Senior Director Total Rewards

Our client, a large global manufacturer, is looking for their next Senior Director of Global Total Rewards to join their San Antonio office.

Relocation Support Available!

Role Overview

The Senior Director of Total Rewards is a strategic, hands-on leader responsible for the design, evolution, and communication of comprehensive total rewards programs, including compensation, incentive plans, benefits, and the HRIS platform (Workday). This role operates as a player-coach, partnering closely with executive leadership to ensure total rewards strategies align with business objectives and support the attraction, retention, and engagement of top talent.

The position holds primary responsibility for North American compensation and benefits programs, with additional accountability for driving alignment, standardization, and harmonization across a global footprint. The Senior Director will also lead and develop a small, high-performing team while advancing modernization and continuous improvement across total rewards practices.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Alignment

• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior HR leadership and business executives, ensuring total rewards programs directly support business strategy, performance goals, and organizational culture.
• Translate enterprise and talent strategies into actionable compensation and benefits solutions that enhance employee engagement and competitiveness.
• Lead discussions ranging from detailed program design to executive-level strategy conversations, adapting communication style for varied audiences.
• Drive global alignment of total rewards principles while allowing for appropriate regional and country-level customization.
• Manage and direct external partners (e.g., brokers, insurers, consultants) to ensure high-quality, cost-effective, and innovative program delivery.

Compensation & Incentives

• Design, implement, and continuously evaluate base pay structures, incentive programs, and reward frameworks aligned with organizational objectives.
• Conduct market benchmarking and competitive analyses to ensure programs remain externally competitive and internally equitable.
• Partner with leaders on workforce planning, pay-for-performance strategies, and recognition initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with applicable compensation-related laws and regulations.
• Own North American compensation programs (including salary, incentive, and profit-sharing plans) and provide strategic direction to regional compensation partners globally.

Benefits Programs

• Oversee the design, administration, and communication of employee benefits programs that support employee well-being, engagement, and retention.
• Partner with brokers and vendors to deliver competitive, cost-effective, and forward-looking benefits offerings.
• Monitor regulatory requirements and market trends to ensure benefits programs remain compliant and future-ready.
• Lead annual benefits renewals and identify opportunities to enhance vendor performance and the employee experience.
• Establish a global benefits philosophy with regional flexibility; maintain direct accountability for North American programs while guiding regional partners.

HRIS & Analytics (Workday)

• Lead optimization and governance of Workday as the global HRIS platform, ensuring data accuracy, compliance, and user adoption.
• Oversee workforce reporting, analytics, and dashboards that provide actionable insights to leadership.
• Drive process automation and system enhancements to improve scalability and operational efficiency.
• Partner with IT and external vendors to ensure system stability, data security, and ongoing enhancements.