Director of Total Rewards Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Director of Total Rewards roles qualify as H-1B visa specialty occupations, requiring a directly related bachelor's degree in human resources, business, or a related field. Employers typically file through the standard H-1B cap process, and many large compensation-focused organizations have consistent LCA filing histories that signal genuine sponsorship capacity.
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Get Access To All JobsFor over 20 years, Smartsheet has empowered teams to manage work seamlessly and scale solutions smarter. Now, in our most ambitious chapter yet, we are uniting human teams with AI agents. By orchestrating the work agents do best, automating manual tasks and uncovering insights at scale, we create the space for people to focus on what truly matters: judgment, creativity, and big thinking. That is magic at work, and it's what we show up for every day.
Smartsheet is looking for a Senior Director, Total Rewards to shape how we pay, recognize, and retain our people. We're building a culture where people love to work, and rewards are central to that. Reporting to the SVP, People & Culture, you'll design rewards strategies that are both compelling and sustainable, with direct visibility to the executive team, board, and private equity sponsors. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who can balance competitive, market-informed programs with financial rigor, explain the "why" behind tough tradeoffs, and build trust across the organization.
This role is based in our Bellevue, WA, HQ and will report to the SVP of People & Culture.
You Will:
- Set and drive Smartsheet's Total Rewards philosophy and strategy, aligned to business goals and within our private equity ownership structure.
- Lead the design, implementation, and communication of compensation, equity, and benefits programs that attract, motivate, and retain top talent globally.
- Own compensation matters including equity programs, peer group selection, and executive compensation.
- Use data to evaluate program effectiveness and competitiveness; establish key metrics on usage, engagement, and cost.
- Partner with FP&A and Accounting to ensure programs are financially sustainable and well aligned.
- Lead the selection of benefits vendors and consultants, including contract and fee negotiations.
- Build and develop a global, technically strong, business-minded Total Rewards team.
- Rebuild and scale internal processes and systems to support programs and strategies, ensuring operational effectiveness across all elements of the team.
- Operate in a highly collaborative manner, working closely with People & Culture teammates, business leaders, and the executive team to build trust and communicate our rewards story as a part of our broader employer brand efforts.
You Have:
- 10+ years' experience in Total Rewards, Compensation and Benefits including executive compensation, and equity program design.
- Experience in a private-equity-owned or VC-backed environment preferred.
- Demonstrated success leading and developing high-performing, global teams.
- Proven experience creating and managing impactful total rewards programs in a fast-paced environment; skilled at interpreting business needs and making decisions based on emerging priorities.
- Experience leading programs through significant organizational change, as a part of our overall business transformation.
- Deep analytical skills with the ability to translate data and trends into key insights and recommendations.
- Experience working with global teams and locations.
- Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Finance, Human Resources, or related field.
Get to Know Us:
At Smartsheet, your ideas are heard, your potential is supported, and your contributions have real impact. You'll have the freedom to explore, push boundaries, and grow beyond your role. We welcome diverse perspectives and nontraditional paths—because we know that impact comes from individuals who care deeply and challenge thoughtfully. When you're doing work that stretches you, excites you, and connects you to something bigger, that's magic at work. Let's build what's next, together.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
Smartsheet is an Equal Opportunity (EEO) employer committed to fostering an inclusive environment with the best employees. It is our policy to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants in accordance with applicable laws in the US, UK, Australia, Germany, Costa Rica, Japan, Bulgaria, India, and Singapore. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.
If there are preparations we can make to help ensure you have a comfortable and positive interview experience, please let us know.
LI-Remote
For over 20 years, Smartsheet has empowered teams to manage work seamlessly and scale solutions smarter. Now, in our most ambitious chapter yet, we are uniting human teams with AI agents. By orchestrating the work agents do best, automating manual tasks and uncovering insights at scale, we create the space for people to focus on what truly matters: judgment, creativity, and big thinking. That is magic at work, and it's what we show up for every day.
Smartsheet is looking for a Senior Director, Total Rewards to shape how we pay, recognize, and retain our people. We're building a culture where people love to work, and rewards are central to that. Reporting to the SVP, People & Culture, you'll design rewards strategies that are both compelling and sustainable, with direct visibility to the executive team, board, and private equity sponsors. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who can balance competitive, market-informed programs with financial rigor, explain the "why" behind tough tradeoffs, and build trust across the organization.
This role is based in our Bellevue, WA, HQ and will report to the SVP of People & Culture.
You Will:
- Set and drive Smartsheet's Total Rewards philosophy and strategy, aligned to business goals and within our private equity ownership structure.
- Lead the design, implementation, and communication of compensation, equity, and benefits programs that attract, motivate, and retain top talent globally.
- Own compensation matters including equity programs, peer group selection, and executive compensation.
- Use data to evaluate program effectiveness and competitiveness; establish key metrics on usage, engagement, and cost.
- Partner with FP&A and Accounting to ensure programs are financially sustainable and well aligned.
- Lead the selection of benefits vendors and consultants, including contract and fee negotiations.
- Build and develop a global, technically strong, business-minded Total Rewards team.
- Rebuild and scale internal processes and systems to support programs and strategies, ensuring operational effectiveness across all elements of the team.
- Operate in a highly collaborative manner, working closely with People & Culture teammates, business leaders, and the executive team to build trust and communicate our rewards story as a part of our broader employer brand efforts.
You Have:
- 10+ years' experience in Total Rewards, Compensation and Benefits including executive compensation, and equity program design.
- Experience in a private-equity-owned or VC-backed environment preferred.
- Demonstrated success leading and developing high-performing, global teams.
- Proven experience creating and managing impactful total rewards programs in a fast-paced environment; skilled at interpreting business needs and making decisions based on emerging priorities.
- Experience leading programs through significant organizational change, as a part of our overall business transformation.
- Deep analytical skills with the ability to translate data and trends into key insights and recommendations.
- Experience working with global teams and locations.
- Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Finance, Human Resources, or related field.
Get to Know Us:
At Smartsheet, your ideas are heard, your potential is supported, and your contributions have real impact. You'll have the freedom to explore, push boundaries, and grow beyond your role. We welcome diverse perspectives and nontraditional paths—because we know that impact comes from individuals who care deeply and challenge thoughtfully. When you're doing work that stretches you, excites you, and connects you to something bigger, that's magic at work. Let's build what's next, together.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
Smartsheet is an Equal Opportunity (EEO) employer committed to fostering an inclusive environment with the best employees. It is our policy to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants in accordance with applicable laws in the US, UK, Australia, Germany, Costa Rica, Japan, Bulgaria, India, and Singapore. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.
If there are preparations we can make to help ensure you have a comfortable and positive interview experience, please let us know.
LI-Remote
See all Director of Total Rewards Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Director of Total Rewards Jobs
Document your compensation benchmarking credentials
Certifications like Certified Compensation Professional signal the specialized expertise USCIS expects for a specialty occupation claim. Without them, your petition may face an RFE questioning whether a general HR background qualifies for a Director-level total rewards role.
Target employers with active LCA filing histories
Use Migrate Mate to find companies that have filed LCAs specifically for compensation and benefits leadership roles, not just general HR titles. Prior filings in your specialty reduce the employer's uncertainty about the sponsorship process and your petition's complexity.
Verify prevailing wage tier before accepting an offer
Total Rewards directors often sit at Wage Level III or IV in the OFLC Wage Search. Confirm your offered compensation meets the certified level for your location before signing, since a wage shortfall discovered later can stall or invalidate the LCA filing entirely.
Prepare a degree equivalency analysis early
If your credential is from outside the U.S., get a credential evaluation completed before interviews advance. USCIS scrutinizes whether a foreign degree maps to a U.S. bachelor's in a directly related field, and gaps in that analysis are a leading cause of specialty occupation RFEs.
Ask HR how they classify total rewards in their job architecture
Some employers code this role under a broader HR management job family, which can weaken the specialty occupation argument at petition stage. Confirm that your specific title and duties are documented separately from generalist HR functions in the offer letter and job description.
Plan your PERM timeline around equity and bonus cycles
If you're on a path toward a green card via EB-2 or EB-3, PERM labor certification can take well over a year. Starting that process during a performance review period can complicate the prevailing wage determination if your total compensation package is restructured mid-filing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Director of Total Rewards role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes, provided the employer documents that the position normally requires at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related field, such as human resources, business administration, or finance. USCIS may issue an RFE if the job description is written broadly enough to accept any bachelor's degree, so the employer's supporting documentation matters significantly.
Which visas are realistic for a foreign national in a total rewards leadership role?
H-1B is the most common path for Director of Total Rewards roles because the position meets specialty occupation requirements. If you hold an Australian passport, the E-3 visa offers the same specialty occupation framework without the annual lottery. TN visa is not available for this role, as HR and compensation director positions are not on the USMCA profession list.
How do I find employers who actively sponsor visas for total rewards roles?
Migrate Mate lists employers with verified sponsorship history for compensation and benefits leadership positions, searchable by location and role type. Focusing on companies with consistent LCA filing activity in the HR leadership category is a faster path than applying broadly and hoping the question of sponsorship doesn't derail late-stage conversations.
What degree does USCIS expect for a Director of Total Rewards petition?
USCIS typically expects a bachelor's degree or higher in human resources, business administration, finance, or a closely related field. A general business degree may require additional evidence if your role is heavily quantitative or benefits-focused. Certifications like Certified Compensation Professional can strengthen the specialty occupation argument when the degree match is not direct.
Can a Director of Total Rewards role support a green card application?
Yes. The role typically qualifies under EB-2 for candidates with an advanced degree or exceptional ability, or EB-3 as a skilled worker. Most employer-sponsored green cards at this level require PERM labor certification, which involves DOL testing the domestic labor market before the employer can file an I-140 petition with USCIS. Priority date backlogs vary significantly by country of birth.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Director of Total Rewards jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.