Total Rewards Strategy and Portfolio Acceleration Lead

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Total Rewards Strategy and Portfolio Acceleration Lead based in the United States. This senior role will shape and accelerate an enterprise-wide Total Rewards strategy across a complex, global organization. You will connect functional reward strategies into a unified portfolio, strengthening governance, planning, execution, and operational excellence. The position combines strategic planning, portfolio leadership, change management, communications, and AI-enabled transformation. You will work closely with senior HR leaders, Finance, Legal, Communications, and other business partners to align priorities and drive measurable outcomes. The role requires someone who can move comfortably between long-term strategy and hands-on execution in a fast-changing environment. You will influence major decisions, improve ways of working, and help embed stronger planning and delivery disciplines across the function. The position may also involve leading a small team and serving as a trusted strategic partner to senior Total Rewards leadership. Portfolio leadership: Manage the Total Rewards portfolio, leadership-team meetings, and broader function forums to prioritize and accelerate the highest-impact initiatives. Strategic planning: Develop and support short- and long-term Total Rewards strategies, operating plans, priorities, and execution roadmaps aligned with enterprise objectives. AI transformation: Lead AI-enabled transformation across Total Rewards, partnering with relevant teams to embed AI into processes, decision-making, and everyday ways of working. Leadership support: Serve as a central coordination point for senior Total Rewards leadership, supporting strategy, planning, execution, and key decision-making forums. Business planning: Coordinate operating reviews, budget planning, and other planning processes while ensuring Total Rewards priorities remain aligned with enterprise timelines and objectives. Executive partnership: Act as a trusted proxy for senior leadership when requested, representing priorities and facilitating alignment in key meetings and decision forums. Cross-functional alignment: Partner with HR, Finance, Legal, Communications, centers of expertise, business planners, and field HR teams to coordinate initiatives and integrate Total Rewards planning with broader organizational priorities. Executive communications: Develop presentations, leadership materials, strategic updates, and communications that clearly articulate Total Rewards priorities, strategies, progress, and outcomes. Process improvement: Identify and implement improvements to functional business-management processes, increasing consistency, efficiency, speed, and quality across the Total Rewards organization. OKRs and performance management: Support the development of annual OKRs, facilitate planning discussions, and monitor progress against strategic objectives throughout the year. Change and culture: Support talent development, capability building, employee engagement, organizational culture, and change readiness across the Total Rewards function. Agility and special projects: Quickly take ownership of emerging priorities, organize and coordinate new work, and lead special projects as business needs evolve. Portfolio optimization: Conduct research, assess market trends, identify opportunities for investment or divestment, and evaluate potential future partners or capabilities. Financial management: Support Total Rewards P&L and budget management while maintaining strong focus on resource allocation and portfolio value. Team leadership: Where applicable, lead and develop a small team supporting the function’s strategic planning, portfolio management, and execution priorities. Requirements: Education: Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field required; a master’s degree is preferred.