Associate Director

Job Description Total Rewards (Associate Director/Director) Department: Human Resources (Total Rewards) Reports to: Vice President - HR Direct Reports: Total Rewards Team (35 professionals) Location: Global/Corporate (Oversight across all operating regions) Position Summary Lead 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 Responsibilities 1. Strategic Total Rewards Leadership - Develop 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 Management - Oversee 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. Benefits - Manage 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 Mobility - Oversee international assignments, expatriate compensation, and relocation policies. 6. Budgeting & Cost Management - Own 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 & Compliance - Establish 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 & Insights - Leverage HR analytics to monitor program effectiveness and provide actionable insights to leadership. - Prepare and present reports on total rewards metrics and trends. 9. Collaboration & Advisory - Serve 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 Leadership - Lead 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 Interactions - Internal: 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 & Experience - Education: Master's degree in HR or Business Administration (MBA/PGDM) equivalent certification preferred. - Experience: 912+ 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