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Airwallex is an AI-native financial operating system serving over 675,000 businesses globally, including McLaren Racing, Qantas, SHEIN, and TikTok. The company operates as the regulated backbone for global payments across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, with 2,300+ employees across 27 offices.
As the first Total Rewards team member based in the Americas region, you will build and own the complete Total Rewards operating model for the US, Canada, Brazil, and Mexico. This is a high-impact role combining strategic program design with hands-on execution across compensation, benefits, and equity.
Key responsibilities include:
- Owning end-to-end compensation planning, benchmarking, pay decisions, salary structures, geographic differentials, and merit/bonus cycles
- Designing benefits programs and leading plan renewals, broker negotiations, and transition management with local People Operations partners
- Partnering with the global Total Rewards team on US stock plan administration (RSUs, ISOs, ESPP), vesting, taxation, grant execution, and employee communications
- Leading regional and global Total Rewards projects, including Americas equity framework rollout and IPO-readiness initiatives
- Using market data, benchmarking, and financial modeling to influence decisions and communicate complex analysis to leaders, managers, and employees
- Collaborating with Talent Acquisition, People Partners, Payroll, Finance, Legal, Equity, and executive leadership on compensation strategy, organization decisions, and compliance
- Building practical processes and documentation for Americas Total Rewards while working independently across time zones
You will work from the San Francisco office Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
REQUIREMENTS (ESSENTIALS):
- 8+ years of experience in total rewards, compensation, or benefits, including supporting employee populations across the Americas
- Experience owning or building a complete Total Rewards program spanning compensation, benefits, and equity
- Experience designing benefits programs and managing plan renewals, including broker and insurance carrier negotiations
- Strong compensation analytics capability: market benchmarking, salary range architecture, geographic pay differentials, compensation cycles, modeling, and projections
- Experience making and communicating compensation decisions with senior leaders, People Partners, recruiters, and employees
- Working knowledge of US equity compensation and stock plan administration (RSUs, ISOs, ESPP, vesting mechanics) with ability to explain plainly to non-specialists
- Experience at a late-stage private, pre-IPO, or recently public company, particularly through equity program changes or increased governance requirements
- Track record leading complex Total Rewards projects from design through implementation, influencing without formal authority
- Strong business partnering, judgment, and communication skills; confidence to challenge decisions misaligned with strategy, data, or compliance
- Builder mindset and ability to work independently across time zones without an established local playbook
PREFERRED:
- Experience supporting multi-region Total Rewards programs where global framework is set outside your time zone
- Familiarity with compensation, equity, and HR systems (Carta, Shareworks, BambooHR, Workday)
- Experience with survey and benchmarking sources (Radford, Compensia, Mercer, Aon)
- Experience with 401(k), ERISA, US pay transparency, benefits compliance, or related US rewards requirements
- Experience supporting IPO readiness, equity plan governance, tax reporting, or SEC-related considerations
- Experience building a Total Rewards function or major program from the ground up in high-growth technology, fintech, or payments companies
