Director, Total Rewards

Douglas Dynamics; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Douglas Dynamics is seeking a strategic, experienced Director of Total Rewards to architect and lead a globally scalable compensation and benefits strategy. You will shape an employee value proposition that supports growth from Milwaukee to Beijing while partnering with HR leadership to drive data-driven pay and health programs.

The role requires 10+ years in Total Rewards, global exposure, and strong executive-level communication, with a focus on governance, analytics, and stakeholder

Qualifications

• 10+ years of Total Rewards leadership experience.
• Experience building enterprise-wide compensation and benefits strategies.
• Global experience (U.S. + China) and M&A/integration expertise.
• Strong analytics and executive-facing communication.

Responsibilities

• Design and lead a global Total Rewards strategy aligned to growth.
• Oversee compensation frameworks and benefits programs.
• Lead due diligence for M&A and integration.
• Own governance, compliance, and regulatory alignment.
• Develop analytics and optimize rewards delivery.

Skills

Total Rewards

Compensation strategy

Data analytics

Executive communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

HRIS systems

Excel

Job description

Career Opportunities with Douglas Dynamics

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Douglas Dynamics is North America’s premier manufacturer and upfitter of work truck attachments and equipment. Our belief is that our employees and culture are just as important to the company as serving our customers. We place a high value on building a team and working environment where individuals can succeed professionally and personally. As a team member at Douglas Dynamics, you can expect to make a difference through your work, to have a direct impact on the achievement of a very meaningful mission to serve our customers, to advance your career, and to have room for fun and fulfillment in your daily life.

We would love to have you join our team, where we offer top notch benefits, multiple avenues for advancement and a great working environment.

Grow, Improve, and Engage is our focus as an organization to ensure we succeed by executing the right things. These are our Core Values and are How We Win in the marketplace. The Winning Behaviors are what each Douglas Dynamics employee does to support the success of our company. They are the expectations of all of us to help ensure we focus on winning as an organization the right way! Our Winning Behaviors are:

• Be Customer & Results Driven
• Anticipate the Possibilities
• Communicate Responsibly
• Develop Self & Others
• Get Better Every Day

HOW WE DO IT:

JOB SUMMARY:

As Director of Total Rewards, you’ll architect and lead a bold, globally scalable compensation and benefits strategy that powers our growth and keeps us fiercely competitive. From Milwaukee to Beijing, you’ll shape an employee value proposition that stands out and stands up to a rapidly evolving market.

As a core member of the HR leadership team, you’ll push boundaries, challenge the status quo, and design data-driven compensation and benefit strategies that fuel performance, engagement, and business success.

WHAT YOU’LL LEAD:

• Design and execute a forward-thinking Total Rewards strategy tightly aligned to business growth and talent priorities
• Build modern, competitive compensation frameworks (base, incentives, equity) and benefits programs that people value
• Continuously evolve programs using market intelligence, workforce insights, and emerging trends

Executive Influence

• Act as the go-to strategic advisor for leaders on pay, benefits, and workforce investment decisions
• Turn complex data into clear, actionable insights that influence executive decisions
• Partner with Finance to balance cost discipline with talent competitiveness

M&A, Change & Transformation

• Lead compensation and benefits due diligence for M&A activity
• Rapidly integrate and harmonize reward programs across newly acquired businesses
• Drive change strategies that bring people along and keep them engaged

Operations, Data & Scale

• Optimize the systems and infrastructure powering rewards delivery
• Elevate analytics capabilities to enable smarter, faster decision-making
• Streamline processes through automation and continuous improvement
• Own and optimize relationships with brokers, consultants, and providers
• Negotiate aggressively to deliver high-impact, cost-effective programs
• Hold partners accountable for performance and innovation

Governance & Compliance

• Ensure compliance across U.S. and global regulations (ERISA, ACA, EEO-1, Form 5500, etc.)
• Build governance frameworks that scale with the business
• Stay ahead of regulatory shifts by never being reactive, always proactive
• Build and mentor a high-impact Total Rewards team
• Raise the bar for expertise, execution, and strategic thinking
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement

Programs That Matter

• Lead recognition and service award programs that reinforce culture and performance
• Own job architecture, salary benchmarking, and market positioning
• Drive initiatives that measurably improve engagement, retention, and employee experience

WHAT YOU’LL BRING:

• 10+ years of progressive Total Rewards leadership experience
• Proven success building and scaling enterprise-wide compensation and benefits strategies
• Experience operating in global environments (U.S. + China)
• Strong track record in M&A, integration, and transformation
• Deep expertise in compliance, market benchmarking, and rewards design
• Exceptional analytical skillset and comfortable turning data into decisions
• Executive presence with the ability to influence and challenge senior leaders
• Experience leading vendors and cross-functional initiatives
• Strong command of HR systems, Excel, and executive-level presentations
• Bachelor’s degree required; CCP, CBP, or advanced degree a strong plus