Vice President, Total Rewards

Ladders; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 225,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote options

Health & wellness

Professional development opportunities

Retirement plans

Bonuses & recognition

Job summary

The Ladders is seeking a Vice President, Total Rewards to lead the global total rewards agenda including compensation, benefits, and recognition programs. This role partners with senior leadership to shape executive-level recommendations and govern enterprise pay decisions.

Based in Chicago with flexible remote options, the role balances strategic planning with payroll operations, vendor management, and compliance, guiding health, retirement, and wellness programs across the enterprise.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in total rewards, compensation, benefits, or related HR disciplines.
• Significant leadership experience in global total rewards within a complex organization.
• Proven track record in designing executive compensation and benefits strategies.
• Experience advising C-suite executives and preparing analytical recommendations.
• Strong financial acumen with budget oversight and vendor management capabilities.
• Knowledge of global governance and regulatory compliance in total rewards.
• Exceptional communication, leadership, and analytical problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement a global total rewards strategy aligned with business priorities.
• Advise leadership on compensation, benefits, and recognition strategies.
• Develop a multi-year roadmap balancing competitiveness and compliance.
• Lead global compensation program design and administration.
• Oversee global health, welfare, and retirement benefits programs.
• Manage payroll operations, vendor performance, and compliance.
• Lead strategy for enterprise recognition programs that reflect company values.

Skills

Total rewards

Executive compensation

Leadership

Global governance

Vendor management

Regulatory compliance

Financial acumen

Communication

Tools

Payroll systems

HRIS

Regulatory databases

Job description

For our client, we are seeking a Vice President, Total Rewards to join the team of a leader in the Finance & Insurance space.

This leader will own the global total rewards agenda, ensuring compensation, benefits, and recognition programs are aligned with business priorities and competitive market practices. The role will partner closely with senior leadership to shape executive-level recommendations, guide enterprise-wide pay and benefits decisions, and support strong governance across a complex organization. This position also requires balancing strategic planning with operational oversight across payroll, vendors, and compliance.

Location: Chicago, IL - US based candidates only, no visa sponsorship available

Compensation: $225,000 – $250,000 annually

Responsibilities

• Define and implement a global total rewards strategy aligned with business priorities
• Advise leadership on compensation, benefits, and recognition strategies
• Develop a multi-year roadmap balancing competitiveness and compliance
• Lead global compensation program design and administration
• Oversee global health, welfare, and retirement benefits programs
• Manage payroll operations, vendor performance, and compliance
• Lead strategy for enterprise recognition programs that reflect company values

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in total rewards, compensation, benefits, or related HR disciplines
• Significant leadership experience in global total rewards within a complex organization
• Proven track record in designing executive compensation and benefits strategies
• Experience advising C-suite executives and preparing analytical recommendations
• Strong financial acumen with budget oversight and vendor management capabilities
• Knowledge of global governance and regulatory compliance in total rewards
• Exceptional communication, leadership, and analytical problem-solving skills

Benefits

• Flexible working arrangements with remote options
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits
• Professional development opportunities and training
• Generous retirement plans and employee assistance programs
• Performance-based bonuses and recognition programs

Our client is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every qualification—your background could be exactly what this team needs.