Head of Total Rewards

About the role

The Head of Total Rewards is responsible for leading the strategy, design, execution, and continuous improvement of enterprise-wide compensation, benefits, equity, and recognition programs. Reporting to the CHRO, this leader will modernize total rewards programs, build scalable processes, develop a high-performing team, and ensure rewards programs support business growth, performance, and employee engagement. This role requires a strategic, hands-on leader who can balance long-term vision with day-to-day execution. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable operating at the executive level, developing talent, improving processes, and getting into the details to drive results.

Focus Partners is an organization of wealth, asset, and business management resources that brings strength, innovation, and partnership to client relationships. Through a comprehensive range of services, Focus Partners supports clients at every stage of life, helping them manage their financial future. Focus Partners uses research-backed investment strategies to create custom-built portfolios and delivers personalized wealth planning solutions to clients in all 50 states. Focus Partners is part of Focus, a leading financial services firm comprised of wealth management, family office, and business management services. To learn more about Focus, visit focuspartners.com or follow the company on LinkedIn. Focus is a leading financial services firm comprised of integrated wealth management, family office, and business management services. Blending deep expertise and expansive resources with a boutique, client-first fiduciary philosophy, Focus helps individuals, families, and institutions navigate complex financial situations with highly personalized solutions tailored to their unique needs. To learn more about Focus, visit www.focusfinancialpartners.com or follow the company on LinkedIn.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive total rewards strategy aligned with business goals and talent priorities
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the CHRO and senior leadership team on compensation, benefits, and market trends
• Ensure rewards programs are competitive, equitable, and scalable across all business units
• Lead the design, administration, and governance of base salary, annual incentive, commission, and long-term incentive programs
• Oversee annual compensation cycles including merit planning, bonus processes, promotions, and market reviews
• Partner with Finance on budgeting, forecasting, and compensation modeling
• Support executive compensation programs, including board-level materials, analytics, and recommendations
• Ensure compliance with all applicable compensation regulations, reporting, and governance requirements
• Lead strategy and oversight of health, retirement, wellness, leave, and other employee benefit programs
• Evaluate vendor partnerships and optimize benefits offerings to balance employee experience, competitiveness, and cost efficiency
• Drive employee education and engagement around benefits programs and resources
• Assess current processes and implement more efficient, scalable ways of working across total rewards
• Lead systems optimization and process automation, including partnership with Workday team
• Build governance, controls, and repeatable processes that improve execution and service delivery
• Support integration and harmonization efforts across a dynamic and evolving business portfolio
• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing total rewards team focused on accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
• Establish clear priorities, development plans, and operating rhythms across the function

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive experience in compensation, benefits, or total rewards, including senior leadership responsibility
• Experience with Workday, including Compensation, Advanced Compensation, Benefits, and related HR systems modules required
• Proven success building, scaling, or transforming total rewards functions in a complex or high-growth environment
• Deep expertise in compensation strategy, market benchmarking, incentive design, and rewards governance
• Strong working knowledge of employee benefits and retirement programs
• Demonstrated ability to improve processes, simplify operations, and drive measurable outcomes
• Strong financial and analytical acumen with the ability to translate data into business insights
• Executive presence with strong communication and stakeholder management skills
• Experience in financial services, professional services, private equity‑backed, or multi‑entity organization preferred
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred