Total Rewards Strategy Lead

Total Rewards (Associate Director/Director)Department: Human Resources (Total Rewards)Reports to: Vice President - HRDirect Reports: Total Rewards Team (3–5 professionals)Location: Global/Corporate (Oversight across all operating regions)Position SummaryLead of Total Rewards is responsible for architecting and executing a comprehensive total rewards strategy to attract, motivate, and retain top talent in alignment with Birlasoft’s business objectives. This role ensures that all reward programs are competitive, cost-effective, compliant, and foster a high-performance culture.Key Responsibilities1. Strategic Total Rewards LeadershipDevelop and implement a global total rewards strategy that aligns with organizational goals and market best practices.Advise senior leadership on reward innovations and present strategic recommendations.2. Compensation ManagementOversee company-wide compensation planning, including annual salary reviews, merit increases, and variable pay programs.Support executive compensation decisions and administer long-term incentive plans.Conduct benchmarking studies and market salary surveys to maintain competitive pay structures.Ensure internal equity and compliance with pay regulations across all regions.3. BenefitsManage global benefits portfolio, including health, welfare and retirement initiatives.Regularly review and enhance benefit offerings to ensure competitiveness and cost-effectiveness.Oversee vendor relationships to maintain service quality.5. Global MobilityOversee international assignments, expatriate compensation, and relocation policies.6. Budgeting & Cost ManagementOwn the total rewards budget, forecasting and monitoring all related costs.Optimize spend through cost-benefit analysis and implement cost-saving initiatives.Provide regular financial reports to HR and Finance leadership.7. Governance & ComplianceEstablish robust governance for all reward processes, ensuring accuracy and policy adherence.Address audit findings and maintain compliance with tax, labor, and statutory regulations.8. Analytics & InsightsLeverage HR analytics to monitor program effectiveness and provide actionable insights to leadership.Prepare and present reports on total rewards metrics and trends.9. Collaboration & AdvisoryServe as the internal expert on total rewards, advising HR Business Partners and business leaders.Partner with Finance, Legal, and Compliance to ensure alignment and regulatory adherence.Communicate reward programs and changes clearly to all stakeholders.10. Team LeadershipLead and develop the Total Rewards team, setting clear goals and fostering a culture of excellence.Ensure ongoing training and professional development for team members.Represent Birlasoft in external HR forums and industry networks.Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)Financial Outcomes: Adherence to budget, cost optimization, payroll accuracy.Employee Satisfaction: Improved engagement and satisfaction scores, high offer acceptance rates, reduced attrition among top talent.Process & Compliance: On-time completion of reward cycles, zero major compliance issues, robust succession planning.Innovation & Impact: Introduction of new reward initiatives, progress on diversity and inclusion metrics, increased participation in wellness programs.Team Development: High engagement scores within the Total Rewards team, strong internal succession pipeline, ongoing upskilling.Stakeholder InteractionsInternal: Collaborate with HR teams, senior leadership, business unit heads, and legal/compliance.External: Engage with auditors, consultants, vendors, and HR industry networks to ensure best practices and compliance.Qualifications & ExperienceEducation: Master’s degree in HR or Business Administration (MBA/PGDM) equivalent certification preferred.Experience: 9–12+ years in Compensation & Benefits/Total Rewards, with global experience and team leadership.Technical Skills: Expertise in compensation design, benefits administration, reward analytics, HRIS, and advanced Excel.Global Mobility: Strong understanding of expatriate management, international assignments, and compliance.Regulatory Knowledge: Comprehensive awareness of labor laws and statutory requirements across major geographies.Competencies: Strategic mindset, analytical acumen, leadership, communication, integrity, adaptability, and cultural sensitivity