Associate Director, Total Rewards

Associate Director, Total Rewards

WorldStrides is the global leader in educational travel and experiential learning. The company was founded in 1967 to provide middle school travel programs to Washington, D.C. and has grown to provide a wide range of programs for more than half a million students annually to over 100 countries around the world. WorldStrides offers experiential learning programs in educational travel, performing arts, language immersion, career exploration, service-learning, study abroad, and sports. Each of these experiences helps students to see beyond the classroom and to see the world and themselves in new ways.

We're looking for a decisive, high-impact, business-minded Total Rewards leader who thrives on shaping modern, data-driven programs and executing with precision. As our Associate Director, Total Rewards, you'll drive the development and optimization of global compensation and benefits strategies that help us attract, retain, and motivate top talent across all regions globally.

You'll play a critical role in ensuring our Total Rewards programs are not only market competitive and compliant, but also reflective of our values and meaningful to our team members. You'll be equally comfortable digging into benchmarking analysis, leading executive conversations, managing vendors, and proposing what's next. This role combines strategy, execution, innovation, and operational rigor.

Responsibilities

• Design and evolve our global compensation philosophy and structure, aligned with company goals and market best practices.
• Oversee job leveling, market benchmarking, compensation surveys, and competitive pay analyses across regions.
• Lead compensation cycles (merit and bonus), including modeling, analysis, and communications.
• Partner with Recruitment, HR Business Partners, and Finance to ensure consistency and fairness in offers, promotions, and internal pay decisions.
• Serve as a trusted advisor on complex compensation matters including incentive design and executive pay support.
• Lead compensation-related special projects that drive long-term value.
• Oversee all health, welfare, retirement, and wellness benefits programs for team members across regions evaluating, designing, and optimizing offerings to meet evolving needs.
• Manage vendor relationships and renewals, lead the RFP process, and ensure strong governance and compliance across all geographies.
• Lead the execution of U.S. benefits activities (e.g., open enrollment, ACA compliance, ERISA filings) while expanding benefits offerings in new international markets.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments across regions to ensure full compliance and proactive adaptation.
• Create and deliver clear, compelling communications that help team members understand the value of their total rewards.
• Monitor external trends to recommend new or enhanced offerings aligned with business strategy and team member expectations.
• Build clear, data-driven business cases for new programs or changes including modeling cost and impact.
• Develop scalable processes and tools that enable transparency, consistency, and effectiveness.
• Ensure readiness for internal audits and external reporting with strong documentation and internal controls.
• Act as a thought partner to HR leadership and an internal consultant to business leaders on Total Rewards strategy.
• Build strong partnerships with HR Business Partners, Legal, Finance, Payroll, Recruitment, and HR Systems to ensure alignment and execution.
• Coach and develop Total Rewards team members and lead with a mindset of growth, collaboration, and accountability.

Qualifications

Ideal Qualifications

Work Perks

WorldStrides, a global organization, is committed to educate and serve communities worldwide. Our commitment is fueled by the passion of our team members and partners to make experiential learning accessible, while also being socially, environmentally, and ethically responsible. Together, we accomplish this by investing in initiatives to promote inclusion, diversity, and sustainability.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, WorldStrides is committed to building a diverse workforce, supported by an environment that promotes inclusion and belonging. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

WorldStrides will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States. This is not a position for which sponsorship will be provided. Individuals with temporary visas such as E, F-1, J-1, H-1, H-2, L, B, J or TN, or who need sponsorship for work authorization now or in the future, are not eligible for hire. Select seasonal roles may consider students on J-1 or F-1 visas.