"Executive Director, Total Rewards"

Position Information

• Posting date: 12/19/2025
• Closing date: Open Until Filled (Yes)
• Position Number: 1012382
• Position Title: Executive Director, Total Rewards
• Hiring Range Minimum: $211,000
• Hiring Range Maximum: $263,700
• Union Type: Not a Union Position
• SEIU Level: Not an SEIU Position
• FLSA Status: Exempt
• Employment Category: Regular Full Time
• Scheduled Months per Year: 12
• Scheduled Hours per Week: 40
• Schedule: This is an on-site leadership role requiring presence in the office 3-4 days per week or more, as business needs dictate.
• Location of Position: Hanover, NH 03755
• Remote Work Eligibility?: Onsite only
• Is this a term position?: No
• Is this a grant funded position?: No

Position Purpose

The Executive Director of Total Rewards is a strategic leader responsible for designing, implementing, and supporting the governance of a comprehensive total rewards strategy that attracts, motivates, and retains top talent. This role oversees compensation, benefits, and well-being programs, aligning them with objectives, financial goals, and Dartmouth’s culture. The Executive Director partners closely with campus leaders to ensure market competitiveness, financial stability, and compliance.

Description

This role serves as a key collaborator and people leader, fostering excellence, transparency, and innovation across Human Resources.

Required Qualifications - Education and Yrs Exp

Bachelors or equivalent combination of education and experience

Required Qualifications - Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Twelve plus (12+) years leading compensation and benefits teams, ideally, within large, decentralized institutions or academic/healthcare environments.
• Excellence in stakeholder management and executive presence.
• Exceptional leadership, coaching, and communication skills, with the ability to manage large teams through times of change and complexity.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong quantitative skills and financial acumen; mastery of rewards analytics and modeling.
• Relevant certifications preferred: CEBS, SHRM‑SCP, SPHR.

Key Accountabilities

• 30%: Define, implement, and evolve a multi-year total rewards strategy and roadmap encompassing health and well-being benefits, retirement benefits, compensation, rewards, and leave programs aligned to institutional goals and responsive to changing market conditions, budgetary realities, and Dartmouth’s competitive position.
• 20%: Manage and evaluate external consultants and vendors—working collaboratively with leadership to set expectations, negotiate competitive rates, and monitor performance—while retaining accountability for meeting deadlines, managing expenses, and ensuring quality outcomes.
• 20%: Advise HR and Dartmouth leadership and the College Benefits Council (CBC) and Retirement Plan Governance Committee (RPGC) on strategic Total Rewards initiatives and programs. Partner with senior leadership on plan designs, compensation strategy, compliance initiatives, and employee communications.
• 20%: Lead a high-performing, cross-functional team fostering a culture of accountability, inclusion, and continuous improvement. Provide direct mentoring and coaching, supporting professional development and cross-functional collaboration. Drive alignment between team goals and broader institutional priorities.
• 10%: Ensures compliance with all state and federal regulations governing benefit and retirement plans.

Department Contact for Recruitment Inquiries

Sarah Palmer
spalmer@wittkieffer.com

Department Contact for Cover Letter and Title

Sara Lester

Special Instructions to Applicants

Dartmouth College has a Tobacco-Free Policy. Smoking and the use of tobacco-based products (including smokeless tobacco) are prohibited in all facilities, grounds, vehicles or other areas owned, operated or occupied by Dartmouth College with no exceptions. For details, please see our policy. https://policies.dartmouth.edu/policy/tobacco-free-policy

Dartmouth has partnered with WittKieffer to assist in this recruitment process. If you’re a strong fit for the role, a representative from WittKieffer may reach out to you directly to begin the conversation.

Quick Link

https://searchjobs.dartmouth.edu/postings/84199

Documents Needed to Apply

• Required: Cover Letter, Resume