Head of Total Rewards The Opportunity:

Our client, a publicly traded, mid-cap industrial company, is searching for a high-impact Head of Total Rewards. As the company's first enterprise Total Rewards leader, you'll architect a Center of Excellence spanning compensation philosophy, global job architecture, U.S. benefits strategy, incentive design, pay equity, and governance. You'll serve as a trusted executive advisor to the CHRO and senior business leaders while personally driving hands-on execution of foundational programs and processes. This is a builder's role for a senior leader who wants to shape the future of total rewards for a complex, multi-site, global organization.

What You'll Do:

Build the enterprise Total Rewards Center of Excellence , including strategy, governance, policies, tools, and operating model, largely from scratch. Provide executive-level counsel to the CHRO and business leaders on compensation, benefits, incentive design, and pay equity. Design and maintain enterprise compensation infrastructure : job levels, salary structures, localized pay ranges, and market pricing tools. Lead annual compensation planning , benchmarking, salary structure updates, and incentive design in partnership with Finance and HR. Lead U.S. benefits strategy and coach a small benefits team across health, welfare, retirement, wellness, and leave programs. Drive pay equity analysis , audit programs, and action planning to ensure defensible, consistent pay practices. Partner with Legal, Finance, Payroll, and HR Operations to ensure compliant, well-governed administration.

What We're Looking For:

12+ years of progressive compensation and benefits experience Demonstrated track record building or significantly transforming total rewards infrastructure Deep expertise in job architecture, salary structures, incentive design, and U.S. benefits Pay equity and pay transparency experience required Executive advisory experience with CHROs and senior business leaders Manufacturing, distribution, pharmaceutical or industrial sector experience preferred Multi-site or global organization experience strongly preferred Bachelor's degree required ; advanced degree or certification preferred (CCP, CBP) Hybrid work arrangement with 3 days per week onsite (Long Island City/Queens) and minimal travel. What the

Employer Offers:

A genuine greenfield Total Rewards opportunity to build an enterprise function from near-zero infrastructure inside a profitable, stable manufacturer with over a century of operating history and strong momentum behind its transformation. Compensation package includes $250K+ salary, bonus, and equity. TalentScale Partners is a boutique executive search and recruiting firm purpose-built for high-growth organizations, venture-backed startups, and PE portfolio companies. We focus on partnering with our clients to attract, select and hire top-tier leaders and high-impact team members through executive and retained search, project-based recruiting, embedded RPO and contract recruiting, and fractional TA leaders and professionals.

Pay:

$240,000.00 - $260,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) Health insurance Paid time off

Work Location:

Hybrid remote in Long Island City, NY 11101