Head of Technology, Group

Position: Head of Incentive Compensation Technology, Group Benefits
Head of Incentive Compensation Technology

The Head of Incentive Compensation Technology is a newly envisioned leadership role that will redefine the strategic impact of Guardian’s distribution compensation systems. This hybrid position combines the responsibilities of a systems leader and a senior product manager, tasked with setting the future roadmap and vision for Guardian’s compensation technology ecosystem.

As Head of Incentive Compensation Technology, you will be responsible for defining and driving the product roadmap in alignment with the product vision and OKRs. You will collaborate with Product Owners and Business & Technology stakeholders to gather input and refine priorities.

Your role will involve integrating usability studies, and data/AI standards into product requirements to ensure a customer driven, high impact, and compliant design. You will define and maintain end-to-end product journeys, identifying data input/output needs and aligning with value stream goals, while ensuring the customer experience meets standards set by the Customer Advocacy Center of Excellence.

Why This Role Matters

This is a transformative opportunity to shape the future of Guardian’s digital compensation systems. You will lead a team that not only ensures operational excellence but also drives innovation, strategic alignment, and digital transformation – positioning compensation as a competitive advantage and a catalyst for growth for Guardian.

You Will Bring

• Develop and articulate a forward‑looking compensation systems strategy that aligns with the organization’s business objectives and transformation goals.

• Lead the creation and execution of multi‑year roadmaps, identifying opportunities for innovation, modernization, and adoption of emerging technologies.

• Advocate for a culture of strategic thinking and proactive change within the compensation function.

Systems Team & Product Leadership

• Oversee the compensation systems delivery teams comprising of product owners, business analysts and developers, fostering a high‑performance environment and supporting professional development and talent management.

• Manage the full product lifecycle for compensation capabilities, from ideation and design through deployment, support, and continuous improvement.

• Ensure robust product management practices, including requirements gathering, prioritization, and stakeholder engagement.

Business Process Improvement

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to optimize compensation‑related business processes, leveraging data analytics, automation, and AI.

• Establish and promote a data‑driven culture focused on measurable outcomes and operational efficiencies.

• Identify and remove process bottlenecks, standardize workflows, and implement best practices across the organization.

Cross‑Functional Partnership

• Build and maintain strong collaborative relationships with HR, Finance, IT, and business leaders to ensure compensation systems meet organizational needs.

• Align compensation technology initiatives with enterprise‑wide objectives through effective stakeholder management and communication.

• Facilitate cross‑team workshops and forums to gather input, share progress, and drive consensus on priorities.

Operational Excellence & Innovation

• Champion operational excellence by implementing workflow enhancements, technology upgrades, and process standardization.

• Evaluate and adopt innovative tools and solutions to improve the effectiveness, scalability, and user experience of compensation systems.

• Monitor key performance indicators to ensure operational targets are met and drive ongoing improvement.

Change Management & Communication

• Lead change management initiatives for compensation systems and processes, ensuring stakeholder engagement and adoption.

• Develop and deliver communication strategies, training programs, and resources to support successful transitions and continuous learning.

• Address resistance and champion a culture of change and adaptability.

Governance & Compliance

• Oversee governance processes to ensure compliance with internal policies, external regulations, and industry standards.

• Implement effective risk…