Group Director, Total Rewards & People Operations

WHY DEPT®?

We are a Growth Invention company built to help the world’s most ambitious brands grow faster. Operating at the intersection of technology and marketing, we create what is next by pioneering ideas, acting fast, and moving further because standing still just is not in our DNA.

We are drawn to people who stay curious, move with intent, and never stop inventing. Our culture runs on three values: better together, relentlessly curious, and get sh*t done. It is how we work, how we grow, and how we make things that matter.

At DEPT®, you will find the freedom to explore, the space to collaborate, and the trust to make a real impact for our clients, for each other, and for the world we are helping to build.

THE ROLE

We are looking for a Group Director, Total Rewards & People Operations who will be responsible for helping to shape and lead the reward strategy of the Americas region in order to attract, retain, engage and motivate employees, as well as advising business leaders of the best practices for total reward processes. You will be accountable and own compensation and benefits as well as manage the People Operations and Payroll teams.

You will work in a vibrant environment with clever minds that work for a variety of large global clients. At DEPT®, we’re eager to hire the most talented experts in the game; people who continuously strive to improve their craft, are eager to learn, who want to inspire others, and strive for a better world.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Lead and develop the Total Rewards function across compensation, benefits, employee health, and retirement programs, providing coaching and direction to team leads.
• Own the strategy, design, and execution of compensation programs, including job architecture, job pricing, salary benchmarking, and annual compensation planning cycles.
• Oversee payroll operations to ensure accurate, timely processing and alignment with compensation strategy and compliance requirements.
• Direct the design, implementation, and ongoing management of benefits and employee health programs, ensuring they are competitive, cost-effective, and aligned with employee needs.
• Maintain governance and oversight of 401(k) programs, including administration, compliance testing, audits, and participation in the 401(k) committee.
• Provide strategic insights and reporting to executive leadership and the compensation committee, including market trends, program effectiveness, and recommendations.
• Monitor external market trends, economic conditions, and regulatory changes to continuously evolve Total Rewards programs and ensure competitiveness.
• Manage vendor relationships across benefits, payroll, and rewards programs, including contract negotiation and cost management.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable compensation and benefits regulations (e.g., ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, and local laws).
• Partner with HR and business leaders to develop clear communication strategies that educate employees on Total Rewards offerings and drive engagement.
• Maintain alignment with HR systems and workflows (e.g., HRIS), ensuring data integrity and seamless integration of Total Rewards programs.
• Manage People Operations to ensure core processes (e.g., onboarding, offboarding, visa/leave management, data accuracy) are running effectively, with a focus on enabling and supporting Total Rewards delivery.

 

WHAT YOU BRING:

• In depth expertise designing innovative compensation and benefits models across different employee segments and have experience with executive compensation program design, governance and job modeling.
• Success in creating and articulating complex strategies and plans to both senior leadership and peers.
• Experience working cross functionally with key stakeholders across the Americas, managing relationships and organizational change dynamics with discretion and tact.
• Knowledge of Human Resource Management software (ADP Workforce Now/BambooHR)
• Excellent strategic, analytical and financial skills.
• Driven self-starter with a strong attention to detail.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to comfortably handle difficult conversations.
• Ability to establish strong partnerships/relationships both internally and externally, to ensure a high level of service.

 

WHAT DO WE OFFER?

We are a collaborative, open-door, best-idea-wins environment that fosters personal and company growth and has fun doing it. Here is a snapshot of our  benefits package:

• Healthcare, Dental, and Vision coverage
• 401k plan, plus matching
• PTO
• Paid Com