Lead Total Rewards Partner
About The Position
Airwallex is hiring a Lead Total Rewards Partner to own and build its Americas Total Rewards operating model as the first member of the Total Rewards team based in the region. The role covers the US, Canada, Brazil and Mexico and has end-to-end responsibility for compensation, benefits design and equity programs, working with a small, globally distributed team. The position leads compensation planning, benchmarking and pay decisions, including salary structures, geographic differentials, market positioning, merit and bonus cycles, and offer guidance. It also designs benefits programs and leads plan renewals, broker negotiations and transition projects with local People Operations partners. In partnership with the global Total Rewards team, the role supports US stock plan administration and leads global and regional projects such as the Americas equity framework rollout and IPO-readiness initiatives. The Lead Total Rewards Partner uses market data, benchmarking and financial modeling to advise and influence stakeholders, and partners with Talent Acquisition, People Partners, Payroll, Finance, Legal, Equity and executive leadership on compensation, organizational decisions, systems, equity budgets, compliance and strategy. The role builds practical processes and documentation for Americas Total Rewards, working independently across time zones. The position works from Airwallex’s San Francisco office on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Requirements
- 10+ years of experience in total rewards, compensation or benefits, including experience supporting employee populations across the Americas.
- Experience owning or building a complete Total Rewards program spanning compensation, benefits and equity.
- Experience designing benefits programs and managing plan renewals, including broker and insurance carrier negotiations.
- Strong compensation analytics capability, including market benchmarking, salary range architecture, geographic pay differentials, compensation cycles, modeling and projections.
- Experience making and communicating compensation decisions with senior leaders, People Partners, recruiters and employees.
- Working knowledge of US equity compensation and stock plan administration, including RSUs, ISOs, ESPP and vesting mechanics, and the ability to explain these concepts to non-specialists.
- Experience at a late-stage private, pre-IPO or recently public company, particularly through changes to an equity program or increased governance requirements.
- Track record of leading complex Total Rewards projects from design through implementation, bringing stakeholders along and influencing without formal authority.
- Strong business partnering, judgment and communication skills, including confidence to challenge decisions that do not align with strategy, data or compliance requirements.
- Builder mindset and ability to work independently across time zones without an established local playbook.
Nice To Haves
- Experience supporting multi-region Total Rewards programs where the global framework is set outside the candidate’s time zone.
- Familiarity with compensation, equity and HR systems such as Carta, Shareworks, BambooHR or Workday.
- Experience using survey and benchmarking sources such as Radford, Compensia, Mercer or Aon.
- Experience with 401(k), ERISA, US pay transparency, benefits compliance or related US rewards requirements.
- Experience supporting IPO readiness, equity plan governance, tax reporting or SEC-related considerations.
- Experience building a Total Rewards function or major program from the ground up in a high-growth technology, fintech or payments company.
Responsibilities
- Own the Americas Total Rewards program across the US, Canada, Brazil and Mexico, covering compensation, benefits design and equity programs.
- Lead compensation planning, benchmarking and pay decisions, including salary structures, geographic differentials, market positioning, merit and bonus cycles, and offer guidance.
- Design benefits programs and lead plan renewals, broker negotiations and transition project management with local People Operations partners.
- Partner with the global Total Rewards team on US stock plan administration, including RSUs, ISOs, ESPP mechanics, vesting, taxation, grant execution, plan governance and employee communications.
- Lead global and regional Total Rewards projects, including the Americas equity framework rollout and IPO-readiness initiatives, from scoping and design through stakeholder alignment and implementation.
- Use market data, benchmarking and financial modeling to make recommendations, influence decisions and explain complex analysis to leaders, managers and employees.
- Partner with Talent Acquisition, People Partners, Payroll, Finance, Legal, Equity and executive leadership on compensation, organizational decisions, systems, equity budgets, compliance and strategy.
- Build practical processes and documentation for Americas Total Rewards and help establish a local operating model while working independently across time zones.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
