Vice President, Total Rewards

Cornerstone OnDemand; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 190,000 - 305,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading HR technology company seeks a Vice President of Total Rewards to develop and execute a global strategy for attracting and retaining top talent. You will oversee compensation, benefits, and payroll operations, ensuring compliance across geographies while fostering a high-performance culture. The ideal candidate has over 12 years in total rewards, strong leadership experience, and relevant certifications. This is a remote position based in the United Kingdom.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits programs

Performance bonuses

Flexible work environment

Qualifications

• 12+ years in total rewards management including payroll, compensation, benefits.
• 5+ years leading global teams across multiple countries.
• Professional certifications such as CCP, GRP, or CPP are desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead global teams in compensation, benefits, and payroll.
• Develop strategies for total rewards that support organizational goals.
• Ensure payroll compliance with applicable laws across different geographies.

Skills

Leadership

Project Management

Analytical Skills

Communication Skills

Relationship Building

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or related field

Tools

ADP

ActivPayroll

Job description

About PeopleOps Jobs

PeopleOps Jobs is the best place to find next-generation HR and TA roles. Most of the jobs on our site are based in the US and are remote-friendly.

We also have a free advisor service to help you choose the best HRIS, ATS, Payroll, and other HR Software. All the best in your job hunt!

About the Job

We're looking for a Vice President, Total Rewards. This role is Remote, United States.

We are seeking a highly experienced and strategic leader to join Cornerstone as the Vice President of Total Rewards. You will be responsible for developing and executing our global total rewards strategy to attract, motivate, and retain top talent and for leading all aspects of global payroll operations. This position reports to the Chief People Officer and is a member of the People Leadership Team (PLT).

In this role you will….

Leadership and Strategy

• Lead dedicated global teams in compensation, benefits, and payroll, providing mentorship and development to foster engagement and performance.
• Develop and implement strategies and frameworks for total rewards and payroll, that support organizational goals, culture, and values.
• Champion pay equity, global pay transparency, and harmonization of compensation, payroll, and benefits practices post-acquisition and integration.
• Partner with external consultants and vendors to assess and implement innovative solutions and technologies.
• Monitor regulatory changes and industry trends related to total rewards and payroll, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Provide guidance and support to regional People teams on total rewards matters, ensuring consistency and compliance across different geographies.
• Leverage tools to automate or streamline different compensation related processes and workflows.

Compensation

• Lead the design, development, and management of competitive and innovative compensation programs, including base salary structures, and short‑term and long‑term incentive plans.
• Oversee the administration of all compensation‑related activities, such as salary benchmarking, job evaluations, and annual salary review processes, ensuring fairness and consistency across the organization.
• Collaborate with People Business Partners (PBPs) and business leaders to consult on effective performance management systems that align with compensation programs and promote a high‑performance culture.

Benefits

• Lead the design and management of comprehensive benefits programs, including health and wellness, retirement plans, leave policies, and other employee benefits, ensuring they are competitive and cost‑effective.
• Develop and manage global recognition and rewards programs to enhance employee engagement and reinforce a culture of excellence.

Payroll

• Direct a dedicated global Payroll team managing end‑to‑end payroll processes for all employees, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance across multiple countries.
• Oversee payroll systems including ADP, ActivPayroll, DKM, Fidelity, ensuring integration with core HCM/service platforms.
• Collaborate closely with Finance on payroll processes, reporting, and compliance.
• Drive process improvement initiatives for payroll, leveraging technology and automation to enhance efficiency and experience.
• Ensure payroll compliance with all local, regional, and global regulations, and lead payroll‑related integration and harmonization during mergers and acquisitions.
• Champion innovation, transformation, and digitalization within global payroll operations.

You’ve Got What It Takes If You…

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
• Extensive experience (12+ years) in total rewards management, including payroll, compensation, benefits within a global organization; alternative career paths are welcome!
• 5+ years leading global teams; specific experience managing dedicated professionals across multiple countries.
• Expertise in payroll operations, systems (ADP, ActivPayroll, DKM, etc.) and compliance within software/technology industry.
• Experience in M&A integrations, especially harmonizing payroll and compensation structures.
• Strong project management, analytical, communication, and relationship‑building skills.
• Proven ability to lead and inspire a team, fostering collaboration, and delivering results in a fast‑paced and dynamic environment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and build relationships at all levels of the organization.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Professional certifications such as Certified Compensation Professional (CCP), Global Remuneration Professional (GRP), and/or Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) are highly desirable.

Our Culture

Spark Greatness. Shatter Boundaries. Share Success. Are you ready? Because here, right now – is where the future of work is happening. Where curious disruptors and change innovators like you are helping communities and customers enable everyone – anywhere – to learn, grow and advance. To be better tomorrow than they are today.

Who We Are

Cornerstone powers the potential of organizations and their people to thrive in a changing world. Cornerstone Galaxy, the complete AI‑powered workforce agility platform, meets organizations where they are. With Galaxy, organizations can identify skills gaps and development opportunities, retain and engage top talent, and provide multimodal learning experiences to meet the diverse needs of the modern workforce. More than 7,000 organizations and 100 million+ users in 180+ countries and in nearly 50 languages use Cornerstone Galaxy to build high‑performing, future‑ready organizations and people today.

Total Rewards

At Cornerstone, we are dedicated to inspiring excellence and pushing boundaries in everything we do. Our compensation strategy is based on three fundamental principles: equitable pay, market‑driven research, and skill‑based appraisals. As part of our mission to share success and empower individuals to thrive in an ever‑changing world, the listed salary range is just one element of Cornerstone’s comprehensive compensation package. This compensation package may also include annual bonuses, short‑ and program‑specific awards depending on the role, and a comprehensive benefit offering. The disclosed salary range reflects the geographic differential based on the location of the position if applicable. The starting salary for the successful applicant will depend on several job‑related factors, including education, training, experience, certifications, location, business needs, and market demands. This range is based on a full‑time position and may be adjusted in the future. Join us in shaping the future of work — tomorrow, together. Experience flexibility and empowerment in your career at Cornerstone. The BASE salary range for this position is: 250800 – 401300 USD.

Check us out on LinkedIn, Comparably, Glassdoor, and Facebook!

Equal Employment Opportunity has been, and will continue to be, a fundamental commitment at Cornerstone OnDemand. All qualified applicants are given consideration regardless of race, religion, color, gender, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, citizenship status, disability, veteran status, or any other protected class as provided in applicable Federal, State, or Local fair employment laws. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please contact us at [e-mail] or [phone].

Read the EEO is the Law poster here, and the supplementary poster here.

Read the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision poster here.

Location

United States (Remote)