Vice President, Compensation

Sutter Health•Sacramento, CA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Vice President of Compensation is a strategic leader responsible for the design, development, compliance, effectiveness, and execution of comprehensive compensation programs that support organizational goals and reinforce a high-performance culture. Reporting to the Head of Total Rewards, this role oversees all aspects of compensation, including base pay, incentive plans, and executive compensation for Sutter Health that is a national employer. across the organization. This leader partners closely with senior leaders, HR business leaders, and key stakeholders to ensure compensation strategies are competitive, equitable, and aligned with market practices, regulatory requirements, and the organization’s mission and values. The Vice President of Compensation plays a critical role in shaping reward philosophies, driving innovation in pay programs, and ensuring effective governance and administration of compensation practices. Equally important, this role serves as a highly visible and impactful people-leader for a team of approximately 22 compensation professionals. The Vice President fosters a culture grounded in Excellence, Curiosity, Compassion, Inclusion, Teamwork, and Integrity, leading through example and empowering the team to deliver their best work. This includes coaching and mentoring team members to continuously grow and innovate, encouraging curiosity in problem-solving and program design, and promoting an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are valued. Through a strong emphasis on collaboration and shared accountability, the Vice President ensures the team operates with integrity, supports one another, and consistently delivers high-quality, equitable compensation solutions that serve the organization and its people. The role requires a balance of strategic vision and operational excellence, with accountability for advancing compensation frameworks that attract, retain, and engage top talent while supporting financial sustainability and organizational performance.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or related field or equivalent education/experience.
15+ years of total experience in Compensation and/or Total Rewards roles.
10+ years in leadership roles with at least Director-level experience leading sizable internal teams.
Experience leading and designing organization-wide programs in large-scale healthcare or similarly regulated environments that have multi-state complexities.
Experience advising senior executives including partnering with Compensation Committees of the Board of Directors.
Experience establishing and executing a comprehensive compensation strategy including base pay, incentive programs, and executive compensation that aligns with organizational goals.
Experience serving as a trusted advisor to senior executives, HR, Finance, and business leaders, providing strategic counsel on compensation matters, workforce planning, and organizational effectiveness.
Experience building and sustaining a high-performing team of compensation professionals through strong leadership, coaching, and mentorship.

Responsibilities

Design, development, compliance, effectiveness, and execution of comprehensive compensation programs.
Oversee all aspects of compensation, including base pay, incentive plans, and executive compensation.
Partner with senior leaders, HR business leaders, and key stakeholders to ensure compensation strategies are competitive, equitable, and aligned with market practices, regulatory requirements, and the organization’s mission and values.
Shape reward philosophies and drive innovation in pay programs.
Ensure effective governance and administration of compensation practices.
Lead a team of approximately 22 compensation professionals, fostering a culture of Excellence, Curiosity, Compassion, Inclusion, Teamwork, and Integrity.
Coach and mentor team members to continuously grow and innovate.
Encourage curiosity in problem-solving and program design.
Promote an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are valued.
Ensure the team operates with integrity, supports one another, and consistently delivers high-quality, equitable compensation solutions.
Advance compensation frameworks that attract, retain, and engage top talent while supporting financial sustainability and organizational performance.
Establish strong governance, policies, and processes to ensure consistent, compliant, and efficient administration of compensation programs across the enterprise.
Leverage analytics and insights to inform compensation strategies and evaluate program effectiveness.
Ensure compliance with all applicable compensation laws and regulations, including healthcare-specific requirements, while proactively managing risk and adapting to a dynamic regulatory environment.