Head of Total Rewards

The Hartford•Chicago, IL

About The Position

We’re determined to make a difference and are proud to be an insurance company that goes well beyond coverages and policies. Working here means having every opportunity to achieve your goals – and to help others accomplish theirs, too. Join our team as we help shape the future. The Senior Vice President, Total Rewards reports to the Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer and has overall responsibility for the strategy, design, development and implementation of compensation and benefits programs, processes, and communications for all employees. This includes broad-based and executive compensation, health and welfare benefits and investment savings plan and stock plan administration. This position is responsible for supporting the CEO and CHRO in regular Board of Directors and Compensation Committee of the Board related requirements including requisite materials preparation and presentation on a regular basis and is also the company’s key point of contact and owner of vendor/consultant relationships associated with all compensation and benefits programs. The Vice President, Total Rewards will demonstrate keen business and financial acumen and partner with business leadership and external resources to identify and develop best practices to meet the needs of the business, to ensure compliant programs and processes, and to deliver a market informed and business aligned Total Rewards strategy. This leader will be a key leader in furthering the improvement of the Total Rewards function to be more innovative and operationally exceptional. The leader will drive the company’s performance-based company culture based on pay for performance, accountability, results, vision, and behaviors. This new leader will learn the business and build strong working relationships at all levels and across all lines of business. Additionally, the successful candidate will: Continually evaluate the external marketplace for total rewards’ competitiveness ensuring strong, fit for purpose programs which will attract and retain employees at all levels or the organization. Develop and modify the total rewards strategy for all levels and locations within the company. Proactively provide ongoing recommendations to the leadership team regarding total rewards philosophy and competitiveness. Working with the CEO, CHRO and appropriate committees, review and secure leadership and Board approval of new programs and budgets relating to new and existing programs. Advise all levels of management and Human Resources on specific compensation matters and solutions. Partner with HR Business Partners, business leaders and the employee communications team to provide thoughtful, end-to-end, timely and comprehensive communications material and collateral. Develop and maintain relationships with external vendors and peer companies to maintain an on-going awareness of competitive practices. Establish and implement rigorous processes for all aspects of C&B administration and compliance including benchmarking of practices, metrics, and design. Manage and motivate a strong, highly engaged Total Rewards team. Manage performance and development, providing specific, timely feedback and support for career development. Play a key leadership role within the Human Resources organization in developing new or revised programs and people strategies collaboratively with HR Business Partners, Talent Acquisition, Talent Management, and HR Operations. Provide oversight and support to global specialty and global reinsurance total rewards programs in the EU with majority based in the UK. Provide SME support to the M&A team from a Total Rewards perspective.

Requirements

B.S. Degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance, or related field.
15 years of progressive, hands-on Total Rewards/Compensation & Benefits experience from within comparable size and scale, publicly-traded companies with approximately five of those years being in a top Total Rewards leadership position.
Experience leading Total Rewards within a large-scale business with similar workforce characteristics.
Direct hands-on experience in Executive Compensation with experience preparing and presenting all requisite Board of Director Compensation Committee materials for a public or privately held company.
Experience designing, developing, communicating and implementing best-in-class Total Rewards strategies, programs and processes from the executive to hourly levels.
Strong leader and developer of a team.
Equally strong intellectual and emotional intelligence.
Outstanding communication skills – both written and verbal.
Outstanding analytical and systems skills.
Strong organizational skills, aka “completed staff work”: demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously with the ability to be flexible and agile, and able to react to shifting priorities to meet business needs.
Demonstrated ability to meet tight deadlines and commitments.
Innovative thinker who is solutions oriented with an eye on the future.
Proven diverse stakeholder management and relationship building skills.
Proactive, self-motivated with a strong sense of ownership over the function.
Ability to independently navigate a complex organization at all levels, particularly at the executive leadership level.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in a related field or MBA is a plus.
Global experience is a plus.
Public company experience highly preferred.

Responsibilities

overall responsibility for the strategy, design, development and implementation of compensation and benefits programs, processes, and communications for all employees
supporting the CEO and CHRO in regular Board of Directors and Compensation Committee of the Board related requirements including requisite materials preparation and presentation on a regular basis
key point of contact and owner of vendor/consultant relationships associated with all compensation and benefits programs
partner with business leadership and external resources to identify and develop best practices to meet the needs of the business, to ensure compliant programs and processes, and to deliver a market informed and business aligned Total Rewards strategy
drive the company’s performance-based company culture based on pay for performance, accountability, results, vision, and behaviors
Continually evaluate the external marketplace for total rewards’ competitiveness ensuring strong, fit for purpose programs which will attract and retain employees at all levels or the organization.
Develop and modify the total rewards strategy for all levels and locations within the company.
Proactively provide ongoing recommendations to the leadership team regarding total rewards philosophy and competitiveness.
Working with the CEO, CHRO and appropriate committees, review and secure leadership and Board approval of new programs and budgets relating to new and existing programs.
Advise all levels of management and Human Resources on specific compensation matters and solutions.
Partner with HR Business Partners, business leaders and the employee communications team to provide thoughtful, end-to-end, timely and comprehensive communications material and collateral.
Develop and maintain relationships with external vendors and peer companies to maintain an on-going awareness of competitive practices.
Establish and implement rigorous processes for all aspects of C&B administration and compliance including benchmarking of practices, metrics, and design.
Manage and motivate a strong, highly engaged Total Rewards team.
Manage performance and development, providing specific, timely feedback and support for career development.
Play a key leadership role within the Human Resources organization in developing new or revised programs and people strategies collaboratively with HR Business Partners, Talent Acquisition, Talent Management, and HR Operations.
Provide oversight and support to global specialty and global reinsurance total rewards programs in the EU with majority based in the UK.
Provide SME support to the M&A team from a Total Rewards perspective.