Head of Total Rewards, People Innovation, Human Resources

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PATH is a global nonprofit dedicated to achieving health equity. With more than 40 years of experience forging multisector partnerships and with expertise in science, economics, technology, advocacy, and dozens of other specialties, PATH develops and scales up innovative solutions to the world's most pressing heath challenges.

The Head of Total Rewards leads PATH's global Total Rewards Center of Expertise, shaping the compensation, benefits, recognition, and mobility frameworks that enable PATH to attract, retain, and engage a global workforce in service of health equity.

This role is responsible for shaping and executing an equitable, competitive, and financially sustainable total rewards strategy aligned with PATH's values, talent philosophy, and strategic priorities. The Head of Total Rewards ensures that compensation and benefits programs are innovative yet practical, globally coherent yet locally responsive, and compliant with the complex regulatory, donor, and operating environments in which PATH works.

Reporting to the People Innovation Director, the role serves as a trusted advisor to senior leaders on Total Rewards matters, including the Executive Team and Board committees, while partnering closely with People Experience (HRBPs), People Operations, Finance & Planning, and external advisors. The Head of Total Rewards combines strategic leadership with operational excellence, grounding decisions in data, market insight, and equity principles to deliver sustainable outcomes for both the organization and its people.

Key Responsibilities:

The Head of Total Rewards will:

Set the Direction for Total Rewards Strategy

• Define and lead PATH's global total rewards strategy across compensation, benefits, recognition, wellness, and mobility, ensuring alignment with organizational strategy, values, and financial realities.

• Continuously evolve total rewards frameworks to remain competitive, equitable, and responsive to global labor markets and workforce needs.

• Serve as a thought partner to senior leaders on global rewards trends, regulatory developments, and emerging best practices.

Lead Compensation & Merit Frameworks

• Lead the global annual merit and salary review cycle, including timelines, guidelines, tools, governance, training, and communications, in partnership with People Experience and People Operations.

• Maintain and evolve global job architecture, grading, and salary structures, enabling consistency while supporting appropriate local adaptation.

• Ensure internal equity and external competitiveness through benchmarking, pay equity analysis, and market intelligence.

• Partner with Finance & Planning on annual compensation planning, budgeting, and scenario modelling.

Oversee Benefits, Wellness & Recognition Programs

• Provide strategic oversight of global and local benefits programs (health, insurance, retirement, wellness, etc.), ensuring compliance, cost control, and employee satisfaction.

• Guide benefit renewals, vendor selection, and program optimization in partnership with HR Support Services, brokers, and consultants.

• Design and implement recognition and non-monetary rewards programs that reinforce engagement, retention, and performance.

Executive, Board & Mobility Compensation

• Design compensation packages and mobility offers for senior leaders, ensuring alignment with governance standards and market benchmarks.

• Partner with the People Innovation Director, Chief People Officer, and Board committees to prepare executive compensation materials and analyses.

• Design and oversee global mobility and tax frameworks aligned with PATH's talent strategy, including management of global tax vendors.

Compliance, Governance & Risk Management

• Ensure total rewards policies and practices comply with legal, regulatory, and donor requirements across geographies.

• Lead pay equity audits, compensation reviews, and governance processes to ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability.

• Author and simplify global total rewards policies to balance organizational needs with compliance requirements.

Data, Analytics & Insights

• Partner with HRIS & Data Analytics to build dashboards and insights that inform leadership decision-making.

• Use data and evidence to guide strategy, assess impact, and continuously improve rewards programs.

Vendor & Partner Management

• Lead relationships with external vendors, consultants, brokers, and benchmarking providers.

• Negotiate and oversee vendor contracts to ensure value, quality, and alignment with PATH's needs.

Enable HR & Organizational Impact

• Partner closely with People Experience (HRBPs) to ensure frameworks are practical, scalable, and enable strong advisory support to leaders.

• Support organizational growth and expansion by providing agile, solution-oriented rewards guidance in new and evolving country contexts.

Lead, Develop & Enable the Total Rewards Team

• Provide strategic leadership, coaching, and direction to the Total Rewards team, fostering a high-performing, inclusive, and collaborative culture.

• Build team capability through clear role design, goal setting, continuous feedback, and targeted development aligned to PATH's evolving needs.

• Enable team members to operate as trusted advisors by strengthening technical depth, consulting skills, and business acumen.

• Ensure effective workload prioritization, resource planning, and resilience within the team to deliver high-quality outcomes in a complex global environment.

• Model PATH's leadership behaviors and values, supporting engagement, well-being, and professional growth across the team.

Key Competencies and Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree plus a minimum of 10 years of progressive experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience

• Significant leadership experience in compensation and benefits, with global or multi-country scope strongly preferred

• Minimum of 5 years of people management experience, with a demonstrated ability to lead, develop, and retain high-performing specialist teams in complex or global environments.

• Proven ability to operate effectively in complex, matrixed, donor-funded, and multinational environments

• Advanced capability using data, analytics, and benchmarks to inform decisions and drive equitable outcomes

• Strong communication and influencing skills, including comfort engaging with executive leadership and boards

• Demonstrated cultural agility, resilience, and ability to navigate ambiguity

• Experience managing vendors and external advisory relationships

• Ability to build, lead, and develop high-performing specialist teams

• Entrepreneurial, innovative mindset with a strong execution orientation

• Must have legal authorization to live and work in the PATH country office location.

PATH is a diverse nonprofit organization that creates a culture of collaboration and partnership. Learn more about the impact you can make globallyhere.

We offer our employees a competitive salary and generous benefits. For candidates based in the U.S., the annual salary range for this position is $140,800 -$176,000. The final salary is based on a variety of objective factors.

PATH provides a comprehensive benefit package that includes 15 vacation, 10 holiday, 2 personal, and 12 sick days per year; medical and dental plans; life insurance; and disability and retirement benefits. For more details click here.

Hybrid Work
PATH operates within a hybrid workplace model unless otherwise noted. Hybrid employees must reside within commuting distance of one of our PATH offices. PATH's US offices are located in Seattle, WA, and Washington, DC.