Head of Total Rewards (Houston)

Overview

Company OverviewPattern Energy is a leading renewable energy company that develops, constructs, owns, and operates high-quality wind and solar generation, transmission, and energy storage facilities. Our mission is to transition the world to renewable energy through the sustainable development and responsible operation of facilities with respect for the environment, communities, and cultures where we have a presence. Our approach begins and ends with establishing trust, accountability, and transparency. Our company values of creative spirit, pride of ownership, follow-through, and a team-first attitude drive us to pursue our mission every day. Our culture supports our values by fostering innovative and critical thinking and a deep belief in living up to our promises. Headquartered in the United States, Pattern has a global portfolio of more than 30 power facilities and transmission assets, serving various customers that provide low-cost clean energy to millions of consumers.

Responsibilities

Job PurposeWe are seeking a strategic, hands-on Head of Total Rewards to lead the design, governance, and execution of the company’s compensation, executive compensation, incentive plans, benefits, and related rewards programs. This role will serve as a senior leader within People & Culture and will play a critical role in shaping programs that attract, retain, and motivate top talent while ensuring alignment with business strategy, market competitiveness, regulatory requirements, and sound governance.This leader will bring deep expertise in executive compensation, annual and long-term incentive plan design, equity and equity-like vehicles including RSUs and SARs, M&A-related compensation and benefits integration, and broad-based health and welfare, retirement, and wellbeing programs across US and Canada. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable in the boardroom and in the details, advising senior executives and compensation committees while also driving operational rigor, compliance, analytics, communications, and systems execution.Key AccountabilitiesExecutive Compensation & Board Deliverables Lead the analysis, and administration of executive compensation programs, including base salary, annual incentives, long-term incentives, retention awards, sign-on packages, and separation-related pay considerations.Partner closely with the Executive Team, Finance, Legal, and the Board/Compensation Committee on executive pay decisions, materials, recommendations, and governance processes.Develop and maintain executive compensation frameworks that align pay with performance, company strategy, shareholder expectations, and market competitiveness.Support executive compensation benchmarking, market analyses, peer comparisons, modeling, and recommendations for senior leadership roles.Prepare executive compensation materials for Board and Committee meetings, including compensation memos, scenario analysis, and decision support.Incentive Plan Design & AdministrationOwn the design, governance, and administration of company-wide incentive plans. Lead enterprise compensation strategy including compensation philosophy, salary structures, job architecture, market pricing, pay equity support, annual merit cycles, and promotion/in-range movement governance.Build and refine incentive plan design principles, payout methodologies, metrics, thresholds, weighting approaches, and governance controls.Lead annual incentive calibration and payout processes, including business performance assessment, individual performance alignment, payout modeling, and leadership review support.Ensure all incentive plans are documented clearly, scalable, auditable, and aligned across acquired and legacy businesses where relevant.Partner with Finance and HR systems/payroll teams to strengthen the operational execution, controls, reconciliation, and communication of variable pay programs.Lead the design and administration of long-term incentive vehicles, including RSUs, SARs, cash-based LTIPs, and other equity or equity-like awards.Advise leadership on plan provisions such as vesting, retirement treatment, termination treatment, change-in-control treatment, and award timing.Partner with Legal and Finance on award agreements, plan document review, tax treatment, valuation considerations, accounting impacts, and participant communications.Build clear employee and executive-facing education materials to improve understanding of complex long-term incentive programs.M&A / Integration / Transaction SupportLead the Total Rewards workstream for mergers, acquisitions, integrations, carve-outs, and restructuring activity if any. Conduct compensation and benefits due diligence for target companies, including executive arrangements, retention risk analysis, severance obligations, annual incentive structures, equity programs, and benefit plan liabilities.Design and execute post-close compensation and benefits harmonization strategies, including job leveling alignment, pay range mapping, retention programs, transition incentives, and executive retention arrangements.Partner with business leaders, Legal, and Finance on transaction-related retention, sign-on, and change-management compensation arrangements.Benefits Strategy & AdministrationOversee the strategy, design, vendor management, compliance, and execution of employee benefits programs, including medical, dental, vision, retirement, disability, leave, wellbeing, and ancillary offerings for both all locations including US and Canada. Lead annual benefits renewal strategy, plan design changes, vendor negotiations, employee communications, and open enrollment execution.Ensure benefits programs are competitive, cost-effective, compliant, and aligned with employee needs and the company’s talent strategy.Drive improvements in benefits governance, audits, reconciliations, reporting, and employee experience.Other Build, lead, and develop a high-performing Total Rewards team across compensation and benefits.Create a high-bar operating model with strong controls, documentation, analytics, stakeholder communication, and service delivery.Drive continuous improvement in Total Rewards processes, systems, reporting, and automation.Serve as a trusted advisor to executive leaders on pay, rewards risk, retention, and workforce planning implications.Total Rewards decisions are data-driven, consistent, and trusted by leaders across the company.Other tasks as assigned by manager.

Qualifications

Experience/Qualifications/Education RequiredAdvanced degree required. 15+ years of progressive Total Rewards/ HR experience (with a heavy focus on Total Rewards), including significant leadership experience in compensation, executive compensation, incentive plans, and benefits.Deep expertise in executive compensation, including board- and committee-level compensation design and oversight, with particular strength in equity and complex incentive structures.Strong experience with annual incentive plans, deferred incentives, long-term incentives, RSUs, SARs, and other equity-like vehicles.Demonstrated success leading M&A-related compensation and benefits due diligence, integration, harmonization, and retention design.Strong benefits leadership experience, including health and welfare, retirement, vendor management, renewal strategy, and employee communications.Strong analytical and financial modeling skills with the ability to translate complex data into clear recommendations.Strong knowledge of compensation governance, tax, compliance, and regulatory considerations.Proven ability to influence senior executives and operate effectively in a fast-paced, high-growth, and evolving environment.Excellent judgment, discretion, and executive presence.Experience leading through complexity, ambiguity, and change.Additional RequirementsExperience in renewable energy, infrastructure, industrial, private equity-backed, or similarly complex environments.Experience supporting private company executive compensation structures and evolving long-term incentive frameworks.Experience integrating rewards programs across multiple business units, acquired entities, or cross-border employee populations.Familiarity with compensation committee materials, valuation concepts, and transaction-related executive compensation matters.The expected starting pay range for this role is $203,000.00- $254,000.00 USD. This range is an estimate and base pay may be above or below the ranges based on several factors including but not limited to location, work experience, certifications, and education. In addition to base pay, Pattern’s compensation program includes a bonus structure for full-time employees of all levels. We also provide a comprehensive benefits package which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, voluntary benefits, family care benefits, employee assistance program, paid time off and bonding leave, paid holidays, 401(k)/RRSP retirement savings plan with employer contribution, and employee referral bonuses. Pattern Energy Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer.#LI-AT1 #LI-HybridJob Summary# of Openings: 1Category: People & CultureJob ID: 2026-3226