Director, Global Compensation & Benefits

Norstella; Annapolis (MD); Remote; USD 165,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

A global pharma intelligence firm is seeking a Director of Global Compensation & Benefits to lead the design and administration of worldwide compensation programs. The ideal candidate will have over 10 years of experience in the field, with a focus on compliance, employee engagement, and competitive benefits. This remote role offers a salary ranging from $165,000 to $195,000 and a competitive benefits package.

Benefits

Medical and Prescription Drug Benefits

Health Savings Accounts (HSA) or Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

401k Retirement Plan with Company Match

Paid Time Off & Company Holidays

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience in compensation and benefits.
• 5 years in a leadership role required.
• Experience in equity-based incentive programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and governance of global compensation structures.
• Manage the annual compensation cycle.
• Ensure compliance with global benefits regulations.

Skills

Global compensation design

Vendor management

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Problem-solving skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, or related field

Master’s degree or certifications (CEBS, CBP)

Job description

Director, Global Compensation & Benefits

Company: Norstella

Location: Remote, United States

Date Posted: Sep 2, 2025

Employment Type: Full Time

Job Description

At Norstella, our mission is simple: to help our clients bring life-saving therapies to market quicker—and help patients in need. Founded in 2022, but with history going back to 1939, Norstella unites best-in-class brands to help clients navigate the complexities at each step of the drug development life cycle —and get the right treatments to the right patients at the right time.

Each organization (Citeline, Evaluate, MMIT, Panalgo, The Dedham Group) delivers must-have answers for critical strategic and commercial decision-making. Together, via our market-leading brands, we help our clients:

• Citeline – accelerate the drug development cycle
• Evaluate – bring the right drugs to market
• MMIT – identify barrier to patient access
• Panalgo – turn data into insight faster
• The Dedham Group – think strategically for specialty therapeutics

By combining the efforts of each organization under Norstella, we can offer an even wider breadth of expertise, cutting-edge data solutions and expert advisory services alongside advanced technologies such as real-world data, machine learning and predictive analytics.

As one of the largest global pharma intelligence solution providers, Norstella has a footprint across the globe with teams of experts delivering world class solutions in the USA, UK, The Netherlands, Japan, China and India.

We are seeking a strategic and hands-on Director of Global Compensation & Benefits to lead the design, administration, and governance of our global compensation and benefits programs. This role will oversee both compensation and benefits, focusing on developing, implementing, and managing programs that support pay equity, competitiveness, and the health, wellbeing, and engagement of our global workforce.

This individual will serve as the subject matter expert on compensation and benefits, partnering with leaders across the U.S., UK, Canada, India, Italy, and other international locations to ensure offerings are competitive, compliant, and aligned with employee needs and organizational objectives. Reporting to the Chief Human Resources Officer, this leader will play a critical role in shaping our employee experience and ensuring our programs scale with business growth.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead the design, implementation, and governance of global compensation structures, salary ranges, and job evaluation processes.
• Manage the annual compensation cycle, including merit increases, market adjustments, and benchmarking.
• Conduct compensation market analysis across multiple geographies to maintain competitiveness and ensure pay equity.
• Ensure compliance with pay transparency, wage and hour, and country-specific regulations.
• Design and manage global benefits programs, including health, retirement, insurance, wellbeing, and local country-specific offerings.
• Partner with brokers, vendors, and consultants to negotiate contracts, manage renewals, and deliver cost-effective, high-quality services.
• Lead the annual enrollment process and develop employee communication and education strategies to increase engagement.
• Monitor utilization, costs, and employee feedback to evaluate effectiveness and recommend program enhancements.
• Ensure compliance with benefits regulations globally (e.g., ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA in the U.S., and equivalent frameworks internationally).
• Serve as the organization’s subject matter expert for global compensation and benefits.
• Work in tandem with the legal department to monitor and own the company’s equity incentive program.
• Partner with HR, Finance, and Legal to ensure programs are fiscally responsible, compliant, and aligned with organizational goals.
• Provide coaching and education to HR colleagues and business leaders on program design, policies, and practices.
• Manage vendor relationships and oversee budgets for compensation and benefits programs.

Key Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, or related field; Master’s degree or certifications (CEBS, CBP) preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in compensation and benefits, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Experience owning and supporting equity-based incentive programs
• Strong expertise in global compensation design, pay structures, and benchmarking.
• Deep knowledge of U.S. benefits with exposure to international benefits compliance and design.
• Proven experience in vendor management, negotiation, and program communication.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to use data to inform decision-making.
• Exceptional communication and collaboration skills across diverse geographies and cultures.

Location and Benefits

Location: Remote US

Benefits include:

• Medical and Prescription Drug Benefits
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA) or Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Dental & Vision Benefits
• Basic Life and AD&D Benefits
• 401k Retirement Plan with Company Match
• Company Paid Short & Long-Term Disability
• Paid Parental Leave
• Paid Time Off & Company Holidays

The expected base salary for this position ranges from $165,000 to $195,000.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Norstella is an equal opportunity employer. All job applicants will receive equal treatment regardless of race, creed, color, religion, alienage or national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, physical or mental disability or handicap, medical condition, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), marital or domestic partner status, military or veteran status, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, reproductive health decision making, or any other protected characteristic as established by federal, state, or local law.