification
• MBA preferred

Leadership Profile:

• Commercially minded and results-oriented, with enterprise-level program ownership and accountability
• Sound judgment with strong governance and risk awareness, including executive presence
• Comfortable operating in a technology-enabled, rapidly evolving environment
• Able to translate data and emerging capabilities into practical, business-relevant applications
• Builds trust and collaboration across the executive team, cross functionally, and with business stakeholders
• Balances strategic, enterprise-level thinking with hands-on execution when needed