Director/Senior Director, Total Rewards (Cambridge)

Apnimed is a rapidly growing pharmaceutical company focused on transforming the treatment of sleep apnea through innovative, patient-friendly therapies. Our approach is rooted in a simple idea: patients with obstructive sleep apnea may benefit from a safe, effective oral medication taken once daily at bedtime.

Our lead development program targets the neurologic control of upper airway muscles to help maintain an open airway during sleep. Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Apnimed is advancing a portfolio of novel pharmacologic therapies for sleep apnea and related disorders through cutting-edge science and a commitment to innovation.

Recognized by the Boston Business Journal as one of the Best Places to Work in both 2024 and 2025, we are continuing to grow and build the foundational operations that enable our employees and our mission to thrive.

Position Overview

We are seeking a strategic and hands‑on Director/Senior Director, Total Rewards to lead the design, implementation, and administration of Apnimed's Total Rewards programs. Reporting to the Senior Vice President, Human Resources, this role will be responsible for developing and executing compensation, equity, benefits, performance management, and HR systems strategies that support the organization's business objectives and employee experience. This individual will partner closely with leadership to ensure programs are competitive, scalable, compliant, and aligned with Apnimed's continued growth.

In addition to leading Total Rewards initiatives, this role will own all compensation, benefits, and HRIS programs and processes, ensuring they are strategically designed, operationally effective, and compliant with applicable laws and regulations. The Director/Senior Director, Total Rewards will oversee annual compensation planning, equity administration, benefits strategy, total rewards communications, annual rewards statements, HR systems optimization, onboarding processes, talent and performance management programs, and HR compliance while partnering closely with Finance, Legal, and executive leadership to support organizational growth. This is an excellent opportunity for a collaborative HR leader who enjoys building scalable programs while remaining actively involved in execution within a fast‑growing biotech environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead Apnimed's Total Rewards function, providing strategic leadership and operational oversight for all compensation, equity, benefits, HRIS, and related programs.
• Develop and execute the company's Total Rewards strategy, ensuring compensation, benefits, and recognition programs are competitive, equitable, scalable, and aligned with business objectives and talent strategy.
• Lead the design, implementation, and ongoing administration of compensation programs, including salary structures, annual merit and bonus planning, market benchmarking, job evaluations, and compensation philosophy.
• Own all annual compensation processes, including salary planning, merit increases, promotions, bonus administration, market benchmarking, pay equity analyses, and compensation recommendations for new hires and existing employees.
• Develop and maintain the company's compensation philosophy, job architecture, salary structures, and market pricing methodology to ensure internal equity and external competitiveness.
• Partner with executive leadership to develop competitive compensation strategies for new and existing roles using market data and industry benchmarks.
• Manage the administration and strategy of the company's equity programs, partnering with Finance and Legal on equity grants, reporting, governance, employee communications, and equity planning.
• Lead the development and distribution of annual Total Rewards Statements, providing employees with a comprehensive view of their overall compensation package, including salary, bonus, equity, benefits, and company-sponsored programs.
• Own the strategy, administration, and continuous improvement of all employee benefits programs, partnering with brokers and vendors to evaluate plan competitiveness, manage annual renewals, oversee open enrollment, and enhance the overall employee experience.
• Oversee the organization's performance management philosophy and processes, including goal setting, performance reviews, talent calibration, succession planning, and manager coaching.
• Serve as the strategic owner of the company's HRIS, ensuring data integrity, system optimization, reporting capabilities, integrations, testing, vendor management, and continuous process improvement across the employee lifecycle.
• Evaluate, implement, and continuously improve HR technologies and processes to improve operational efficiency, reporting capabilities, and employee experience.
• Develop HR dashboards and analytics that provide leadership with actionable insights on compensation, workforce trends, turnover, performance, headcount, and other key people metrics.
• Partner closely with Talent Acquisition throughout the hiring process by providing compensation guidance, market intelligence, organizational design recommendations, and offer support for new hires.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local employment laws related to compensation, pay transparency, wage and hour regulations, benefits administration, HRIS data management, HR recordkeeping, and other HR programs.
• Partner with Legal and external vendors to monitor regulatory changes and proactively update Total Rewards programs, HR policies, and internal processes as needed.
• Handle sensitive and confidential information with the highest level of professionalism, discretion, and integrity.
• Lead or support additional strategic HR initiatives and cross‑functional projects as the organization continues to scale.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field required; Master's degree preferred.
• 8+ years of progressive Human Resources experience, including significant experience leading compensation, benefits, HRIS, and Total Rewards programs, preferably within the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, life sciences, or healthcare industries.
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing compensation programs and strategies, including salary structures, market benchmarking, annual compensation planning, executive compensation support, and pay equity initiatives.
• Strong working knowledge of equity compensation programs, including stock options, RSUs, and long‑term incentive plans.
• Demonstrated experience leading benefits strategy and administration, including vendor management, renewals, open enrollment, and employee communications.
• Experience leading performance management and talent management programs that support organizational growth, succession planning, leadership development, and employee engagement.
• Strong knowledge of HRIS platforms and HR technologies, with experience managing system implementations, enhancements, reporting, integrations, and process optimization.
• Experience leveraging HR analytics and workforce data to support business decisions and executive reporting.
• Thorough understanding of federal and state employment laws, pay transparency requirements, wage and hour regulations, benefits compliance, and HR best practices.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to influence leaders across all levels of the organization and provide strategic consultation on organizational, compensation, and workforce decisions.
• Excellent analytical, project management, and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Outstanding interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills with the ability to build trusted relationships across all levels of the organization.
• Strong customer service mindset with a passion for creating scalable, employee‑centered programs and processes.
• Ability to handle highly confidential information with professionalism, sound judgment, and discretion.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across teams in a dynamic and evolving organization.

The salary range for this position is $200,000 - $260,000. Final compensation will be determined based on multiple factors and may fall outside of the posted range.