VP, Head of Total Rewards

Summary: : The VP, Head of Total Rewards partners with business leaders and HR teams to design, implement, and administer comprehensive compensation programs, including base pay, equity, and deferred compensation. This role provides strategic guidance to ensure programs support organizational objectives, maintain internal equity, and remain externally competitive while complying with all applicable laws and regulations.

Job Responsibilities:

Compensation Management

• Lead design, implementation, and administration of broad-based compensation programs
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and regulatory standards.
• Maintain pay structures, incentive programs, and market pricing using salary surveys and benchmarking tools.
• Conduct compensation research, analytics, and modeling to support total rewards strategies.
• Recommend enhancements and automation to improve processes and maintain competitiveness.
• Develop clear communication and documentation for HR partners and leaders.
• Oversee the job data program, including partnering with business leaders to conduct job evaluations and organizational development, ensuring consistency and alignment with organizational standards.
• Serves as a subject matter expert in all broad-based compensation programs.
• Produce regular and ad-hoc reports for management, audit, regulators, and government agencies regarding compensation and benefits programs.
• Develop process documentation, instructions, and resources to assist HR business partners, Talent Team, and leaders as it relates to compensation.
• Manages commission plans and administers calculations for payroll.
• Administer executive compensation programs, including equity and restricted stock awards.
• Oversee documentation and systems to ensure accuracy and compliance for all executive compensation processes.
• Reports on the performance of compensation programs and provides analysis to Senior Management and Compensation Committee.

Annual Compensation Programs

• Administer the merit program, ensuring alignment with performance management and business strategy.
• Provide guidelines, tools, and training to support managers in merit decision-making.
• Analyze merit cycle data to refine program effectiveness.
• Administer quarterly and annual scorecards in support of the PAIP program.
• Partner with business leaders on ensuring proper dissemination of scorecards and communications and assist employees in understanding scorecards and pay for performance philosophy.
• Manages annual incentive programs both Exempt and Non-Exempt

Restricted Stock Award, ESOP and Equity Programs

• Manage equity and deferred compensation programs, including Restricted Stock, ESOP, and related plans.
• Oversee administration platforms and transactions (grants, exercises, releases, terminations).
• Monitor share pool levels and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Overall ownership and administration of Restricted Stock, Employee Stock Ownership and Equity Programs.
• Responsible for analysis and evaluation of competitive market information and research of external labor market trends.

Leadership and Collaboration

• Partner with HR leadership and Bank leaders to advise on compensation decisions, job leveling, and promotions.
• Lead, mentor, and develop direct reports and team.
• Exercise the usual authority of a manager including staffing, performance evaluations, promotions, training, salary recommendations, terminations, and budget approval.

Other Responsibilities

• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance, or related field.
• Minimum 10 years of compensation experience, including program management.
• Expertise in equity and incentive plan administration.
• Strong communication skills and ability to influence within all levels of the organization.
• Strong knowledge of compensation theory and relevant laws (FLSA, Equal Pay Act, ADA).
• Proven ability to design and implement compensation programs aligned with strategic goals.
• Experience in a publicly traded bank and regulatory reporting.
• Excellent project management skills.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills with the ability to work across all levels of the organization.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills with abilities to build pivot tables, formulas including V-Lookup and strong skills in other Microsoft Office Suite applications.

Preferred

• Master's degree or related professional certifications (e.g., CPP) preferred.

Columbia Bank offers the following benefits:

• Medical, Dental, Vision and Rx which are contributory.
• Bonus programs.
• Employee Stock Option Program (ESOP).
• Life Insurance, Long Term Disability and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (LTD&AD&D).
• Paid Time Off (PTO) which includes Personal and Vacation Time.
• Paid Sick Time.
• Bank Holidays.
• Employees may participate in the 401k program.

Schedule:

• This role is eligible for a hybrid schedule: 3 days in the office and 2 days work from home, based on business needs. This arrangement may change without notice.

Columbia Bank and its affiliates is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including individuals with disabilities and veterans.