Manager, Total Rewards – Compensation, Variable & Equity

Qcells North America; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Hanwha Q CELLS America Inc. in Irvine, CA, seeks a Manager, Total Rewards to lead the design, administration, and governance of compensation programs.

This role focuses on incentive compensation, base pay structures, and job architecture, ensuring equity and compliance while aligning with talent and business strategies. The position reports to the Head of HR for G&ES Business Division and partners with Finance on budgeting and forecasting, driving competitive pay practices for a fast-growing

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, business, finance, economics, or related field.
• 6+ years of progressive experience in compensation, total rewards, or incentive compensation.
• Experience supporting SaaS company using subscription-based variable compensation.
• Strong working knowledge of compensation principles, market pricing, and incentive plan design.
• Experience with compensation and HR systems; advanced Excel and analytical skills.
• Ability to manage complex data and provide clear, actionable recommendations.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and influencing skills.
• High level of discretion, attention to detail, and sound judgment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage the overall compensation philosophy and strategy for the company.
• Design, implement, and administer incentive compensation programs and drive performance alignment.
• Manage base salary structures, pay ranges, job leveling, and job architecture frameworks.
• Conduct market pricing and benchmarking to ensure external competitiveness and internal equity.
• Partner with HR leaders on compensation decisions related to hiring, promotions, transfers, and retention.
• Lead the design, documentation, and governance of incentive and variable pay plans.
• Manage incentive plan modeling, calculations, validation, and payout processes.
• Maintain incentive compensation systems and tools; ensure data accuracy and system integrity.
• Prepare incentive plan communications, training materials, and participant support resources.
• Analyze incentive program effectiveness, cost, and performance outcomes; provide recommendations for improvement.
• Support annual merit, bonus, and incentive planning cycles, including budgeting, modeling, and execution.
• Partner with Finance to ensure accurate compensation forecasting, accruals, and spend management.
• Provide guidance and analysis to leaders during compensation review and planning cycles.
• Develop and maintain compensation policies, guidelines, and governance documentation.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and internal controls.
• Conduct audits, reconciliations, and reviews to ensure accuracy, consistency, and compliance.
• Prepare compensation analytics, dashboards, and reports for leadership and HR stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities to streamline processes, improve tools, and enhance compensation program scalability.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Incentive plan design

Market pricing

Data-driven decision making

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance, Economics, or related field

CCP (Certified Compensation Professional) certification or progress toward certification

Job description

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Are you passionate about building competitive, data-driven total rewards programs that support a mission-driven organization shaping tomorrow’s future? We are seeking an experienced Manager, Total Rewards who is responsible for the design, administration, and governance of the company’s compensation programs. While this role has primary accountability for incentive compensation programs, it also plays a broad role in managing base pay structures, job architecture, market pricing, and annual compensation processes. The position ensures compensation programs are competitive, equitable, compliant, and aligned with the organization’s talent and business strategies. This position reports directly to the Head of HR for G&ES Business Division.

Description

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Are you passionate about building competitive, data-driven total rewards programs that support a mission-driven organization shaping tomorrow’s future? We are seeking an experienced Manager, Total Rewards who is responsible for the design, administration, and governance of the company’s compensation programs. While this role has primary accountability for incentive compensation programs, it also plays a broad role in managing base pay structures, job architecture, market pricing, and annual compensation processes. The position ensures compensation programs are competitive, equitable, compliant, and aligned with the organization’s talent and business strategies. This position reports directly to the Head of HR for G&ES Business Division.

Responsibilities

Compensation Strategy & Program Management

• Support the development and ongoing management of the company’s overall compensation philosophy and strategy
• Design, implement, and administer incentive compensation programs that drive performance and align with business objectives
• Support the administration of base salary structures, pay ranges, job leveling, and job architecture frameworks
• Conduct market pricing and benchmarking to ensure external competitiveness and internal equity
• Partner with HR leaders on compensation decisions related to hiring, promotions, transfers, and retention

Incentive Compensation Administration

• Lead the design, documentation, and governance of incentive and variable pay plans
• Manage incentive plan modeling, calculations, validation, and payout processes
• Maintain incentive compensation systems and tools; ensure data accuracy and system integrity
• Prepare incentive plan communications, training materials, and participant support resources
• Analyze incentive program effectiveness, cost, and performance outcomes; provide recommendations for improvement

Annual Compensation Processes

• Support annual merit, bonus, and incentive planning cycles, including budgeting, modeling, and execution
• Partner with Finance to ensure accurate compensation forecasting, accruals, and spend management
• Provide guidance and analysis to leaders during compensation review and planning cycles

Governance, Compliance & Analytics

• Develop and maintain compensation policies, guidelines, and governance documentation
• Ensure compensation programs comply with applicable laws, regulations, and internal controls
• Conduct audits, reconciliations, and reviews to ensure accuracy, consistency, and compliance
• Prepare compensation analytics, dashboards, and reports for leadership and HR stakeholders
• Identify opportunities to streamline processes, improve tools, and enhance compensation program scalability

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance, Economics, or a related field
• 6+ years of progressive experience in compensation, total rewards, or incentive compensation
• Experience supporting SaaScompany using subscription-based variable compensation or other high-growth industries.
• Strong working knowledge of compensation principles, market pricing, and incentive plan design
• Experience with compensation and HR systems; advanced Excel and analytical skills
• Ability to manage complex data and provide clear, actionable recommendations
• Strong communication, collaboration, and influencing skills
• High level of discretion, attention to detail, and sound judgment

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting SaaScompany using subscription-based variable compensation or other high-growth industries.
• CCP (Certified Compensation Professional) certification or progress toward certification
• Experience supporting performance-driven or sales organizations
• Familiarity with incentive compensation management platforms
• Experience in a multi-location or global environment

Hanwha Q CELLS America Inc. (“HQCA”) is a Qcells company, one of the world’s largest manufacturers and providers of solar photovoltaic (PV) products and solutions. Headquartered in Irvine, California, HQCA has been rapidly expanding its business in North America through the expansion of products and solutions, including distributed energy solutions, direct-to-homeowner solar sales and financing, and EPC services. We provide an opportunity to be part of an exciting and growing world-class global business in an interesting and expanding industry of the future.

Physical, Mental & Environmental Demands

To comply with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 the essential physical, mental and environmental requirements for this job are listed below. These are requirements normally expected to perform regular job duties. Incumbent must be able to successfully perform all of the functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

Mobility

• Standing: 20% of time
• Sitting: 70% of time
• Walking: 10% of time

Strength

• Pulling up to 10 Pounds
• Pushing up to 10 Pounds
• Carrying up to 10 Pounds
• Lifting up to 10 Pounds

Dexterity (F = Frequently, O = Occasionally, N = Never)

• Typing: F
• Handling: F
• Reaching: F

Agility (F = Frequently, O = Occasionally, N = Never)

• Turning: F
• Twisting: F
• Bending: O
• Crouching: O
• Balancing: N
• Climbing: N
• Crawling: N
• Kneeling: N

The salary range is required by the California Pay Transparency Act and may differ depending on the location of those candidates hired nationwide. Actual compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to, skill set, education, licenses and certifications, essential job duties and requirements, and the necessary experience relative to the job’s minimum qualifications.

• This target salary range is for CA positions only and should not be interpreted as an offer of compensation.

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