Senior Director, Total Rewards

Senior Director, Total Rewards & HRIS

Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork, and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, biodiversity, and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples, and local communities to help people and nature thrive together.

POSITION SUMMARY - This position is based in CI’s office in Arlington, Virginia

Are you ready to lead the future of rewards and data in a global, purpose-driven organization? We are seeking a visionary Senior Director, Total Rewards & HRIS to shape and steer our compensation, benefits, recognition, and performance management programs for over 1,800 employees across 30 countries. In this pivotal role, you'll lead a talented team and partner with key stakeholders to design and implement rewards and data systems that drive employee engagement, fuel organizational growth, and enhance our global reach.

As the Senior Director, you’ll develop and execute a strategic vision for total rewards and HR systems that supports our mission and ensures we remain a leader in employee experience worldwide.

You will:

• Lead the design and deployment of our total rewards programs, ensuring they are competitive, sustainable, and reflect our culture and values.
• Oversee the HRIS function, ensuring data accuracy, streamlined processes, and integration across our People & Culture platforms.
• Partner with leaders across Talent Acquisition, Talent Development, DEI, HR Business Partners, IT, Finance, and more to implement enterprise-wide programs that meet global HR requirements and local workforce needs.
• Directly supervise the Benefits Director, Compensation Director, and Senior Manager of HR Systems & Metrics, while providing guidance to a wider team, including the Benefits Manager and HR Coordinator.
• Shape the future of our People & Culture data and rewards strategies in partnership with external experts, ensuring we stay at the forefront of HR innovation and best practices.

Why You’ll Love This Role:

• You’ll have a global impact on our organization, working with diverse teams and contributing to employee engagement and operational efficiency worldwide.
• You’ll be part of a mission-driven organization, supporting people and culture at all levels to create meaningful change.
• With direct influence over a broad range of HR functions, your role will be both strategic and hands-on, allowing you to see the tangible effects of your work across our workforce.

Reporting Line:

• This position reports to the Deputy Chief People & Culture Officer, a leader committed to fostering a forward-thinking and inclusive workplace culture.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Compensation and Benefits - Crafting Competitive and Equitable Rewards

• Drive strategy, design, and implementation of CI’s total rewards including base pay, executive compensation, employee bonus programs, annual reviews, and bi-annual promotion cycles .
• Work closely with the Compensation Director on regular benchmarking cycles to analyze and assess global market data, industry trends, pay equity, and best practices.
• Develop and maintain CI’s standard job descriptions, pay band profiles, individual country pay structures, and career advancement framework through the job evaluation process, ensuring that positions are evaluated against an established set of criteria and are leveled consistently across the organization.
• Ensure countries are aligned to and continue to evolve to meet the strategic total reward objectives of the organization, including established benefit requirements.
• Work closely with HR Business Partners, Talent Acquisition, and regional and country operations and leadership on all aspects of total rewards management, collaborating effectively and providing thought partnership and analysis.
• Partner with Finance to execute CI’s compensation and benefits programs aligned to organizational and program budgeting management processes.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to develop dashboards and analytic models with business insights and interpret market or internal trends and establish and measure key compensation and benefit program metrics.
• Develop new, streamlined, automated, and efficient processing for all areas within the compensation function with a key focus on customer service and communication.
• Develop and maintain effective communication strategies and plans to drive employee awareness and understanding of all compensation and benefits programs.
• Design and train managers and HR professionals on key compensation issues, concepts, or processes.
• Work with the talent acquisition team to ensure internal and external candidates receive appropriate offers consistent with our compensation approach.

HRIS & People Analytics - Transforming Data into Strategic Insight

• Manage and oversee the review, selection, implementation, and education of a new Enterprise-Wide Resource Program and the HR functionality across all our global offices.
• Serve as the HR systems Subject Matter Expert and communicate, educate, and support system-related solutions to keep business processes simple and efficient.
• Lead steady state projects including, but not limited to; open enrollment, merit/bonus cycle, mid-year/year-end performance through design, configuration, testing, cutover, and post-production support.
• Oversee implementation and integration of HR technology and functionality.
• Partner with HR and appropriate stakeholders to define/refine procedures for HR processes that involve systems.
• Maintain quality, consistency, and integrity of HRIS Systems.
• Document and maintain HRIS procedures, user documentation, and system updates.
• Troubleshoot, analyze, detect, identify, and correct technical problems and deficiencies.
• Conduct formal and informal training sessions regarding HRIS features and functionality.

People and Resource Management Responsibilities

• Manages the US organizational fringe benefits budget.
• Manages contracts and services agreements within CI required financial policies and processes.
• Manage a team of 3 directly and 2 indirectly, for a total of 5 people in Total Rewards and HRIS.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Typical office environment.
• Ability to work alternative hours to meet, consult, and advise staff in multiple time zones.
• This position follows a hybrid work structure, working some days from the office and some remotely. Guidance will be shared during the interview process.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s Degree and 10 or more years of experience in total rewards design for compensation, and benefits in an international setting.
• 5 or more years of supervisory experience.
• Strong knowledge of HRIS plan design and implementation practices.
• Excellent analytical skills to effectively analyze data and build reports, and metrics.
• Excellent and persuasive oral and written communication skills; professionally assertive with ability to influence without formal authority and capable of managing conflict and conflicting views.
• Effective consultative skills and experience presenting to all levels of leadership.
• HRIS experience and advanced Excel skills.
• Ability to develop concise and effective presentations.
• Highly organized and self-directed, comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities.
• Ability to successfully navigate and leverage collaboration tools such as SharePoint and Microsoft Office Suite

Preferred

• Multi-language skills in French, Spanish, Portuguese, or Bahasa.
• Previous nonprofit experience.
• Change Management experience.

To apply for this position please submit a resume and cover letter.

See all Conservation International Career OpportunitiesHERE

Conservation International is an equal opportunity, affirmative action, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility-committed employer. We are proud to have a diverse, global workforce where employment decisions are based on qualifications, experience, position requirements, business needs, market conditions, merit, and other legitimate nondiscriminatory factors.