Vice President, Total Rewards

We are seeking a highly experienced and strategic leader to join Cornerstone as the Vice President of Total Rewards. You will be responsible for developing and executing our global total rewards strategy to attract, motivate, and retain top talent and for leading all aspects of global payroll operations. This position reports to the Chief People Officer and is a member of the People Leadership Team (PLT).

In this role you will....

Leadership and Strategy

• Lead dedicated global teams in compensation, benefits, and payroll, providing mentorship and development to foster engagement and performance.

• Develop and implement strategies and frameworks for total rewards and payroll, and that support organizational goals, culture, and values.

• Champion pay equity, global pay transparency, and harmonization of compensation, payroll, and benefits practices post-acquisition and integration.

• Partner with external consultants and vendors to assess and implement innovative solutions and technologies.

• Monitor regulatory changes and industry trends related to total rewards and payroll, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

• Provide guidance and support to regional People teams on total rewards matters, ensuring consistency and compliance across different geographies.

• Leverage tools to automate or streamline different compensation related processes and workflows.

• Lead the design, development, and management of competitive and innovative compensation programs, including base salary structures, and short-term and long-term incentive plans.

• Oversee the administration of all compensation-related activities, such as salary benchmarking, job evaluations, and annual salary review processes, ensuring fairness and consistency across the organization.

• Collaborate with People Business Partners (PBPs) and business leaders to consult on effective performance management systems that align with compensation programs and promote a high-performance culture.

• Lead the design and management of comprehensive benefits programs, including health and wellness, retirement plans, leave policies, and other employee benefits, ensuring they are competitive and cost-effective.

• Develop and manage global recognition and rewards programs to enhance employee engagement and reinforce a culture of excellence.

• Direct a dedicated global Payroll team managing end-to-end payroll processes for all employees, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance across multiple countries.

• Oversee payroll systems including ADP, ActivPayroll, DKM, Fidelity, ensuring integration with core HCM/service platforms.

• Collaborate closely with Finance on payroll processes, reporting, and compliance.

• Drive process improvement initiatives for payroll, leveraging technology and automation to enhance efficiency and experience.

• Ensure payroll compliance with all local, regional, and global regulations, and lead payroll-related integration and harmonization during mergers and acquisitions.

• Champion innovation, transformation, and digitalization within global payroll operations.

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.

• Extensive experience (12+ years) in total rewards management, including payroll, compensation, benefits within a global organization; alternative career paths are welcome!

• 5+ years leading global teams; specific experience managing dedicated professionals across multiple countries.

• Expertise in payroll operations, systems (ADP, ActivPayroll, DKM, etc.) and compliance within software/technology industry.

• Experience in M&A integrations, especially harmonizing payroll and compensation structures.

• Strong project management, analytical, communication, and relationship-building skills.

• Proven ability to lead and inspire a team, fostering collaboration, and delivering results in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and build relationships at all levels of the organization.

• Strong project management skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.

• Professional certifications such as Certified Compensation Professional (CCP), Global Remuneration Professional (GRP), and/or Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) are highly desirable.