Principal Total Rewards Consultant

About the Role:

As the Principal Global Total Rewards Consultant, you will take on a key role within the AppLovin Total Rewards team, driving compensation and benefits strategy and execution across the USA and key global regions including EMEA and APAC, with LATAM experience being a plus. You will work closely with the Director of Global Total Rewards and People leadership team, cross-functional partners, and regional leaders to implement sophisticated, data-driven rewards programs that align with AppLovin’s compensation philosophy and long-term business goals. In this principal consultant capacity, you will drive total rewards initiatives on a global scale, providing strategic insight and guidance to ensure competitiveness and market alignment across diverse markets. 

Quarterly travel and flexibility to work across different time zones may be required to collaborate effectively with global teams. This role is based in Palo Alto with an in-office presence required one day per week (Wednesdays).

The Impact You’ll Make:

• Serve as a key strategic partner for senior leaders and stakeholders, including HR Business Partners, Talent Acquisition, Finance, and the People Leadership team.

• Lead the design and execution of comprehensive global total rewards programs, ensuring alignment with business objectives, market competitiveness, and internal equity across the USA, EMEA, and APAC regions, with LATAM experience as a plus.

• Develop and manage complex compensation frameworks, including base salary, and incentives (cash and equity), ensuring compliance with both global standards and local statutory requirements across all regions.

• Spearhead advanced analytical modeling to provide critical insights into compensation trends, pay structures, and market positioning, guiding executive decision-making across multiple markets.

• Lead benchmarking processes across multiple regions, ensuring that compensation, benefits, and reward packages remain competitive and tailored to attract top talent in diverse markets.

• Oversee the integration of compensation structures into Workday, including the management of the Advanced Compensation module and automation of annual compensation cycles.

• Drive innovation in compensation and benefits practices, staying ahead of industry trends and implementing new programs to enhance employee engagement, motivation, and retention across global teams.

• Take ownership of complex, high-impact projects that span global total rewards initiatives, ensuring on-time delivery and cross-functional alignment.

• Lead change management efforts and spearhead communication strategies related to compensation and benefits initiatives, ensuring seamless adoption across global teams.

Who You Are:

• BA/BS degree or equivalent experience; advanced degree or relevant certification (e.g., CCP, CEBS, GRP) is highly preferred.

• 12+ years of progressive experience in global compensation and benefits, with strong expertise in USA, EMEA, and APAC markets. LATAM experience is a strong plus.

• Proven experience in leading global total rewards strategies within the technology industry, with a focus on competitive benchmarking and equity program design.

• Expert understanding of compensation fundamentals, market analysis, and industry-specific trends, with a demonstrated ability to lead and influence high-impact initiatives across global regions.

• Exceptional analytical and strategic thinking skills, with a track record of delivering complex compensation and benefits recommendations to senior leadership.

• Highly organized and able to lead multiple large-scale projects simultaneously, maintaining a keen eye for detail under tight deadlines.

• Deep expertise in Workday Advanced Compensation and strong proficiency in Excel/Google Sheets, with advanced knowledge of compensation-related systems and processes.

• Excellent communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships, influence stakeholders, and navigate complex organizational dynamics across global teams.

• A self-starter with a global mindset, able to work independently while leading cross-functional teams through complex projects and initiatives in a dynamic, high-growth environment.

• Willingness to travel as needed and work across different time zones to accommodate global teams.