Head of Total Rewards & HR Operations

Purpose of the Position:

The Head of Total Rewards & HR Operations leads the strategy, governance, and execution of for a Maritime & Logistic organization. The Total Rewards and HR Operations infrastructure, including Compensation, Benefits, Payroll, Labor Regulations, HRIS, and HR Coordination. This leader ensures that programs, systems, processes, controls, and employee services are compliant, scalable, data-driven, cost-effective, and aligned with business needs.

This position reports to the CHRO and serves as a senior advisor to HR leadership, Finance, Legal, IT, Operations, and business leaders on total rewards strategy, labor cost implications, HR operational risk, workforce-related financial decisions, and employee experience. The role requires a hands‑on leader who can balance enterprise-level program design with disciplined operational execution and continuous improvement.

As a key member of the HR leadership team, this role also helps shape and execute the company’s people strategy by ensuring Total Rewards and HR Operations programs attract, retain, engage, and support a high‑performing workforce. The role plays a critical part in enabling business growth, strengthening organizational effectiveness, and enhancing employee experience at a Maritime Logistic firm that has been employer of choice within the industry.

• Develop and execute Total Rewards and HR Operations strategies that support the company’s talent strategy, strengthen employee engagement and retention, enhance workforce productivity, and contribute to overall business performance and organizational success.
• Champion an employee‑centered approach to service delivery, ensuring employees receive a consistent, responsive, and positive experience throughout their employment lifecycle.
• Establish and maintain governance, operating rhythms, service standards, metrics, documentation, controls, and accountability mechanisms across Total Rewards and HR Operations.
• Develop and manage the company’s Total Rewards philosophy, programs, practices, and governance, balancing attraction, retention, internal equity, market competitiveness, compliance, fiscal responsibility, and employee experience.
• Ensure Total Rewards programs support the company’s ability to attract, motivate, develop, and retain top talent while reinforcing Ports America’s employment value proposition and employer brand.
• Advise the CHRO and senior leaders on total rewards strategy, labor cost impacts, compliance risks, workforce trends, HR operational priorities, and opportunities to improve organizational effectiveness.
• Provide insights and recommendations that support workforce planning, talent retention, employee engagement, succession readiness, and achievement of the company’s strategic objectives

• Own and manage the day‑to‑day Compensation function, including job evaluations, market pricing, salary recommendations, pay structures, job architecture, FLSA classification governance, pay equity support, incentive administration, compensation analysis, annual merit and bonus cycles, and compensation‑related reporting.
• Design, maintain, and improve compensation processes, tools, guidelines, and governance to support consistent decision‑making, internal equity, market competitiveness, regulatory compliance, and business affordability.
• Partner with HR Business Partners, Finance, Legal, and business leaders to evaluate roles, support organizational changes, analyze labor and compensation costs, and provide data‑driven recommendations.

• Provide governance over the Benefits function, including health and welfare plans, retirement programs, leave programs, wellness initiatives, open enrollment, vendor management, plan renewals, employee issue escalation, and benefits compliance.
• Oversee Payroll and Labor Regulations to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing, labor timekeeping practices, wage and hour compliance, collective bargaining agreement alignment, and consistency between payroll operations, labor regulations, and company policies.
• Ensure…