About Us

At Quaker Houghton, we are experts in the development, production and application of industrial process fluids, lubricants and coatings for the manufacturing industry. We have been an integral part in the growth of the world’s largest industrial and manufacturing companies from aerospace and automotive to primary metal and energy. Today, we have a global presence, with our corporate headquarters located in Conshohocken, PA. Quaker Houghton is a global publicly traded company with a unique collaborative culture that supports career growth for its associates and offers competitive compensation and benefit programs.

The Director, Global Total Rewards is part of the Human Resources global organization and reports to the VP of Total Rewards and HR Operations. The position is responsible for the design, implementation, and management of a comprehensive suite of compensation, benefits, and wellness programs that support the organization's strategic goals, enhance employee engagement, and ensure competitiveness in the marketplace. These include but are not limited to global implementation of Workday in strong partnership with HRIS and Digital Information Technology (DIT), all Compensation Processes & Administration (implementation of Job Architecture, base pay, short- and long-term incentives, sales compensation, and other variable pay programs across the regions), Benefits & Wellness, Retirement and Pension Schemes, and Recognition Programs. This role will lead a global team and will work closely with senior leadership, HR partners, and external vendors to ensure that the company’s total rewards offerings are aligned with the company’s goals, industry best practices and employee needs on a global scale.

What will you do?

Total Rewards Philosophy & Strategy:

• Lead the development and ongoing management of the company’s Total Rewards strategy, including compensation, benefits, recognition, and wellness programs, ensuring alignment with business objectives and company culture.

• Conduct market research and analysis to evaluate compensation competitiveness and recommend adjustments based on external benchmarks and internal equity.

• Oversee the design and implementation of salary structures, bonus programs, stock options, and other reward mechanisms.

• Lead the annual compensation rewards cycle to include budgeting, planning, and communication to ensure fairness, competitiveness, and legal compliance. Oversee and enhance the Global Compensation administration area including Job Architect, Salary Surveys, Functional Compensation Reviews/Audits, etc.

• Educate and engage with the Global HR Team, Executives, Managers & Employees.

• Support Compensation Committee and Executive Compensation material preparation.

• Manage relationships with third-party vendors (e.g., compensation surveys, benefits administrators, wellness program providers) and negotiate contracts to ensure optimal service delivery and cost efficiency.

Global Benefits & Compensation Management:

• Oversee the development, management, and communication of employee benefits packages across multiple geographies, ensuring programs meet local legal requirements while aligning with the company’s global strategy.

• Partner with global HR teams to manage and optimize health, dental, retirement, and other benefits programs for employees worldwide.

• Evaluate the effectiveness of benefits plans, making recommendations for improvement based on employee feedback, market trends, and cost considerations.

• Stay up to date with legal and regulatory changes impacting compensation and benefits at the global level.

Wellness Programs Leadership:

• Develop and lead global wellness programs that promote the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of employees in line with QH Culture and Values.

• Design and implement initiatives to support a healthy work-life balance, including mental health resources, wellness challenges, and benefits integration.

• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to promote a culture of wellness, including offering resources for stress management, fitness, financial wellness, and work-life balance.

• Measure and track the effectiveness of wellness programs through employee surveys, participation rates, and health metrics to continually improve offerings.

Employee Engagement & Communication:

• Oversee development of training and execution of communication strategies to ensure HR, leadership, and employees are informed about the company’s total rewards offerings, including benefits, compensation programs, and wellness initiatives.

• Partner with internal teams to develop training and deliver effective communication materials (e.g., brochures, webinars, intranet content) that help employees understand and maximize the value of their rewards package.

• Identify opportunities to develop meaningful employee recognition programs to support employee engagement, drive higher level of individual and team performance, and support the QH culture.

Compliance, Data Analysis & Reporting:

• Work with global teams to ensure that all total rewards programs comply with relevant local regulatory requirements and laws, as well as company policies, best practices, and global QH culture and values.

• Analyze compensation, benefits, and wellness data to assess the effectiveness and impact of programs on employee satisfaction, retention, and engagement.

• Prepare and present reports on total rewards trends, key metrics, and program performance to senior leadership and HR partners.

• Develop and manage consistent standardized tools, dashboards, policies, processes, and key performance indicators (KPIs) to track program success and identify areas for improvement.

Leadership & Collaboration:

• Lead the Total Rewards function’s deployment of Workday, including partnering with implementation partner on requirements, facilitate change management for Total Rewards programs within Workday (in and outside of HR).

• Provide strong leadership, mentorship, and coaching to junior team members, fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment.

• Partner closely with HR business partners, talent acquisition, and senior leadership to align total rewards strategies with business priorities and talent management goals. Partner with HRBPs to provide recommendations to the business on current trends and best practices.

• Participate in special projects such as reorganizations, acquisitions, global increase processes, to provide best practice consultation and to assist with execution for applicable Total Rewards Impacts, etc.

• Act as a subject matter expert on total rewards and wellness topics, contributing to the ongoing development of HR policies and programs.

• Perform other related duties as assigned.

What do we look for?

• Minimum of a Bachelor's degree required. Degree in Finance, Economics, Statistics, Human Resources, Business, or related field preferred.

• Total Rewards Certifications preferred (i.e. Certified Compensation Professional (CCP)).

• 15+ years of solid career progression, with increasing responsibilities in overseeing Total Rewards or Compensation & Benefits, additional HR Experience preferred (HRBP, Talent Acquisition).

• At least 5 years in a leadership or senior managerial capacity.

• Knowledge of compensation and benefits survey tools (e.g., Mercer, Willis Towers Watson, Hay Group) and demonstrated ability to consult and guide rewards decisions using these tools is required.

• Prior experience leading a multi-region Workday implementation is required.

• Experience working with a globally diverse population. Strong knowledge of global compensation and benefits practices, including familiarity with laws and regulations in key regions (North America, EMEA, APAC, etc.) such as Civil Rights Act, Equal Pay Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, and personnel administration theories and practices.

• Experience in designing and implementing wellness programs that promote employee engagement, productivity, and well-being.

• Proven ability to manage complex projects, work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, and influence senior leadership.

• Proven ability to work effectively in teams and with individuals at all levels within an organization; understanding of cultural contexts and international work experience preferred.

• Highly proficient in Microsoft office applications (PowerPoint, outlook etc.) with advanced skills in Microsoft Excel. Expert proficiency in Workday is required. Working proficiency in other HRIS systems and compensation software.

• Familiarity with wellness program tracking tools is highly desired.

• Strong presentation and training ability. Experience with preparing written reports for varied audiences.

• High level of data modelling and analysis knowledge and ability to present findings in a concise format.

• Track record of process improvement implementation and organizational impact.

• Flexible and adaptable to change.

• High level of confidentiality, discretion, tact, diplomacy, and professionalism.

• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and build relationships across all levels inside of and outside of the organization.

• Experience with conducting studies and preparing sound recommendations with justifiable rationale.

• Experience with conducting research, analyzing and interpreting policies, practices and procedures.

• Demonstration of intellectual curiosity.

What's in it for you?

• Hybrid work environment

• Competitive pay programs with excellent career growth trajectory

• Paid time off for volunteerism

• Dress for your day; how you dress is determined by what your day may bring

• Opportunity to participate in comprehensive benefit options including: Medical, Dental, Vision, Parental Leave, Holiday Pay, Paid Time Off, Tuition Reimbursement, and Savings Plan

• Work for a global leader in the industrial process fluids industry.

Quaker Houghton provides equal employment opportunity for all qualified candidates. Quaker Houghton does not discriminate against any candidate for employment based on race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, affectional or sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, creed, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, marital or domestic partnership or civil union status, veteran’s status, physical/mental disability, genetic information, or any other category protected by U.S federal, state, and/or local employment law. Furthermore, Quaker Houghton is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified candidates with physical and/or mental disabilities.