Head of Compensation & Benefits

Suntory•Raleigh, NC

About The Position

The Head of Compensation & Benefits is responsible for the strategic design, governance, and administration of the company’s total rewards programs. This role ensures compensation and benefits strategies are competitive, equitable, compliant, and aligned with business objectives while supporting attraction, retention, and engagement of talent across the organization. The role partners closely with executive leadership, Finance, Legal, and People & Culture leadership to deliver scalable programs, manage risk, and provide data‑driven insights that support workforce planning and business growth.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance, or a related field.
Minimum ten (10) years of progressive experience in compensation and benefits, including leadership responsibility.
Experience supporting multi-state or multi-location organizations.
Strong working knowledge of compensation frameworks, benefits design, and regulatory requirements.
Experience partnering with executive leadership and influencing at the senior level.
Experience working with HRIS platforms (Workday preferred).
Strong analytical skills with attention to detail; enjoys working with data, numbers, and complex compensation models.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain compensation and benefits concepts to leaders and employees.
High level of integrity and discretion when handling confidential and sensitive information.
Sound judgment and problem‑solving ability, balancing market competitiveness, internal equity, compliance, and cost.
Well‑organized, deadline‑driven, and comfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
Effective collaborator and influencer. Able to partner with Finance, Legal, and People & Culture leadership.

Nice To Haves

Professional certification (CCP, CBP, GRP, or similar) preferred.

Responsibilities

Compensation Strategy & Governance Lead the design, implementation, and ongoing administration of all compensation programs, including base pay structures, incentive plans, merit programs, and executive compensation.
Oversee job architecture, job evaluations, pay grades, and salary structures to ensure internal equity and external market competitiveness.
Manage annual compensation planning processes, including merit and incentive cycles.
Serve as the subject matter expert on pay transparency, pay equity, and regulatory compliance (e.g., FLSA, state pay laws).
Partner with Finance and leadership on compensation budgeting, forecasting, and long-term cost modeling.
Benefits Strategy & Administration Oversee the design and administration of health and welfare, retirement, wellness, leave, and other employee benefit programs.
Manage vendor relationships, renewals, and plan evaluations to ensure cost effective and competitive offerings.
Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local benefits regulations (ERISA, ACA, COBRA, etc.).
Partner with internal stakeholders to drive benefits communication, education, and employee engagement.
Leadership & Partnership Lead, mentor, and develop compensation and benefits team members.
Act as a strategic advisor to senior leaders on total rewards decisions, executive offers, and retention strategies.
Collaborate with HR Business Partners on job design, promotions, organizational changes, and workforce planning.
Support M&A, restructuring, and organizational transformation initiatives from a total rewards perspective.
Data Analytics Own and maintain compensation and benefits data within Workday and related systems.
Lead participation in market benchmarking surveys and analyze trends to inform decision making.
Lead the development of dashboards, reporting, and insights to support leadership discussions and recommendations.
Ensure strong controls, documentation, and audit readiness across all programs.