Senior Director, Total Rewards & People Operations

About the role

Arcadia is seeking a Senior Director, Total Rewards & People Operations to join the People & Impact team. In this role, this individual will be responsible for the design and implementation of innovative and scalable compensation and benefits programs that enable the attraction and retention of top talent. This role will also oversee global People Operations — spanning HRIS, compliance, HR policies, and people data — including the management and modernization of all HR systems and processes worldwide. This leader will partner in a matrixed capacity with regional People Operations leaders at each of our global sites to ensure consistent, locally compliant execution of total rewards and people programs. We expect this leader to actively adopt AI and automation to reimagine how our total rewards and people processes are designed, delivered, and scaled. The ideal candidate is analytical, creative, curious about emerging technology, enjoys working with data, and knows what it takes to succeed in a high-growth environment. This role is remote reporting to the VP, People, and will have 4-5 direct reports across Benefits, Compensation, HRIS, and People Operations/Compliance, plus collaborating with a broader extended People Operations team globally. Additionally, the Senior Director, Total Rewards & People Operations will collaborate frequently with our Executive Leadership Team (ELT), Finance, Legal, Talent Acquisition, and regional People Operations leaders at our global sites, as well as other departments. Arcadia is headquartered in Washington, DC, and open to fully remote candidates, with preference for those in Washington, DC or east coast.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the subject matter expert on total rewards (inclusive of base salary, bonus programs, variable compensation, equity, recognition awards, and benefits) and global People Operations (HRIS, compliance, HR policies, and people data).
• Lead and develop a team of 4 direct reports across Benefits, Compensation, HRIS, and People Operations/Compliance, overseeing their career growth into advanced individual contributors, people managers, and potential successors to anticipate the evolution of the organization.
• Champion the adoption of AI and automation across total rewards and People Operations - from AI-enabled compensation analysis and benchmarking to streamlined, self-service workflows - so the team can move faster and focus on higher-value strategic work.
• Design competitive, attractive total rewards and benefits programs for the entire company, with a roadmap aligned to Arcadia's values and ensuring internal equity, external competitiveness, and compliance with all governmental regulations.
• Partner closely with Finance and the business throughout the performance review process, bonus, promotions, and total rewards statement process by providing analytical, forecasting, budgeting and structural guidance.
• Collaborate with Executives and HR/Legal/Finance on our company stock & equity programs (grant guidelines and execution).
• Own compensation benchmarking, pay equity analysis, and the related data and external partner/vendor relationships - running these at least annually to keep Arcadia's total rewards competitive and retain top talent.
• Partner with HR Business Partners on compensation recommendations, job architecture, and total reward packages for roles.
• Oversee operational elements of the global People Operations function including HR-related documentation, policies and compliance, HRIS & systems, leave of absence, and people data, serving as the escalation point for regional People Operations leaders across our site locations.
• Continue to evaluate and implement systems and vendors to support Arcadia's global growth.

Qualifications

• Typically 10+ years of global compensation and benefits experience (or equivalent), ideally including time in a fast-paced, high-growth start-up or tech company.
• Strong knowledge of relevant ERISA, IRS, and DOL regulations, and legal requirements impacting compensation.
• Subject matter expert in executive compensation, bonus, equity, variable compensation, and benefits and strong communication skills to educate organization.
• Hands-on expertise across equity vehicles (ISO/NSO/RSU, ESPP, and vesting structures) and compensation tools, including tool integrations and consultant partnerships.
• Technical knowledge of compensation design, including incentive, commission, and executive compensation program designs and associated tax implications and requirements.
• Track record of building creative, forward-looking rewards programs and long-term rewards platforms that scale with a high-growth company's evolving strategy.
• Fluency with AI and automation, and a demonstrated ability to apply modern tools to compensation, benefits, and HR operations to improve speed, accuracy, and the employee experience.
• Experience leading HRIS, compliance, and People Operations functions, including managing distributed or matrixed teams across multiple regions or sites.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with systems integrations and supporting mergers and acquisitions, including harmonizing compensation and benefits programs across combining organizations.
• Experience operating in a global, multi-site organization with local/regional People Operations leadership structures.

Pay

Target Annual Compensation Range for this role will be $150,000 to $230,000. There will also be a competitive benefits and equity (bonus if applicable) component to the package. The exact compensation at which this job is filled will be determined by the skills, experience, and location of the qualified candidate.