Vice President, Global Total Rewards & People Solutions

Suntory Global Spirits•Chicago, IL

About The Position

What makes this a great opportunity?About Suntory Global SpiritsAt Suntory Global Spirits, we craft spirits of the highest quality and deliver brilliant experiences to people around the world. As the world’s third-largest premium spirits company, we are driven by our purpose, our legacy, and our people. We are a company where every individual is trusted to make an impact, challenge the status quo, and Unleash Their Spirit every day. Purpose & Scope of the RoleThe Vice President, Global Total Rewards & People Solutions is accountable for setting and delivering a forward-looking, enterprise-wide Total Rewards strategy that enables Suntory Global Spirits to attract, retain, and motivate exceptional talent globally.This role combines deep functional expertise with strong enterprise leadership. It has clear accountability for Total Rewards strategy, Executive Compensation, benefits, and governance, alongside leadership of the evolution of both Total Rewards and People Solutions. A core priority is to establish and lead robust Total Rewards governance, ensuring clarity of principles, decision rights, and consistent application across the organization. The role also plays a critical leadership position in shaping Executive Compensation strategy, working closely with Suntory Holdings and the ENCC to ensure alignment with long-term value creation, regulatory expectations, and Suntory values.The role has enterprise accountability for benefits strategy, ensuring programs are competitive, sustainable, inclusive, and supportive of employee wellbeing. In addition, the role is responsible for driving the evolution of Total Rewards and People Solutions, modernizing how reward and people services are designed and delivered. As a functional thought leader, the role will leverage technology, data, and AI to improve efficiency, reduce duplication of effort, strengthen governance, and create simpler, more seamless employee experiences. The role reports to the Chief People & Culture Officer and is a member of the People, Culture & Communications Leadership Team (PCCLT). It leads global teams across Total Rewards and People Solutions and partners closely with senior leaders, P&C Business Partners, P&C Operations, Digital, Suntory Holdings, and Suntory Beverage & Food.

Requirements

Senior Total Rewards leader with 20+ years of progressive global experience
Proven expertise in Executive Compensation, including engagement with boards, committees, and holding companies.
Deep experience in Global Benefits strategy within complex, multinational environments.
Demonstrated success establishing and leading enterprise governance models.
Track record of functional evolution and modernization, including effective use of technology and AI.
Strategic, commercially astute leader with strong influencing capability.
Inspirational people leader with high integrity and a strong results orientation.
English fluency required.
Undergraduate degree required

Nice To Haves

MBA preferred.

Responsibilities

Total Rewards Strategy & Governance• Define and lead a comprehensive Global Total Rewards strategy aligned to business strategy, growth ambitions, and the Suntory employee value proposition.
Establish and chair Total Rewards governance, including principles, frameworks, approval processes, and decision rights.
Ensure rewards programs are globally consistent, locally competitive, and aligned with diversity, equity, and inclusion objectives.
Act as the enterprise authority on Total Rewards philosophy, design, and outcomes.
Executive Compensation• Partner closely with Suntory Holdings and the ENCC on Executive Compensation strategy, design, and governance.
Lead the development and management of executive and senior leadership compensation, including base pay, annual incentives, and long-term incentive plans.
Ensure executive compensation programs are performance-driven, market competitive, compliant, and aligned with long-term value creation.
Compensation & Benefits• Lead global compensation strategy, ensuring market competitiveness, internal equity, and performance differentiation.
Oversee benchmarking against peer companies and talent competitors.
Define and deliver a clear, future-ready benefits strategy, with particular leadership and depth on US benefits, including healthcare, retirement, wellbeing, and risk benefits.
Oversee global mobility programs, ensuring appropriate governance, compliance, and cost discipline.
Ensure compliance with relevant tax, regulatory, and reporting requirements globally.
Total Rewards & People Solutions Evolution• Lead the end-to-end evolution of Total Rewards and People Solutions, ensuring both are ready, scalable, and aligned to business priorities.
Simplify and standardize reward and people processes, reducing complexity, duplication, and friction.
Leverage technology, data, and AI to modernize reward delivery, analytics, governance, and employee self-service.
Partner closely with P&C Operations and Digital teams to design clear service models and seamless employee experiences.
Act as a recognized enterprise thought leader on functional evolution, continuously scanning external best practice and emerging trends.
Leadership & Enterprise Impact• Lead and develop high-performing, global teams across Total Rewards and People Solutions.
Influence and advise senior leaders with confidence, credibility, and commercial insight.
Build strong relationships with best-in-class external partners, consultants, and vendors.
Ensure clear, compelling reward communications so employees understand and value their total rewards.
Chair or participate in relevant governance forums, including Employee Benefits and investment-related committees as appropriate.