Director, Total Rewards

Summary

Join Nuvalent as their Director, Total Rewards, reporting to the SVP, Human Resources. You will lead the strategic design, implementation, and management of compensation and benefits programs, ensuring competitiveness, compliance, and alignment with business objectives. Partner with HR colleagues and business leaders to provide expert guidance and data-driven insights. Responsibilities include designing and administering total rewards frameworks, leading annual compensation planning, collaborating on sales incentive plans, working with Legal and Finance on equity administration, and preparing Board compensation committee materials. You will analyze compensation data, oversee benchmarking and market pricing, educate on total rewards strategies, and ensure compliance. Leverage data analytics to optimize processes and drive change management initiatives.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or related field experience required
• 10+ years of progressive experience in compensation, benefits, or total rewards, ideally within a commercial biotech / pharma
• 4+ years managing total rewards programs, with demonstrated experience in both compensation and benefits leadership
• Expert proficiency in Excel, compensation planning tools and experience with various HRIS tools; experience with Paylocity a plus
• Experience managing total rewards programs in a multi-state environment
• Strong analytical, communication, and presentation skills, with the ability to influence and build relationships across all levels of the organization
• Demonstrated success in driving process improvements, managing multiple projects, and aligning people strategies with business goals
• Deep knowledge of regulatory requirements and best practices in compensation and benefits administration

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and administer comprehensive total rewards frameworks including compensation, benefits, and related programs-to support business strategy and employee value proposition
• Lead annual compensation planning, both short term and long term incentive plans, as well as effective operational processes
• In partnership with colleagues, assist the development and management of sales incentive compensation plans
• Work closely with Legal, Finance and Accounting colleagues on equity administration
• In partnership with senior leadership and our executive compensation consultant, help prepare all recommendations and materials for Board compensation committee
• Analyze and present data on compensation, benefits, and workforce trends, providing actionable recommendations to senior leadership
• Oversee compensation benchmarking, survey submissions, and market pricing to ensure pay structures remain competitive within the biotech sector
• Collaborate with HR Business Partners, HR Operations, Talent Acquisition, and business leaders to educate and advise on total rewards strategies and practices
• Ensure all programs comply with relevant legal, regulatory, and governance requirements
• Leverage data analytics and technology to enhance decision-making and optimize total rewards processes
• Drive change management initiatives to align total rewards with evolving business needs and industry best practices

Preferred Qualifications

• Customer service mindset with a focus on the optimal employee experience, while balancing the needs of the business
• Ability to pivot and change based on new information and/or changes in business strategy
• Clear and concise communicator; strong ability to communicate via written & verbal methods
• Ability to effectively communicate the “why” and understands how to gain buy-in from key stakeholders
• Demonstrates a sense of urgency and drive for results
• Successfully weighs the value of initiatives against organizational readiness; ability to build solutions for short term and long-term needs
• Deep technical knowledge of compensation systems and tools to support decision making and operational efficiencies