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Human Resources Total Rewards

Location:
Pass Christian, MS
Posted:
July 27, 2025

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Resume:

R. JAMES “JIMMY” RAFFERTY (CBP, CCP & GRP)

www.linkedin.com/in/rjamesrafferty

*** *. ****** ****** 228-***-****

Pass Christian, MS 39571 **************@*****.***

GLOBAL TOTAL REWARDS LEADER

Results-oriented Total Rewards Leader with broad experience in global compensation and benefits in over 30 countries (including two years as an expatriate in Hong Kong). Demonstrated track record of implementing comprehensive, consistent and cost-effective global compensation and benefits strategies, policies and programs. Expertise includes:

• Executive/Board Compensation

• Incentive Design

• Benefits Outsourcing

• International HR

Expatriate Administration

• New Office/Policy Development

• Performance Management

• Web-based Compensation Planning

• Mobility

Mergers & Acquisitions

EXPERIENCE

CITY OF PASS CHRISTIAN, MS

Mayor July 2021 – June 2025

Results-oriented leader who served one term as Mayor of Pass Christian, MS. (population 6,000). Pass Christian was rated as the #1 safest City in the State of Mississippi, its marina was rated #1 on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and its school district was rated #6 in the State of Mississippi. Partnered with State Legislators and managed to obtain over $25 Million in grants for downtown development, harbor, water and sewerage upgrades, drainage, sidewalks, etc.

While being a Board member of Mississippi Community Health Advisors (part of the Mississippi Municipal League), helped 11 small towns in Mississippi obtain healthcare coverage for their employees for the first time through the Affordable Care Act. In addition, also helped small businesses and lower income citizens of Pass Christian obtain healthcare coverage for the first time as well.

Completed my first term as Mayor on June 30, 2025 (lost my re-election by 137 votes).

TOTAL REWARDS CONSULTING Sept. 2020 – Dec. 2020

Created a global job framework for a venture capital company in San Francisco. In addition, created a national job framework and designed an annual incentive plan for a mobile communications technology company in Atlanta.

PUBLIC COMPANY ACCOUNTING OVERSIGHT BOARD, Washington, D.C. Dec. 2019 – June 2020

Deputy Director – Human Resources

Head of the HR Life-Cycle Operations Functions (Benefits, Compensation, HRIS, HR Operations and Recruiting); introduced a High Deductible Health Care Plan, 457(b) non-qualified retirement plan, Data Analytics, Job Title Structure and Performance Management System; member of the organization’s HR Leadership Team.

MERCURY SYSTEMS, Andover, MA July 2018–Aug. 2019

Sr. Director-Total Rewards

Introduced a Global Total Compensation Philosophy, Stock Ownership Guidelines below the CEO and automated planning of all elements of compensation at the same time including the use of total compensation statements; facilitated the extension of long-term incentives outside the U.S., doubled the enrollment in the U.S. High Deductible Health Plan, integrated four acquisitions into Mercury’s compensation and benefits framework, harmonized the vacation schemes in the U.S. and Canada, and completed RFPs for a new executive compensation consultant and a health & welfare benefits consultant while working for an aerospace & defense company that was in a hyper-growth mode with over $600M in sales in 7 countries.

ANSYS, Canonsburg, PA July 2017–March 2018

Head-Global Total Rewards

Designed and implemented a Global Total Compensation Strategy, Global Job Structure, Global Automated Compensation Planning Tool, Global Mobility Policies and a High Deductible Health Plan in the U.S. while working for an engineering software simulation company with over $1B in sales and operations in 20 countries.

COBHAM, Arlington, VA July 2008–May 2017

Senior Vice-President, Compensation & Benefits

Global Head of Compensation & Benefits for a British Aerospace & Defense company that had $3B in sales and 11,000 employees in 23 countries. Established the entire compensation and benefits function from scratch and led all reward initiatives as a member of Cobham’s Human Resources Leadership Team.

Designed and implemented global initiatives that included a total compensation strategy, benefits principles, governance structure, performance management system, redesigned annual and long-term incentive plans, web-based compensation planning tool, international assignment policy, broadband framework, global common salary review date and HR project lead on Cobham’s $1B acquisition of Aeroflex.

Directed the harmonization of the health and welfare programs of 22 subsidiaries in the United States resulting in over $20M in savings; implemented the following in both the United Kingdom and the United States: salary ranges and annual incentive plan targets, executive car policies, relocation policies and centralized immigration procedures; established a compensation and benefits structure for new operations in Denmark and India; developed salary ranges in Australia and Denmark.

NOVARTIS, Cambridge, MA June 2003–Feb. 2008

Executive Director-Compensation & Benefits, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research

Directed all compensation and benefits initiatives for the newly formed Research Division that included 4,000 employees in the United States, Switzerland, Austria, U.K., Japan and China:

Implemented a job ladder, promotion process and reward & recognition program across all research sites and therapeutic areas; introduced target incentive schemes in Austria and Japan which had strong labor unions; established the compensation and benefits framework for a new R&D facility in Shanghai, China; member of Novartis’ Global Compensation & Benefits Management Team.

PHARMACIA (acquired by Pfizer), Peapack, NJ Jan. 1999–June 2003

Director, Compensation and Benefits, Asia/Pacific (2000 – 2003)

Directed all reward initiatives in the Asia/Pacific region that included 16 countries and over 5,000 employees:

Integrated the compensation and benefit programs from the acquisition of Pharmacia by Pfizer and the previous merger of Pharmacia & Upjohn and Monsanto.

Implemented web-based compensation planning/institutionalized benchmarking activities in the region.

Introduced a performance sensitive incentive plan at a manufacturing site in Australia.

Manager, International Assignment Services (1999 – 2000)

Responsible for the administration of 130 expatriates in 30 countries who participated in the International Assignment Program and 20 international short-term assignees:

Directed the redesign and implementation of a new International Assignment Program from a host-based to a home-based expatriate program.

Initiated and managed the outsourcing of Pharmacia’s International Assignment Program to PwC.

CASPIAN SECURITIES, New York, NY July 1997–Dec. 1998

Global Head of Human Resources

Recruited to establish the HR function and implement market based policies and procedures for an emerging market investment bank with over 400 employees in 14 countries; drafted employee handbooks in the 3 geographical hub locations of New York, London, and Hong Kong; after a period of tremendous growth, due to the Asian crisis, was a key member of the team responsible for winding down the company’s business (and this included trips to Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand to close down sites).

BANKERS TRUST (acquired by Deutsche Bank), New York, NY Sept. 1996-June 1997

Vice-President, International Compensation

Directed global personnel policies and benefit programs for 160 expatriates in 23 countries; introduced the use of assignment letters, tax equalization agreements and alternative expatriate packages that resulted in substantial cost savings; served as the bank’s immigration officer.

GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO., New York, NY July 1987-Aug. 1996

Vice-President, International Personnel - New York & Hong Kong

While working in New York, developed and administered policies and benefit programs in the Americas for national staff outside the U.S. and 40 inpatriates in the U.S.; administered compensation planning activities associated with high inflation countries such as Brazil and Mexico.

While working as an expatriate in Hong Kong, directed the Company’s corporate human resource activities in Asia/Pacific during a period of explosive growth and subsequent retrenchment; developed and administered HR policies and benefits for 1,000 employees in the region (300 expatriates and 700 local nationals); managed the regional relocation department including regional immigration and the administration of over 200 expatriate apartments in Hong Kong; directed the opening of offices in China (Beijing and Shanghai) and South Korea (Seoul).

EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Master of Business Administration (concentration in Finance), Loyola University, New Orleans, LA

Bachelor of Arts in History, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA

HR Development Program, Oxford University, England (while working for Cobham)

HR Development Program, Stanford University, USA (while working for Novartis)

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS

WorldatWork Certified Benefits Professional (CBP), Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) and Global Remuneration Professional (GRP)

ACTIVITIES

Board Member, National Diabetes and Obesity Research Institute

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) to help abused and neglected children

Pass Christian Rotary

Pass Christian Knights of Columbus



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