Job description: Drive and execute the global Total Rewards strategy across all regions, partnering closely with Heads of HR, HR Business Partners, and senior leadership. Offer expert consultation to leadership teams on compensation, benefits, and governance; ensure alignment with global frameworks while adapting to local market needs. Lead communication, education, and rollout of Total Rewards programs that reinforce a pay-for-performance culture. Act as the internal expert and champion for Pay Transparency, building policies and tools that enable clarity and compliance. Oversee compensation components of M&A activities, ensuring smooth integration and alignment with the global compensation structure. Serve as a strategic advisor on reward policies, programs, market trends, and competitive positioning to support attraction, retention, and employee motivation. Manage annual reward cycles, including benchmarking, salary range development, grading, and market analysis. Ensure compliance with global and regional compensation regulations, including navigating local nuances. Lead and mentor a small team while working effectively in a complex matrix environment. Deliver high-quality analytical insights, reporting, and presentations to support strategic decision-making (Excel & PowerPoint proficiency expected). Execute parallel, complex projects with strong planning, governance, and stakeholder alignment. Perform additional strategic duties as required. About the customer: Contract: Contracting 1 year (after possibility to go intern) Location: Basel (2 days a week HO) Our client is a global life-sciences and manufacturing leader with a complex, multinational footprint. The organization operates in a dynamic, fast-growing environment where innovation, operational excellence, and people-centric culture are core drivers of success. As part of the global HR Leadership Team, this role plays a critical part in building scalable, transparent, and competitive reward structures that support business growth and talent strategy, without directly naming the company. Requirements: Professional Experience: 15 years of experience in Total Rewards, Compensation & Benefits, HR operations, or related fields, ideally across both consulting and large multinational settings. Proven track record leading global Total Rewards programs, annual cycles, benchmarking, and governance. Strong project management experience in international, cross-functional, and matrix environments. Experience with compensation integration in M&A scenarios. Preferred: background in redesigning U.S. benefits programs and interfacing with payroll/vendor systems. Ability to work independently, navigate ambiguity, and operate effectively in fast-paced, service-oriented environments. Skills & Competencies Strong business acumen with a strategic mindset and commercial orientation. Outstanding partnering, consulting, influencing, and relationship-building skills across cultures and seniority levels. Advanced analytical, reporting, and presentation capabilities (Excel, PowerPoint). Ability to distill complex concepts into clear, compelling communication. Innovative, forward-thinking problem-solver with resilience and strong time-management skills. Demonstrated leadership capability: coaching, mentoring, and talent development. Customer-focused mindset with a proactive approach to stakeholder needs. Education: Bachelor's degree required; Master's preferred. Fields of study: HR, Business Administration, Economics, Finance, Tax, or similar.