Senior Vice President, Total Rewards

Job Title

Senior Vice President, Total Rewards

Job Description Summary

Job Description

Reporting directly to and working in close partnership with Chief People Officer, Holly Tyson, the Head of Total Rewards will serve as a critical member of the global HR leadership team, shaping and influencing enterprise-wide People strategy, priorities, and decision-making. This role will operate at the intersection of business strategy and people outcomes, ensuring that total rewards programs are not only competitive and market-aligned, but also a clear driver of performance, culture, and long-term value creation at Cushman & Wakefield.

As a strategic thought leader and innovator, the Head of Total Rewards will be accountable for the design, evolution, and governance of the firm’s global total rewards philosophy and programs. This includes executive and employee compensation, equity and incentive design, recognition frameworks, and benefits strategy, ensuring a cohesive, scalable, and performance-driven approach across all regions. The role will play a pivotal part in reinforcing a high-performance, pay-for-performance culture, while balancing internal equity, external competitiveness, and regulatory considerations across a complex, global organization.

This leader will partner closely with People Partners, business leaders, Finance, and other key stakeholders to architect and implement enterprise solutions at scale, aligning total rewards programs to business priorities and workforce dynamics. In addition, the Head of Total Rewards will help shape and execute a forward-looking strategy to strengthen the broader People Services model, building a high-performing, agile, and insights-driven function supported by a strong leadership bench and engaged team.

A key component of the role will be driving organizational capability by identifying, developing, and advancing top talent, while fostering a culture of accountability, inclusion, and continuous improvement. The Head of Total Rewards will ensure that Cushman & Wakefield is well-positioned to attract, retain, and motivate top executive and professional talent globally, contributing directly to the firm’s growth agenda and long-term success.

 

Candidate Profile

  

 The ideal candidate is a proven Total Rewards executive with experience leading Compensation and Benefits functions within a complex, multibillion-dollar public company. They bring deep expertise in executive compensation design, including direct engagement with Boards and Compensation Committees, and a strong understanding of governance and regulatory considerations. This individual operates with a sophisticated perspective on global market dynamics and competitive talent strategies, using that insight to shape programs that effectively attract, retain, and motivate top talent.

They have a demonstrated track record of building, scaling, and modernizing Total Rewards functions within global, matrixed organizations, elevating both rigor and impact. A collaborative and influential leader, they are able to advise senior executives and translate strategic priorities into practical, high-impact programs. They are data-driven and commercially minded, leveraging analytics and market intelligence to inform decisions and ensure alignment with business outcomes.

Importantly, this leader is hands-on and pragmatic, comfortable operating in a lean, fast-paced environment while balancing strategic leadership with execution. They bring intellectual curiosity and a forward-looking mindset, continuously evolving Total Rewards programs to ensure Cushman & Wakefield remains competitive and at the forefront of industry best practices.

 

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the global total rewards strategy and execution across compensation, equity, recognition, and benefits programs; overseeing design, governance, communication, and administration of all enterprise-wide offerings, including executive compensation, annual incentives, and long-term incentive plans.

• Own and evolve the firm’s job architecture and compensation framework, ensuring roles, salary structures, and merit programs are grounded in rigorous market data and aligned to a clear, performance-driven pay philosophy.

• Continuously assess external market trends and competitive benchmarks, proactively adjusting programs to ensure Cushman & Wakefield remains competitive, differentiated, and aligned to evolving talent expectations across global markets.

• Ensure consistency, equity, and scalability across all programs, balancing innovative design with disciplined governance to drive fair and transparent outcomes across regions, functions, and levels.

• Partner cross-functionally to integrate total rewards with enterprise talent processes, including goal setting, performance management, and talent development, ensuring rewards are directly linked to business outcomes and individual performance.

• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders and key stakeholders, building strong relationships internally and with external consultants to shape strategies that enhance the firm’s ability to attract, retain, and motivate top executive and professional talent.

• Champion a data-driven, insights-led approach, leveraging analytics and market intelligence to inform decisions, strengthen program effectiveness, and elevate the visibility and strategic impact of the Total Rewards function.

• Define and execute a forward-looking global benefits strategy, ensuring programs are competitive, cost-effective, and responsive to the needs of a diverse and geographically dispersed workforce.

 

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (e.g., Master’s or MBA) preferred

• 15+ years of relevant experience designing, implementing, and leading global Total Rewards programs, including executive compensation, broad-based compensation, sales incentive plans, and employee benefits

• Demonstrated executive presence with credibility and confidence to effectively present to and influence senior leadership, including C-suite and Board-level stakeholders

• Proven ability to operate as a strategic business partner, clearly connecting Total Rewards strategies to broader business priorities and outcomes

• Strong ability to navigate complexity, synthesize multiple inputs, and prioritize the initiatives that will have the greatest impact on organizational performance

• Advanced analytical capability, with a track record of leveraging data, market intelligence, and insights to identify trends, gaps, and risks across Total Rewards programs

• Broad business acumen and general management capability, with the ability to lead within a global, matrixed organization and align people strategies to commercial objectives

 

Key Competencies & Leadership Attributes

  

Executing for Results

Sets clear, ambitious objectives and aligns resources to drive elevated organizational performance, demonstrating strong accountability for outcomes. Navigates complexity and ambiguity with sound judgment, bringing structure and clarity to evolving situations. Applies a disciplined, data-informed approach to decision-making, proactively identifying risks and implications while exercising thoughtful, calculated risk-taking. Operates with a high degree of integrity, transparency, and consistency, ensuring decisions are aligned with the long-term best interests of Cushman & Wakefield.

 

Leading Teams and Developing Talent

Builds and sustains high-performing teams by attracting, developing, and retaining top talent, while fostering an inclusive and performance-driven culture. Effectively delegates, empowers others, and holds teams accountable to high standards. Demonstrates resilience and perseverance, maintaining focus and momentum in the face of challenges and setting a tone of accountability and excellence. Leads with self-awareness and humility, actively seeking feedback and continuously evolving to enhance personal and organizational effectiveness.

 

Building Relationships and Influencing Stakeholders

Establishes strong, trust-based relationships across all levels of the organization through high emotional intelligence, credibility, and effective communication. Influences key stakeholders through clear, persuasive messaging and a compelling point of view, driving alignment and followership without relying on authority. Promotes a collaborative, team-oriented environment by recognizing and elevating the contributions of others and actively supporting shared success.

Cushman & Wakefield also provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health, vision, and dental insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life, and disability insurance programs, and paid and unpaid time away from work. In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, Cushman and Wakefield provide eligible employees with competitive pay, which may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, total hours worked, job type, business line, and applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

The compensation that will be offered to the successful candidate will depend on factors such as whether the position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement, the geographic area in which the work will be performed, market pay rates in that area, and the candidate’s experience and qualifications.

The company will not pay less than minimum wage for this role.

The compensation for the position is: $ 382,500.00 - $450,000.00

Cushman & Wakefield is an Equal Opportunity employer to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Discrimination of any type will not be tolerated.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position at Cushman & Wakefield, please call the ADA line at 1-888-365-5406 or email [email protected]. Please refer to the job title and job location when you contact us.

INCO: “Cushman & Wakefield”