What are the responsibilities and job description for the Executive Director of Total Rewards position at GQR?
Client:
Our client is a leading manufacturing company serving the transportation industry, with operations across the U.S. and Canada and a strong track record of growth and innovation.
Job Summary
Our client is seeking an Executive Director of Total Rewards to serve as a key member of the HR leadership team, reporting directly to the Head of Total Rewards. This role will oversee compensation, benefits, and workers' compensation programs while driving enterprise-wide Total Rewards strategy across a complex workforce. The position will play a critical role in integrating recently acquired businesses, harmonizing compensation and benefits programs, and supporting the continued growth of the organization. This is a highly visible leadership opportunity with significant executive exposure and long-term succession potential.
Location
Macon, GA – Fully Onsite (5 days a week)
The organization has a strong preference for leaders who can be present onsite and build relationships with key stakeholders across the business. Relocation assistance is available.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the strategy, design, and administration of enterprise-wide compensation, benefits, and workers' compensation programs.
- Direct a team of Total Rewards leaders while partnering closely with HR and business leadership across the U.S. and Canada.
- Drive post-acquisition integration efforts, including alignment of compensation structures, benefits offerings, and reward philosophies.
- Develop long-term Total Rewards strategies that support organizational growth, employee engagement, and retention.
- Oversee compensation planning, market benchmarking, job architecture initiatives, and reward program governance.
- Guide major benefits projects, vendor relationships, retirement plan initiatives, and program optimization efforts.
- Support employee populations across union and non-union environments with varying workforce needs.
- Partner with Finance and executive leadership to evaluate program effectiveness, cost management, and investment strategies.
- Influence senior stakeholders and serve as a trusted advisor on Total Rewards-related decisions.
Requirements
- Extensive leadership experience across both compensation and benefits functions.
- Proven success developing and executing Total Rewards strategies within complex organizations.
- Experience leading large-scale change initiatives, organizational integrations, or M&A-related work.
- Strong people leadership experience with the ability to build, mentor, and develop high-performing teams.
- Demonstrated ability to influence executives and collaborate effectively across HR, Finance, and business leadership.
- Experience supporting hourly and salaried employee populations in a multi-site environment.
- Strong business acumen with the ability to balance employee experience and financial objectives.
Preferred Qualifications
- Public company experience.
- Manufacturing, industrial, transportation, or similarly complex operating environments.
- Experience supporting unionized workforces.
- Exposure to executive compensation programs.
- Background within mid-sized organizations experiencing growth, transformation, or acquisition activity.
- Experience overseeing Total Rewards programs across both U.S. and Canadian employee populations.