Director, Total Rewards

Reporting into the SVP, People, we are seeking a strategic and data-driven Director of Total Rewards to lead the design, implementation, and execution of innovative compensation and benefits programs that support our fast-growing SaaS organization. This role will be critical in ensuring our total rewards offerings are competitive, scalable, and aligned with our mission to attract and retain top tech talent in a dynamic market. The ideal candidate is experienced in high-growth, tech-driven environments and understands how to balance employee needs, compliance, and business objectives to build world-class total rewards strategies that support scale and equity across global teams.

About us:

Founded in 2005, 8am™ (formerly AffiniPay) is the professional business platform built to help legal, accounting, and other client-focused professionals run stronger, more profitable businesses. Today, more than 250,000 professionals across the U.S. trust 8am to help them work smarter, serve clients better, and unlock their full potential. We have been recognized as one of Inc 5000’s fastest growing companies in the U.S. for 13 years in a row, and as a result, our teams continue to grow as well!

What You’ll Do

Compensation Strategy & Execution

• Architect and manage competitive compensation frameworks across all levels, including base salary, bonus/incentive structures, and equity programs tailored for the SaaS industry.
• Lead annual compensation planning cycles including merit reviews, promotions, and variable pay assessments.
• Partner with Talent Acquisition and department heads to develop compensation offers aligned with internal pay equity and external market trends.
• Leverage benchmarking tools and market data specific to tech/SaaS (e.g., Radford, Comp Analyst, Culpepper, Option Impact, etc) to inform compensation decisions.
• Oversee the Global Payroll Process and optimize for efficiency within Workday. 

Benefits & Wellness Programs

• With support from the Benefits and Compliance Manager, oversee global benefits programs with a strong focus on innovation, employee well-being, and cost-efficiency.
• Continuously assess and evolve benefit offerings to meet the needs of a remote-first or hybrid workforce, with emphasis on mental health, flexibility, and inclusive access.
• Direct Manager of Benefits and Compliance and help oversee the vendor relationships and ensure optimal service and pricing, especially as we scale across geographies.

Equity & Long-Term Incentives

• Drive equity compensation strategy including grant design, refresh cycles, and employee education to ensure understanding and value.
• Collaborate with Finance and Legal on the administration and reporting of stock-based compensation, ensuring alignment with company financials and cap table strategies.
• Support executive compensation design and governance in alignment with industry norms and board expectations.

Compliance, Governance & Communication

• Ensure total rewards practices meet legal requirements globally (e.g., FLSA, ACA, ERISA,GDPR) and support future expansion.
• Regularly review and refresh total rewards policies and frameworks
• Lead communication strategies that clearly articulate the value of total rewards offerings to employees.

Analytics & Reporting

• Own compensation and benefits analytics to track program effectiveness, equity, and competitiveness. 
• Present regular updates to executive leadership with data-informed insights and recommendations. 
• In partnership with Sr. People Analyst, create dashboards and reporting tools to inform People and Finance strategy.

About You

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, HR, or a related field; MBA or Master’s degree a plus.
• 8–10+ years of total rewards experience, with significant time in a SaaS or high-growth tech environment.
• Strong expertise in compensation design, equity administration, and global benefits strategy.
• Excellent analytical skills and comfort with compensation modeling and data visualization.
• Experience working cross-functionally with executive, finance, legal, and people teams scaling environments.
• Strong business and financial acumen; ability to link people strategy to business performance.
• Proficiency in Artificial Intelligence and utilizing various resources to gain efficiencies across Total Rewards. 
• Experience with International Benefits a plus including supporting and Employer of Record model in various countries.
• This position is preferred to be located in Austin, Texas.

Nice to Haves

• Certified Compensation Professional (CCP)
• Global Remuneration Professional (GRP)
• SHRM-SCP, or SPHR

Why 8am 

At 8am, our culture is shaped by the people who bring it to life every day. Together, we build a company rooted in continuous learning, genuine community, holistic wellness, and meaningful engagement—values that empower us as individuals and unite us as a team. Our culture is grounded in our core values: Work Smart, Win Fast; Outshine Ordinary, and We Find a Way. These values drive how we serve our customers and work with each other in a collaborative, inspiring, and empowering environment, every day.

Here’s how we support our 8Team:

• Health Insurance Coverage: We offer our 8Team a variety of medical, dental, and vision plans, designed to fit your needs, including a 100% company-paid HDHP plan for employees.
• Financial perks: We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package including annual bonuses, equity options and 401(k) or RRSP if in Canada, with a company match for all team members.
• Time for what matters: Flexible Time Off, paid holidays, and a parental leave program for our new parents.
• Wellness: Wellness stipends, mental health support, and one-on-one nutrition coaching.
• Learning and Development: Continuous learning through 8am.edu, leadership programs, professional development funds, and individually focused talent development.
• Giving back to the communities around us: Participate in our charitable matching gift program, paid time off for volunteer service, and company-sponsored volunteer events (both local and virtually).
• Engagement: Virtual and in-person team-building events, quarterly award recognition through our Rise & Shine Award of Excellence Program, and our peer-to-peer appreciation platform.

At 8am, we don’t just offer benefits—we create an environment where people can thrive, grow, and make a real impact every day.

Diversity, equity & inclusion at 8am

At 8am, we recognize that innovation occurs with a strong team of people who are diverse in background, personality, talent and ideas. Experience comes in many forms and ensuring a diverse and inclusive workplace where we continue to learn from each other is an integral part of our culture. We are committed to creating a welcoming and transparent environment for all that embraces those differences through education, equal access to opportunities and information, inclusionary programs, and community outreach. 

Security advisory

Our hiring teams at 8am are dedicated to recruiting top talent that share our passion for serving the professional services industry through innovative financial technology.  As such, our Talent Acquisition Team only follows legitimate hiring practices.  We will always communicate with our candidates using emails with the 8am domain and will never ask for sensitive/personal data during the application process.  All interviews take place over phone call, Zoom/Google Meet or in person.  All offers are communicated verbally by our Talent Acquisition Specialists with a written offer letter as a follow up.