Head of Total Rewards

Korn Ferry has partnered with a financial services client in their search for a Head of Total Rewards. The Head of Total Rewards will be a critical part of the HR leadership team responsible for the strategic direction and program management for compensation, benefits, health and well-being, equity, payroll, and HR technology. The leader partners closely with executive leadership, the Board of Directors, and cross‑functional stakeholders to deliver innovative and scalable reward solutions that attract, retain, and motivate high‑performing teams.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead the company’s total rewards in close partnership with the business and HR leadership teams.
• Redesign and continuously evolve the total rewards delivery model to improve effectiveness, scalability, and impact.
• Oversee all compensation and benefits programs to attract, retain, and motivate a high‑performing workforce, including the ongoing enhancement of incentive and bonus plan designs aligned to culture, strategy, and business objectives.
• Manage a team of four direct reports (Total Rewards Director, Payroll Manager, and two HR Technology Consultants) and an overall organization of 11, including two compensation specialists, two benefits specialists, a payroll team leader, and two payroll specialists.
• Design and deliver forward‑looking, data‑driven compensation, benefits, health, and equity programs that drive employee engagement, performance, and workforce well‑being.
• Prepare and present rewards and performance materials to the Boad of Directors, Talent Development, Compensation Committee, and the Human Capital executive Committee.
• Ensure compensation programs align with enterprise risk management frameworks and regulatory expectations applicable to large financial institutions.
• Maintain strong governance and ensure adherence to regulatory and compliance requirements, including SEC, tax, and labor laws, across multi‑state and complex operational environments.
• Partner with both the Talent and IT functions to set systems strategy and priorities, advancing the use of HR technology and analytics.
• Support merger, acquisition, and organizational restructuring activities, ensuring complaint and seamless integration of total rewards programs across multi‑state operations.

Requirements

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in total rewards, including executive compensation experience.
• Experience in the public financial services sector, preferably in banking.
• Expertise in compensation design, equity and incentive programs, benefits strategy, and applicable regulatory framework.
• Proven experience preparing and presenting materials to Board of Directors.
• Extensive experience partnering with Boards of Director and Compensation Committees on all aspects of executive compensation matters in public companies, including competitive positioning, short and long‑term incentive design, equity program governance, tax compliance, SEC and disclosure requirement, and executive agreements.
• Exceptional analytical and communication capabilities, combined with strong interpersonal skills and a demonstrated ability to influence and collaborate across all organizational levels.
• Proven experience leading complex initiatives, including defining scope, managing budgets, driving deliverables, meeting deadlines, and effectively managing competing priorities.
• Strategic, forward‑thinking leader with a hands‑on, innovative approach to problem‑solving and execution.
• Must be in, or willing to relocate to the Evansville, IN area, this is not a remote role.