Director, Total Rewards

Pinnacle Live

Director leading compensation, benefits, leave, recognition, and people analytics for Pinnacle Live, a North American AV and event production company. Building scalable total rewards programs for venue and corporate teams.

Posted 8/5/2026full-timeDallas • Illinois, Texas • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $160,000 - $172,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

Use this summary to align your resume positioning with the role.

Demonstrates expertise in developing and executing comprehensive compensation strategies, including job architecture, pay structures, and compliance with compensation regulations. Proven ability to lead total rewards functions, manage budgets, and leverage data-driven insights for strategic decision-making.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Compensation Strategy DevelopmentTotal Rewards ManagementRegulatory Compliance KnowledgeAnalytical and Financial Modeling SkillsPeople Leadership Experience

ATS Keywords

Tailor your resume

Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills

Compensation PhilosophyJob ArchitectureMarket BenchmarkingIncentive Program DesignHealth and Welfare Benefits ManagementRetirement Benefits StrategyPay Equity AnalysisData-Driven Decision-MakingProject ManagementFinancial Modeling

Soft Skills

Influencing LeadersBuilding PartnershipsClear CommunicationSound JudgmentStrategic Thinking

Tools & Technologies

HRIS CapabilitiesTotal Rewards TechnologyWorkforce AnalyticsAI-Enabled Insights

Industry Keywords

ERISAACACOBRAFLSAIRS Section 125Form 5500Nondiscrimination Testing401(k) GovernanceFMLAADA

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Develop and evolve Pinnacle Live’s compensation strategy, including compensation philosophy, job architecture, pay structures, market pricing, and governance
Lead annual compensation programs, including merit increases, incentive planning, and market benchmarking
Design and administer variable and incentive pay programs across frontline, corporate, and sales populations
Conduct pay equity analyses and develop remediation and governance approaches
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local compensation regulations
Develop and execute health, welfare, and retirement benefits strategy
Oversee plan design, vendor partnerships, administration, compliance, renewal, and open enrollment
Provide strategic oversight of FMLA, ADA, state, local, and company leave programs
Build and evolve an employee recognition strategy
Provide strategic oversight of HRIS capabilities, total rewards technology, and workforce analytics
Leverage AI-enabled insights for compensation, benefits, compliance, and data-driven decision-making
Develop total rewards reporting and dashboards for HR, Finance, and executive leadership
Lead the Total Rewards function and develop team capabilities
Manage budgets and partner with brokers, vendors, Finance, HR, Operations, and other stakeholders
Partner with Finance on cost modeling, accruals, and forecasting
Support total rewards integration for acquisitions
Maintain plan documentation, regulatory filings, and audit readiness
Deliver first-year objectives including compensation philosophy, job architecture, salary structures, pay equity analysis, benefits renewal, leave administration controls, dashboards, and an employee recognition program

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and directly related professional experience
Eight or more years of progressive experience in compensation, benefits, HR operations, or total rewards
Three or more years of direct people leadership experience managing and developing HR or total rewards staff
Experience designing compensation programs, including compensation philosophy, job architecture, salary structures, market benchmarking, merit processes, and incentive programs
Experience leading health, welfare, and retirement benefit programs end-to-end
Working knowledge of ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, FLSA, IRS Section 125, Form 5500, nondiscrimination testing, 401(k) governance, FMLA, ADA, and pay transparency and pay equity requirements
Experience developing recommendations and presenting them to executive leadership
Strong analytical and financial modeling skills
Experience with data, technology, automation, and emerging tools for total rewards decision-making
Ability to influence leaders and build partnerships with Finance, HR, brokers, vendors, and business stakeholders
Ability to balance enterprise consistency with the needs of a diverse, multi-site workforce
Strong project management skills
Ability to operate strategically while building processes, tools, and solutions
Ability to explain complex compensation and benefits concepts clearly
Sound judgment and discretion with confidential compensation data and protected health and personal information
Ability to meet physical demands including sitting, standing or walking for long periods, bending, stooping, reaching, communicating, and occasionally lifting up to 50 pounds
Extended business hours may be required

Benefits

Comp & perks

Generous time off with PTO, holidays, and sick/personal days
401k with a contribution match
Health, vision, dental, and other insurance
Approximately 10–15% travel to venues, corporate meetings, industry events, and leadership gatherings