Associate Director, Total Rewards, People Systems and...

South Pole is an energetic, global company offering comprehensive sustainability solutions and services. With offices spanning all continents across the globe, we strive to create a sustainable society and economy that positively impacts our climate, ecosystems and developing communities. With our solutions, we inspire and enable our customers to create value from sustainability-related activities.

Our Corporate Functions team is the “enablement engine” of South Pole. Behind the scenes, we provide the business with world-class solutions and best practices that sustain business growth and success. We cover key areas such as Finance, HR, Office Management, Legal, IT, Operations, etc. If you are a smart, ambitious and dynamic professional with a strong passion to make a real difference in the fight against climate change, the below position may be right for you!

Job summary:

 As Associate Director, Total Rewards, People Systems and Analytics, People & Culture, you will lead a critical portfolio at the intersection of data, technology, and employee experience. This role is responsible for designing and managing global compensation and benefits programs, aligned with the niche industry and global markets; delivering actionable workforce insights through advanced people analytics, and driving operational excellence through optimized HR systems and processes.

You will ensure that our people strategies are data-driven, competitive, and scalable—supporting business growth, enabling informed decision-making, and strengthening our position as an employer of choice. This role requires a strong strategic mindset, deep analytical expertise, and a commitment to building fair, transparent, and future-fit people practices. Previous experience in managing the Total Rewards agenda, People analytics function, and people management is required.

In addition, this role will also be required to own and continuously evolve South Pole performance management framework, including goal-setting, performance criteria, rating definitions, and governance principles.

You will report to the CHRO and be part of the People & Culture Leadership Team.

Main tasks & responsibilities:

Total Rewards Strategy & Delivery

Lead the development and execution of global compensation and benefits strategies that attract, retain, and motivate top talent.

Define and implement job architecture frameworks, global compensation guidelines, and pay transparency practices.

Design, manage, and administer the annual compensation cycle.

Oversee global compensation benchmarking and market competitiveness reviews, including survey selection and participation.

Design, manage, and administer Short-Term Incentive (STI), Sales Incentive Plans, and Long-Term Incentive (LTI) programs.

Design and administer the equity distribution program, in partnership with the Corporate Secretary.

Be part of the corporate budgeting and cost control process, when it comes to the staff cost, benefits and compensation elements.

Partner with senior leadership, Finance, and Business Leaders to define annual budgets and ensure financial stewardship of rewards programs.

Act as strategic advisor to the Board and Executive Leadership on complex compensation decisions and governance.

People Analytics Leadership

Develop and deliver a comprehensive people analytics roadmap aligned with strategic business needs.

Lead the development of analytics tools and dashboards to drive insights into workforce trends, DEI, performance, and engagement.

Lead the workforce planning and staff cost budgeting / forecasting, ensuring data accuracy and delivering insights to support business decisions.

Apply predictive analytics, automation, and machine learning where applicable to support strategic workforce planning and talent decision-making.

Build data literacy and storytelling capability across the People & Culture team and business leaders.

People Systems & Operational Excellence

Oversee the selection, implementation, and optimization of key HR systems (HRIS, ATS, LMS, payroll).

Ensure system and data integrity, compliance with data privacy regulations (e.g. GDPR), and effective data governance.

Drive HR process design and automation to enable a scalable, service-oriented HR delivery model.

Partner with internal tech and digital transformation teams to plan and prioritize system enhancements and upgrades.

Lead cross-functional initiatives to align HR technology with business needs and improve the employee experience.

Performance Management

Own and continuously evolve South Pole performance management framework, including goal-setting, performance criteria, rating definitions, and governance principles.

Manage the annual and mid-cycle performance processes by defining timelines, standards, tools, and communications. Provide clear guidance and structure to ensure consistent execution across the organization while enabling HRBPs to lead delivery within their respective business areas.

Monitor the effectiveness of the performance management process through data, feedback, and outcomes. Drive continuous improvement of the framework, develop manager enablement materials, and support HRBPs in strengthening performance conversations and accountability across the organization.

Team management and Stakeholders interaction

Lead and inspire a team of 2-3 specialists in Total Rewards, People Analytics, and People Systems across multiple geographies.

Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, managers, and P&C Business Partners on all matters related to rewards, analytics, and systems.

Collaborate with Finance, Legal, Communications and the GDBS teams to align strategies and ensure executional success.

Represent the P&C function in cross-functional steering groups and strategic planning forums.

Set clear priorities, performance expectations, and development plans that align with both individual growth and strategic business needs.

Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous learning within the team.

Provide regular coaching, mentorship, and feedback to ensure high engagement, capability development, and retention of top talent.

Ensure effective resource allocation and capacity planning to deliver on key initiatives and projects.

Requirements:

• Minimum 2–3 years of senior leadership experience in Total Rewards, People Analytics, or HR Systems in a global organization.

• Proven track record in compensation & benefits strategy, including incentive plan design and job evaluation.

• Strong background in people analytics, with hands-on experience in using data to drive decision-making.

• Experience overseeing HR systems strategy, implementation, and vendor management.

• Strong project leadership, stakeholder engagement, and change management skills.

• Strategic mindset with the ability to zoom out and align initiatives with broader business goals.

• Analytical and tech-savvy, with experience leveraging digital tools for efficiency and insight.

• Strong interpersonal, communication, and influencing skills across all levels of the organizatio n.

What we offer:

At South Pole, we care about our employees as much as we care about the planet. South Pole is not just an employer, we are a Team. South Pole does not just offer people a job, we offer you a career. By joining our team, you will find strong purpose and deep meaning in everything you do. You will have the chance to make a real difference for our clients and for the planet, working alongside a passionate team of like-minded colleagues, while building your knowledge/skills and developing your career in a fun, dynamic, international and fast-growing organisation. 

We’re a planet of 7.5 billion unique and different people. We all have a contribution to make and South Pole is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status or disability. Our recruitment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit and business need.