Our Purpose
Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.
Title and Summary
Vice President, Total Rewards, Executive Compensation
Overview
Mastercard is seeking a strategic Vice President, Executive Compensation to lead the global design, governance, administration, and evolution of executive compensation programs. This role will develop strategies that attract, retain, and motivate senior leaders while aligning with business objectives, shareholder interests, regulatory requirements, and Mastercard's pay-for-performance philosophy.
The VP will advise executive leadership, Human Resources, Legal, Finance, and the Compensation Committee on base salary, annual and long-term incentives, executive benefits, governance, disclosure, and market practices.
Key Responsibilities
Executive Compensation Strategy
• Develop and execute Mastercard's executive compensation strategy in alignment with business and talent priorities.
• Design and recommend programs for senior leaders that reinforce performance, accountability, and shareholder value.
• Assess market trends and competitive practices to maintain external competitiveness and internal equity.
• Lead annual and special compensation reviews for executive leadership.
Board and Compensation Committee Support
• Serve as an executive compensation advisor to the Compensation Committee.
• Develop and present board-ready analyses and recommendations for executive and director compensation decisions.
• Partner with Legal, Finance, Investor Relations, and the Corporate Secretary on committee agendas, governance materials, and documentation.
Incentive and Equity Programs
• Lead the design and administration of annual and long-term incentive plans.
• Partner with Finance and business leaders to establish performance measures and payout frameworks aligned with organizational goals.
• Assess equity program effectiveness and recommend changes that support retention, engagement, and shareholder alignment.
• Oversee executive award modeling, grant recommendations, dilution analysis, and share ownership guidelines.
Governance, Compliance, and Disclosure
• Ensure compliance with SEC, stock exchange, tax, and other compensation-related requirements.
• Lead executive compensation disclosures, including the proxy statement CD&A, compensation tables, and shareholder communications.
• Monitor regulatory and governance developments and assess their impact on Mastercard's programs.
• Partner with Legal and Internal Audit to maintain effective governance controls and processes.
Executive Advisory and Stakeholder Partnership
• Advise senior executives and HR leaders on compensation, executive offers, retention actions, leadership transitions, and succession planning.
• Build strong partnerships across People & Capability, Finance, Legal, Corporate Governance, and Investor Relations.
Analytics and Market Intelligence
• Lead executive compensation benchmarking using survey data, proxy disclosures, and market intelligence.
• Model executive pay, incentive outcomes, and equity grants to inform decisions.
• Translate compensation trends, investor expectations, and governance practices into actionable recommendations.
Team Leadership
• Continuously improve executive compensation processes, systems, analytics, and governance.
• Manage one executive compensation team member and foster a collaborative, inclusive, high-performing culture.
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Qualifications
Required Experience
• 12+ years of progressive compensation experience, including significant executive compensation expertise.
• Experience supporting a Compensation Committee and board governance processes at a publicly traded company.
• Expertise in executive pay design, equity and incentive plans, governance, and proxy disclosure.
• Demonstrated success advising senior executives and HR leaders and managing external consultants.
• Experience in a large, multinational, matrixed organization.
• Experience in financial services, technology, payments, consulting, or another globally regulated industry preferred.
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Knowledge, Skills & Competencies
• Strong knowledge of SEC disclosure requirements, shareholder perspectives, and evolving governance trends.
• Exceptional analytical and financial modeling skills.
• Ability to translate complex compensation topics into clear executive recommendations.
• Excellent executive communication, presentation, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.
• Sound judgment, integrity, and discretion in handling confidential information.
• Proven leadership and team-development capability.
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Education
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Finance, Business, Accounting, or a related field required.
• MBA, relevant master's degree, or Certified Compensation Professional designation preferred.
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Mastercard fosters a culture of inclusion, innovation, and performance, empowering employees to advance our mission of connecting and powering an inclusive digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere
Mastercard is a merit-based, inclusive, equal opportunity employer that considers applicants without regard to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disabled or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We hire the most qualified candidate for the role. In the US or Canada, if you require accommodations or assistance to complete the online application process or during the recruitment process, please contact reasonable_accommodation@mastercard.com and identify the type of accommodation or assistance you are requesting. Do not include any medical or health information in this email. The Reasonable Accommodations team will respond to your email promptly.
Corporate Security Responsibility
All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:
Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices;
Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;
Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and
Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines.
In line with Mastercard’s total compensation philosophy and assuming that the job will be performed in the US, the successful candidate will be offered a competitive base salary and may be eligible for an annual bonus or commissions depending on the role. The base salary offered may vary depending on multiple factors, including but not limited to location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Mastercard benefits for full time (and certain part time) employees generally include: insurance (including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, disability, life insurance); flexible spending account and health savings account; paid leaves (including 16 weeks of new parent leave and up to 20 days of bereavement leave); 80 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time, 25 days of vacation time and 5 personal days, pro-rated based on date of hire; 10 annual paid U.S. observed holidays; 401k with a best-in-class company match; deferred compensation for eligible roles; fitness reimbursement or on-site fitness facilities; eligibility for tuition reimbursement; and many more. Mastercard benefits for interns generally include: 56 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time; jury duty leave; and on-site fitness facilities in some locations.

THIS POSTING RELECTS ONE OR MORE CURRENT VACANCIES ON OUR TEAM, AND MASTERCARD INTENDS TO FILL THIS POSITION BY 12/30/2026.


Pay Ranges
Purchase, New York: $221,000 - $353,000 USD