Total Rewards Manager

BenchSci is a GenAI powered disease biology platform unraveling the complexity of disease biology at scale, so Pharma R&D can bring new medicines to patients faster. To achieve this mission, we need to be a place where the most talented people can thrive and do their best work. How we design rewards is central to that goal.
The Total Rewards Manager role blends the strategic and the practical. You'll help shape the future of how we value and support our people by evolving our compensation philosophy, modernizing benefits, and clarifying complex topics like pay transparency and mobility. At the same time, you'll own the fundamentals: ensuring compliance, managing global programs, and building confidence that our rewards systems run smoothly and reliably.
This role requires someone energized by both sides of the equation: pushing innovative, forward-looking initiatives while also delivering the day-to-day with precision. You'll navigate ambiguity, drive alignment across diverse stakeholders, and bring structure to complexity—knowing when to challenge the status quo and when to reinforce the fundamentals.
You'll succeed here if you thrive in environments where not everything is figured out, and you see each step, big or small, as progress toward building a stronger, more trusted rewards philosophy.
The Total Rewards Manager role reports to the VP of Talent and is a hybrid role working out of our Toronto office. 
Key Responsibilities

• Manage BenchSci's total rewards strategy, continuously seeking and implementing innovative and market-leading solutions in compensation philosophy and frameworks, compensation recommendation practices, compensation cycles, and total rewards transparency
• In partnership with Finance, administer and manage the employee stock option program (ESOP), including refresh programs and employee understanding of said programs
• Manage global benefits and retirement philosophies and meticulously administer programs for employees across multiple geographies (including strategy for EOR employees)
• Lead the review, recommendation, and implementation of annual retirement and fringe benefits reviews
• Own employee education and internal marketing of employee total rewards programs, with the goal of increasing employee adoption of, understanding of, and satisfaction with  total rewards programs
• Oversee BenchSci's accommodation programs, including leave of absence policy and cases, ensuring a positive manager and employee experience for those seeking leave and/or accommodation
• Administer and improve our cyclical compensation events, such as pay equity, comp philosophy training, comp reviews, in addition to supporting initiatives and such as job architecture and workforce planning
• Own BenchSci's mobility policy and philosophy, acting as a subject matter expert to support Talent Acquisition, Talent Business Partners, and business leaders as applicable
• Manage employee mobility cases end-to-end, applying policy consistently while balancing positive experiences for all stakeholders
• Ensure work eligibility compliance across all operating geographies (e.g., SIN Tracking, I-9 Verification, right-to-work checks)
• Partner with relevant stakeholders to maintain compliance with audit standards and legislation; complete and submit required filings

What Success Looks Like in Your First 12-18 Months:

• Modernize our total rewards function with tech-enabled, efficient processes that save time and improve accuracy
• Deliver market-competitive, equitable, and transparent compensation and benefits programs employees trust and leaders champion
• Become the go-to partner for leaders on all total rewards matters, influencing with insight and data
• Secure executive alignment on major changes and drive them through to delivery without losing momentum
• Balance flawless execution of current programs with building the roadmap for the future

Qualifications

• 7+ years in total rewards (compensation, benefits, mobility) with global scope (Canada, US, UK)
• Track record of designing and scaling programs that deliver measurable business and talent outcomes—not just administering existing ones
• Experience providing direction and counsel to HR business partners, Talent Acquisition, and functional business leaders on high-stakes decisions.
• Advanced skills in benchmarking and data analysis; fluent in market surveys, analytics, and compliance requirements.
• Affinity for leveraging AI and automation to improve workflows, efficiency, and employee experience.
• Curious problem-solver: approaches challenges with curiosity, pulls insights from multiple data points, and distills them into clear, actionable recommendations.
• Collaborative influencer: skilled at working across functions, building alignment when perspectives differ, and actively seeking input to strengthen outcomes.
• Adaptive operator: You can thrive in a fast-paced environment, bringing clarity and confidence as priorities evolve and adjusting direction thoughtfully as the company learns and grows.

Benefits and Perks:  * A great compensation package that includes BenchSci equity options * A robust  vacation policy plus an additional vacation day every year * Company closures for 14 more days throughout the year * Flex time for sick days, personal days, and religious holidays * Comprehensive health and dental benefits * Annual learning & development budget * A one-time home office set-up budget to use upon joining BenchSci * An annual lifestyle spending account allowance * Generous parental leave benefits with a top-up plan or paid time off options * The ability to save for your retirement coupled with a company match
About BenchSci: BenchSci's mission is to exponentially increase the speed and quality of life-saving research and development. We empower scientists to run more successful experiments with the world's most advanced, biomedical artificial intelligence software platform. 
Backed by Generation Investment Management, TCV, Inovia, F-Prime, Golden Ventures, and Google's AI fund, Gradient Ventures, we provide an indispensable tool for scientists that accelerates research at top pharmaceutical companies and leading academic centers.
Our Culture: Our culture fosters transparency, collaboration, and continuous learning. 
We value each other's differences and always look for opportunities to embed equity into the fabric of our work. We foster diversity, autonomy, and personal growth, and provide resources to support motivated self-leaders in continuous improvement. 
You will work with high-impact, highly skilled, and intelligent experts motivated to drive impact and fulfill a meaningful mission. We empower you to unleash your full potential, do your best work, and thrive. Here you will be challenged to stretch yourself to achieve the seemingly impossible. 
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: We're committed to creating an inclusive environment where people from all backgrounds can thrive. We believe that improving diversity, equity and inclusion is our collective responsibility, and this belief guides our DEI journey.  Learn more about our DEI initiatives.
Accessibility Accommodations: Should you require any accommodation, we will work with you to meet your needs. Please reach out to [email protected]. We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

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