Head, Global Total Rewards

Want to make a positive difference to the future of people and our one shared home, the Earth? Working at WWF could be your opportunity of a lifetime.

All around the world, people are waking up to the devastating impacts of climate change and nature loss. The situation today is worse than the darkest predictions of just ten years ago, pushing billions of people to the edge and threatening lives and livelihoods. At WWF, we are facing our biggest crisis – and our biggest ever opportunity – to create a better future for people and nature. With over 60 years of experience and an active presence in more than 100 countries, we work to achieve both on-the-ground and global policy action, from protecting and restoring species and their habitats, to transforming markets and policies toward sustainability.

Our people come from hugely diverse backgrounds and with a variety of expertise, ranging from conservation science and advocacy to HR and finance. We welcome applications from anyone who believes they can help us tackle this enormous global challenge and drive the urgent conservation impact needed to restore our planet.

What We Do
We are an independent conservation organization, striving to sustain the natural world for the benefit of people and the ecosystem. From individuals and communities to businesses and governments, we are part of a growing global movement calling for bolder action on climate and nature, demanding that world leaders set nature on the path to recovery by 2030. WWF works to address the most dominant drivers of nature loss through system-wide changes in how food and energy are produced and consumed, and in how financial systems are structured. By implementing change in every country, we aim to drive visible and positive impacts on the ground, helping to restore nature in the most critical places around the world, from the Amazon to the Coral Triangle.

Engaging everyone means addressing the barriers to participation faced by some groups in society, including local communities. Conservation will only be sustainable if it is owned by, and benefits, local people. That’s why Indigenous Peoples and local communities must be at the centre of action on climate and nature. WWF is committed to using its resources and global network to support these communities in creating together the most effective solutions where they live.

Humanity is still in time, we have a clear pathway to solve this crisis. At WWF, we call on everyone to join the global movement, change how we live, and take action now.


1. MISSION OF THE DEPARTMENT


To build a thriving, future ready WWF workforce by ensuring that people at all levels have the skills, capabilities, and development pathways needed to deliver the WWF Strategy.

Embed WWF's core values and standards to strengthen the culture and create the right working environment across the Network.

Develop and maintain P&C standards, policies, systems, and platforms that attract, develop, and retain the right people for the organization.

Create the conditions for high performance, ensuring that staff can perform at their fullest potential and maximise their contribution to WWF's conservation goals.


2. MAJOR FUNCTIONS/ROLE PURPOSE


The Head, Global Total Rewards, leads the design, governance and delivery of WWF International's Total Rewards framework (compensation, benefits, well-being, and recognition programmes), ensuring a coherent, motivating total rewards proposition for staff. The role leads a team of two direct reports, and works in close partnership with Talent Development and other People & Culture colleagues to ensure a fully integrated total rewards employee experience that includes career growth.


3. MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES


a. Team Leadership and Capability

Lead, coach, and develop the Total Rewards team, setting clear priorities, quality standards, and professional growth plans.

Allocate work across the team to balance operational delivery (salary review, benchmarking, job evaluation, benefits management) with strategic projects.

Review and quality-assure key outputs: salary review recommendations, benchmarking analysis, job evaluation decisions, and benefits programme changes, before they reach senior stakeholders.

Build a shared, consistent Total Rewards practice that connects Total Rewards decisions rather than treating them in isolation.

Provide thought leadership to the WWF Network on Total Rewards matters.


b. Total Rewards Strategy

Monitor external market trends and internal workforce needs, recommending strategy refinements to the Senior Director, People & Culture.

Translate Total Rewards strategy into practical, governed frameworks that balance global consistency with the realities of local markets across WWF International locations.

Recommend the organisation's Total Rewards principles, philosophy, and policies to the Senior Director, People & Culture, for review and endorsement.


c. Salary Review, Benchmarking, and Market Positioning

Own the annual salary budgeting and salary review process for WWF International, ensuring governance, timelines, and quality of recommendations.

Lead external benchmarking, including executive benchmarking, and market survey participation for the Secretariat and Country Offices, ensuring survey sources remain relevant and fit for purpose.

Present the annual salary review recommendations to the Senior Director, People & Culture, and support engagement with the Executive Team and relevant Board committees on these matters.


d. Job Evaluation, Grading, and Job Architecture Governance

Own the organisation's job evaluation methodology and system, setting standards and policies to ensure equity, consistency, and compliance globally.

Design, build, and maintain a functional job architecture for WWF International: job families, sub-families, career levels, and titling conventions that translate job evaluation outcomes into consistent career pathways, progression criteria, and pay structures across the Secretariat and Country Offices.

Establish governance for job architecture maintenance, including a clear process for classifying new and changing roles, and a periodic review cycle to keep the framework aligned as the organisation evolves.

Serve as the ultimate escalation point for complex job evaluation and grading decisions, ensuring consistent application of the job evaluation framework.

Maintain the organisation's relationship with job evaluation system vendors.


e. Benefits Strategy, Governance, and Vendor Management

Set the strategic direction for WWF International's global benefits programmes, providing close, hands-on technical guidance to the Senior Specialist, Global Benefits in translating strategy into scalable, compliant, and cost-effective designs.

Own governance, compliance, and risk management for benefits provision, working closely with the Senior Specialist, Global Benefits to identify and mitigate financial, compliance, and reputational risks.

Lead or directly participate in negotiations and relationship management with key benefits vendors, brokers and insurers, ensuring value for money and service quality.

Review, approve, and where needed directly shape significant changes to benefits programmes, including new initiatives, renewals, and re-designs.


f. Advisory, Projects, and Governance

Act as the most senior subject matter expert on Total Rewards matters across WWF International, advising Regional and Country Office P&C leads on complex cases.

Lead or sponsor Total Rewards projects and initiatives, including global framework reviews and system enhancements.

Build Total Rewards capability and awareness across the WWF Network.

Advise on international mobility and relocation cases from a total rewards perspective, including salary scale inputs for new locations.

Partner with the P&C Shared Services team on systems and process improvements.


4. PROFILE


Required Qualifications.

Bachelor's degree in human resources, business, finance, or a related field; a master's degree is an advantage.

Minimum 10 years’ experience leading global Total Rewards, Compensation & Benefits or Reward functions within complex multinational organizations.

Professional certification in HR or Rewards (e.g. GRP, CCP, or equivalent) is an advantage.

Good understanding of, and some experience handling international mobility from a compensation and benefits perspective.

Experience working with job evaluation methodologies (e.g. Mercer IPE, Korn Ferry Hay, Willis Towers Watson).

Ability to leverage HR technology and analytics platforms to improve reward governance, reporting and employee experience.


Required Skills and Competencies.

Strong strategic and analytical capability, with the ability to translate complex total rewards data into clear recommendations for senior stakeholders.

Proven leadership skills, with experience setting priorities, coaching, and quality-assuring the work of junior team members.

In-depth understanding of company strategy, operating environments, and business objectives.

Excellent advisory and influencing skills, with the confidence to advise and challenge stakeholders at all levels, including senior leadership.

Excellent interpersonal skills (tact, diplomacy, discretion, and impartiality) and the ability to promote team synergy in a multi-cultural environment.

Absolute discretion and personal integrity, given the sensitivity of compensation and benefits data.

Ability to manage multiple priorities and competing demands in a fast-paced, global environment.

Flexibility and ability to adapt to changing priorities.

Excellent written and spoken English; knowledge of other languages is an advantage.

Embraces the WWF mission and values of the organization: Courage, Integrity, Respect & Collaboration.


5. WORKING RELATIONSHIPS


Internal.

Frequent interaction and collaboration with:

Senior Director, People & Culture

WWF International People & Culture team colleagues

Regional and Country Office P&C teams

Regional & Global Finance teams

Network P&C teams


External.

Frequent interaction and collaboration with

Salary survey vendors and consultants.

Benefits vendors & brokers.

Job evaluation system vendors.


This job description covers the main tasks and conveys the spirit of the sort of tasks that are anticipated proactively by staff. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary according to organizational needs.


Please upload your covering letter and CV in English. Priority will be given to applications with both documents indicated.

Deadline for applications: 19th August 2026, 23:59pm CET.

Work permit restrictions may apply.

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.

At WWF, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where every individual feels valued and respected. We believe that a diverse workforce will help us to achieve our mission to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to providing fair and unbiased consideration for all candidates regardless of their background. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply and join us in fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.