Head of Total Rewards
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.