Head of Total Rewards
Fast Facts
Handshake is seeking a Head of Total Rewards to lead and innovate its global compensation and benefits programs during a period of rapid growth in the AI economy.
Responsibilities: You will design and execute total rewards strategies, manage incentive programs, and ensure compliance while collaborating with executives on compensation decisions.
Skills: Candidates must have 8+ years of experience in total rewards, expertise in equity compensation, strong analytical skills, and exceptional communication abilities.
Qualifications: Preferred candidates will have experience in VC-backed, pre-IPO companies and familiarity with compensation survey tools like Pave and Radford.
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Compensation: $228800 - $286000 / Annually
About Handshake
Handshake is the career network for the AI economy. 20 million knowledge workers, 1,600 educational institutions, 1 million employers (including 100% of the Fortune 50), and every foundational AI lab trust Handshake to power career discovery, hiring, and upskilling, from freelance AI training gigs to first internships to full-time careers and beyond. This unique value is leading to unparalleled growth; in 2025, we tripled our ARR at scale.
Why join Handshake now:
- Shape how every career evolves in the AI economy, at global scale, with impact your friends, family and peers can see and feel
- Work hand-in-hand with world-class AI labs, Fortune 500 partners and the world’s top educational institutions
- Join a team with leadership from Scale AI, Meta, xAI, Notion, Coinbase, and Palantir, among others
- Build a massive, fast-growing business with billions in revenue
The Role:
As the Head of Total Rewards at Handshake, you will lead the strategy and execution of our global compensation and benefits programs during a period of hyper-growth. This role requires both strategic vision and operational rigor. You will bring clarity and structure to a fast-evolving organization, ensuring our compensation and benefits programs scale thoughtfully with the business.
- Lead the strategy and execution of total rewards programs, spanning base compensation, equity, incentives, and benefits, aligned to business priorities and long-term value creation.
- Design scalable total rewards structures that attract and retain top talent while balancing affordability, equity burn, and cash discipline.
- Bring strong and meticulous program management to total rewards, ensuring key initiatives and targeted solutions are clearly documented, tracked, and delivered with precision.
- Partner closely with executive, business, and hiring leaders to provide high-context guidance on offers, promotions, retention, and org changes.
- Build and evolve incentive programs that align individual and team outcomes with company performance, with clear mechanics and strong adoption across leaders.
- Own benefits strategy and vendor partnerships across health, wellness, leave, and retirement, ensuring programs are competitive and experience-forward.
- Build and scale a high-performing total rewards function by leveraging the team and the right tools, systems, and partners to expand impact.
You Have:
Must-Haves:
- 8+ years of experience in total rewards analysis and strategy, with a focus on hyper-growth, VC-backed, pre-IPO companies.
- Proven track record of developing compensation frameworks in dynamic environments.
- Deep expertise in equity compensation
- Expertise in using compensation survey tools like Pave and Radford for data-driven decision making.
- Strong analytical skills, with experience in data audits and variance analysis.
- Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders.
- Deep knowledge of compliance standards, including FLSA and pay equity laws.
Bonus Points:
- Experience in leading compensation strategies through IPO
- Familiarity with HR systems such as Workday and Ashby.
- Previous experience in high-growth tech companies.
We Offer
Handshake delivers benefits that help you feel supported—and thrive at work and in life.
The below benefits are for full-time US employees.
🎯 Ownership: Equity in a fast-growing company
💰 Financial Wellness: 401(k) match, competitive compensation, financial coaching
🍼 Family Support: Paid parental leave, fertility benefits, parental coaching
💝 Wellbeing: Medical, dental, and vision, mental health support, $500 wellness stipend
📚 Growth: $2,000 learning stipend, ongoing development
💻 Remote & Office: Internet, commuting, and free lunch/gym in our SF office
🏝 Time Off: Flexible PTO, 15 holidays + 2 flex days
🤝 Connection: Team outings & referral bonuses
Explore our mission, values, and comprehensive US benefits at joinhandshake.com/careers.
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