Vice President-Total Rewards and Talent Management

Primary purpose:

The Vice President of Total Rewards and Talent Management is a strategic leadership role responsible for overseeing and integrating the company’s total rewards programs and talent management initiatives. This position will lead the design, development, and execution of compensation, benefits, payroll, talent acquisition, training, and leadership development strategies that align with Tallgrass’ OneTallgrass Philosophy, Values and culture. This role requires a visionary leader who can balance strategic oversight with operational excellence, foster collaboration across HR and business functions, and drive continuous improvement to attract, develop, and retain a high-performing, diverse workforce.

Total Rewards Leadership

- Develop and execute a comprehensive Total Rewards strategy encompassing compensation, benefits, payroll, and incentive programs (STI and LTI) that support business goals and enhance employee engagement and retention.

- Lead market benchmarking, job evaluation, and incentive plan design and administration to ensure competitive and equitable pay practices.

- Oversee benefits program management, vendor relationships, compliance with regulatory requirements (ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, etc.), and payroll accuracy.

- Provide analytics, reporting, and insights to inform leadership decisions and optimize Total Rewards offerings.

- Prepare, analyze, and present comprehensive Total Rewards and Talent Management data, insights, and recommendations for review by the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), Board of Directors, and relevant committees.

- Develop clear, concise, and impactful reports and presentations that support strategic decision-making on compensation, benefits, incentive plans, and talent initiatives.

- Collaborate with finance, legal, and governance teams to ensure accuracy, compliance, and alignment of data presented to senior leadership and governance bodies.

- Manage the cadence and process for delivering timely updates and materials for board and committee meetings related to Total Rewards and Talent Management.

Talent Management & Acquisition

- Lead the development and execution of talent acquisition strategies to build a robust pipeline of diverse, high-quality candidates aligned with current and future workforce needs.

- Oversee recruitment operations, compliance, employer branding, and candidate experience initiatives.

- Design and implement leadership development, training, and career journey programs that build organizational capabilities and support succession planning.

Foster a culture of continuous learning, coaching, and employee development to drive engagement and performance.

Strategic Partnership & Team Leadership

- Collaborate closely with HR Business Partners and HR Leaders, senior leaders, and cross-functional teams to align Total Rewards and talent management strategies with organizational priorities.

- Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of Total Rewards and Talent Management professionals.

- Champion diversity, and inclusion initiatives within rewards and talent programs.

- Drive process improvements, technology enhancements (HRIS, LMS), and project management to increase efficiency and employee satisfaction.

- Other duties as assigned.

Education & Experience

- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or related field required; advanced degree preferred.

- Minimum 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in Total Rewards, Compensation, Benefits, Payroll, Talent Acquisition, and Talent Management.

- Proven track record managing STI and LTI programs, compensation structures, and benefits administration.

- Experience leading talent acquisition, leadership development, and training programs in a complex, multi-state or global environment.

- Demonstrated ability to lead through M&A activities including due diligence, integration, and harmonization of rewards and talent programs.

- Demonstrated experience preparing and delivering Total Rewards and Talent Management data and presentations for ELT, Board of Directors, and compensation/governance committees.

- Strong ability to translate complex compensation and talent metrics into executive-level insights and actionable recommendations.

Skills & Competencies

- Strong business acumen with the ability to align HR strategies to business goals and objectives.

- Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, capable of influencing at all organizational levels.

- Expertise in HRIS systems (e.g., Oracle, ADP), LMS platforms, and advanced data analytics.

- Deep knowledge of employment laws, compliance requirements, and industry best practices.

- Strategic thinker with strong project management and change leadership capabilities.

- Proven ability to build, lead, and inspire diverse teams in a fast-paced environment.

- High integrity, discretion, and professionalism in handling sensitive information.

Supervisory Responsibility:

- Yes, responsible for leading Total Rewards and Talent Management teams.

PREFERRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, CERTIFICATIONS, COMPETENCIES, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:

- Experience in the energy/oil/gas/transportation industry.

- HR certification (SHRM-SCP, SPHR) or progress toward certification.

- Global HR experience and multilingual capabilities (Spanish desirable).

- Experience with ADP Workforce Now and Oracle HCM software programs.