VP, Total Rewards

Crucial Hire; Westchester (IL); On-site; USD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Crucial Hire seeks an Assistant Vice President for Total Rewards in Westchester, Illinois. This senior role involves overseeing total rewards programs, focusing on compensation and benefits, and ensuring alignment with business objectives.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in designing compensation strategies and maintaining equitable pay structures. Candidates must demonstrate strong analytical, project management, and communication skills.

Competitive salary range is $170,000 - $210,000 plus bonus. An advanced degree and relevant certifications are preferred.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive experience in compensation, benefits, or total rewards.
• Experience designing and leading enterprise compensation and benefits strategies.
• Strong knowledge of job architecture and market benchmarking.

Responsibilities

• Drive an enterprise-wide total rewards strategy linked to business performance.
• Set the strategic direction for health and welfare, retirement, and ancillary benefit programs.
• Manage the annual merit cycle from end to end.

Skills

Experience in compensation and benefits

Strong financial analysis

Project management skills

Excellent communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources or related field

Advanced degree preferred

CCP, CEBS, or related certification preferred

Job description

Assistant Vice President, Total Rewards

Location: Confidential | Compensation: 170k - 210k + Bonus

About the Company

Our client is a complex, multi-entity organization with a clear commitment to building competitive, equitable, and strategically aligned people programs. This is a confidential search.

About the Role

The Assistant Vice President, Total Rewards is a senior enterprise leader accountable for the full spectrum of total rewards, compensation, benefits, and the governance and execution that holds it all together. It is for the rewards executive who understands that well-designed programs directly drive attraction, retention, performance, and business outcomes.

This leader will partner closely with executive leadership, Finance, Legal, HR Business Partners, Talent Acquisition, and Payroll to deliver market-informed, operationally sound reward programs across the organization.

Responsibilities

Total Rewards Strategy & Leadership

• Own and drive an enterprise-wide total rewards strategy that connects directly to business performance, workforce priorities, and long-range organizational goals
• Establish and steward a rewards philosophy that balances market positioning, internal fairness, pay transparency, and meaningful performance differentiation
• Serve as the executive accountable for the integrity, competitiveness, and governance of all compensation and benefits programs
• Bring a sharp external lens to leadership discussions, translating labor market intelligence, cost dynamics, and emerging risks into actionable recommendations
• Ensure reward programs are consistently working to win, keep, and motivate the talent the business needs

Benefits Strategy & Administration

• Set the strategic direction for health and welfare, retirement, leave, and ancillary benefit programs ensuring they are valued by employees and sustainable for the business
• Hold vendors accountable to performance standards while continuously evaluating whether the portfolio reflects both employee needs and market realities
• Use data utilization trends, employee feedback, cost analysis to make informed decisions about program design and investment
• Ensure employees actually understand and can access the value of their benefits through clear, effective communication strategies

Compensation Strategy, Design & Administration

• Build and maintain the foundational infrastructure of compensation, job architecture, leveling frameworks, salary bands, and incentive structures that scales with the business
• Run rigorous pay equity analyses, both internally and against the market, ensuring the organization can stand behind its pay decisions
• Manage the full annual merit cycle from end to end, including system configuration, manager guidance, execution, and outcome reporting
• Ensure compensation decisions at every employee touchpoint: offers, promotions, transfers, adjustments are consistent, defensible, and aligned to strategy
• Equip managers and leaders with the tools, education, and frameworks they need to make confident, well-reasoned pay decisions
• Partner with Finance on budget modeling, cost forecasting, and the financial sustainability of compensation programs
• Design and enforce governance structures that bring discipline and consistency to how pay decisions get made across the organization

Stakeholder Partnership & Executive Advisory

• Function as a true cross‑functional partner working alongside HR, Finance, Legal, Payroll, IT, and business leaders to ensure rewards programs are both strategically sound and operationally executable
• Advise senior leaders with clarity and confidence on complex pay and benefits decisions, bringing data and market context to every conversation
• Translate complex rewards topics into straightforward, actionable guidance for managers and meaningful communications for employees
• Prepare and present to executive and board audiences on program strategy, market competitiveness, cost positioning, and outcomes

Team Leadership & Functional Excellence

• Recruit, develop, and lead a high‑performing total rewards team, setting high standards, clear accountabilities, and a culture of excellence
• Build a function that is known for being responsive, rigorous, and trusted across the organization
• Continuously evaluate whether the team's structure, capabilities, and vendor partnerships are the right ones to meet the business where it's going
• Drive change management when programs evolve ensuring transitions are smooth, well‑communicated, and adopted effectively

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive experience in compensation, benefits, or total rewards, including senior leadership responsibility
• Demonstrated experience designing and leading enterprise compensation and benefits strategies
• Strong knowledge of job architecture, market benchmarking, pay practices, incentives, and benefits administration
• Strong financial, analytical, and business acumen with the ability to connect rewards strategy to business outcomes
• Proven ability to influence senior leaders and partner effectively across HR, Finance, Legal, Payroll, and the business
• Strong written and verbal communication, change leadership, and project management skills
• Bachelor's degree required in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or related field; advanced degree preferred
• CCP, CEBS, or related certification preferred

Equal Opportunity

Our client is committed to building strong, diverse teams and an environment where high performers can do their best work.