Total Rewards Manager

MDA; Brampton, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue; On-site; CAD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits

Dental & vision

Retirement savings

Job summary

MDA Space seeks a seasoned Total Rewards Manager to shape global compensation, incentives, mobility, and benefits across Canada, the US and the UK. You will partner with HR and finance to ensure market-competitive programs that attract and retain top technical talent.

You will lead global programs, ensure compliance and transparency, and drive data-driven decisions. A senior candidate with international rewards experience and strong stakeholder influence will thrive in this role.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 8+ years in total rewards or 5+ years as compensation consultant in complex growth companies.
• Experience leading large-scale programs in consulting with broad impact.
• Deep expertise in compensation, equity, and international compensation programs.
• Strong knowledge of job architecture, market pricing, and pay benchmarking.
• Advanced analytical skills to translate data into insights and recommendations.
• Proven ability to lead end-to-end projects and manage stakeholders across functions.

Responsibilities

• Lead global total rewards programs design, implementation, and continuous improvement.
• Manage compensation structures, market benchmarking, and pay positioning.
• Oversee pay equity analyses, compliance and transparency across regions (Canada, US, UK).
• Design and optimize incentive programs; administer the Short-Term Incentive Plan (STIP).
• Act as subject matter expert for equity management via Shareworks; ensure operational excellence.
• Collaborate with labor relations, finance, legal, and executives to align with strategy.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Leadership

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in human resources, finance, business administration, or a related field

Tools

Shareworks

Job description

Building the space between proven and possible, MDA Space (TSX:MDA) is a trusted mission partner to the global space industry. A robotics, satellite systems and geointelligence pioneer with a 55-year+ story of world firsts and more than 450 missions, MDA Space is a global leader in communications satellites, Earth and space observation, and space exploration and infrastructure. The MDA Space team of more than 4,000 space experts in Canada, the US and the UK has the knowledge and know-how to turn an audacious customer vision into an achievable mission – bringing to bear a one-of-a-kind mix of experience, engineering excellence and wide-eyed wonder that’s been in our DNA since day one. For those who dream big and push boundaries on the ground and in the stars to change the world for the better, we’ll take you there.

Total Rewards Manager

We are looking for a Total Rewards Manager to help shape a compelling and differentiated employee experience through innovative, market-leading rewards strategies. Within a high-tech, engineering-driven environment, this global role will be responsible for driving key components of the total rewards portfolio, including broad-based compensation frameworks, incentive programs, international benefits and mobility, ensuring alignment with business objectives, talent market dynamics, and evolving regulatory requirements.

As a strategic partner to the global total rewards management team and, more broadly, the human resources team, you will drive both day-to-day program execution and forward-looking initiatives, proposing scalable, compliant, and employee-centric solutions. You will play a key role in strengthening our employee value proposition and helping attract and retain top talent globally.

Your Responsibilities

Lead Global Total Rewards Programs

• Contribute to the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of global total rewards programs within a highly competitive talent market in the high-tech sector
• Ensure programs reflect industry best practices and are adapted to the needs of specialized, technical, and professional talent segments
• Collaborate with regional and global stakeholders to find a balance between global consistency, local market competitiveness, and legislative requirements

Compensation and Job Architecture

• Support and evolve global compensation programs, including salary structures, market benchmarking, and pay positioning
• Leverage expertise in job architecture to ensure consistent job classification and competitive market alignment
• Collaborate with HR managers and operational leaders to support compensation decisions regarding specialized and highly sought-after positions
• Contribute to annual compensation processes, ensuring alignment with market trends in the high-tech and innovation sectors

Pay Equity and Transparency

• Conduct pay equity analyses and implement measures to ensure fair and equitable results within a global and diverse workforce
• Ensure compliance with pay transparency legislation, including wage disclosure and reporting obligations
• Provide guidance to leaders on fair compensation practices, particularly in technical talent markets where competition is strong

Incentive Programs

• Contribute to the design and optimization of all incentive programs, in accordance with market practices in the technology and engineering sectors
• Lead the administration of the Short-Term Incentive Plan (STIP)
• Act as the subject matter expert for equity management through Shareworks, ensuring operational excellence and a quality employee experience

Union Compensation and Collective Bargaining

• Collaborate with labor relations and legal departments to support collective bargaining negotiations
• Provide market analysis and develop cost forecasting models for union proposals
• Ensure rigorous application of negotiated terms regarding compensation and benefits

Mobility and International Programs

• Oversee international mobility programs facilitating the movement of specialized and essential talent from one region to another
• Ensure mobility offerings are competitive, compliant, and aligned with business needs within a global operating model

Employee Benefits

• Assess the market competitiveness of benefit programs and formulate recommendations for changes based on company demographics
• Lead the initiative to have the company recognized as a top employer for benefits
• Develop automated metrics and draw relevant insights regarding disability leaves and other types of leaves
• Ensure compliance with all applicable legislative and regulatory requirements in local and global jurisdictions (Canada, United States, United Kingdom), including governance, reporting, and audits
• Collaborate with external providers, consultants, and internal stakeholders to optimize program implementation and employee experience
• Drive continuous improvement in processes, controls, and systems supporting benefits and retirement management

Analysis, Governance, and Partnerships

• Provide data-driven insights regarding compensation competitiveness in high-tech markets
• Create dashboards and reports to inform decision-making and evaluate program effectiveness
• Establish strong governance frameworks for compensation and equity programs
• Collaborate cross-functionally with HR, Finance, Legal, and executive management to generate impact

Your Profile

Bachelor's degree in human resources, finance, business administration, or a related field; at least 8 years of progressive experience in total rewards or 5 years as a compensation consultant, with deep expertise in compensation, equity, and international compensation programs within complex, growth-oriented companies.

• Proven experience in a management or consulting role within a consulting firm, leading large-scale programs with significant organizational impact
• Excellent practical knowledge of job architecture, including job matching, level classification, and market pricing, to ensure consistent and competitive compensation practices
• Hands-on experience managing large-scale compensation programs, including salary structures, annual compensation cycles, and market benchmarking
• Confirmed experience supporting global benefits programs or mobility frameworks, with a good understanding of regional specifics and compliance requirements
• Advanced analytical skills, with the ability to translate complex compensation data into clear insights and recommendations for leadership
• Proven ability to lead projects and initiatives from end to end, balancing day-to-day execution with continuous improvement and innovation
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with experience collaborating with HR business partners, Finance, Legal, and senior executives
• Ability to work with a high degree of autonomy, while appropriately escalating strategic decisions
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex concepts related to total rewards for diverse audiences
• High attention to detail, good judgment, and ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion
• Experience working in an international, dynamic, and constantly evolving environment, or within a compensation consulting firm in contact with a diverse clientele

Special Considerations

Successful candidates must obtain and hold a reliability status security clearance, pass the Controlled Goods Program (CGP) security assessment, and be able to obtain higher clearances.

Benefits

MDA offers competitive compensation and benefits to its employees at all locations. As a member of the MDA team, you and your eligible dependents can benefit from a benefits plan that provides a comprehensive level of protection through competitive healthcare, including complementary health and drug insurance plans, dental and vision benefits, disability income protection, life insurance, group retirement savings plans, and an employee and family assistance program.

Equal Opportunity

MDA is an equal opportunity employer that champions diversity and inclusion. We are committed to treating all employees and job applicants with respect and dignity. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruitment process, please let us know.