Human Resources Operations and Total Rewards Lead

Who We Are:

West Yost is a water resource management and engineering firm focused exclusively on water. Since our founding in 1990, we have partnered with public agencies including cities, counties, utilities, and water districts to plan, design, and deliver water, wastewater, and stormwater solutions that support safe, reliable, and resilient communities.

Our team of more than 260 professionals brings together expertise in groundwater, water supply, treatment, infrastructure, recycled water, stormwater, construction management, and operations technology. We support projects from early planning and permitting through design and construction and complement our engineering services with program management and public outreach to help clients move work forward and engage their communities.

We are proud to be certified as a Great Place to Work®, and to be recognized among Fortune’s® Best Workplaces in Consulting and Professional Services from 2023 to 2026, as well as a top-ranked firm in the AEC Advisors Diversity Index. At West Yost, we are committed to being the water firm of choice for our clients and our team, advancing water resources for future generations through strong partnerships, practical solutions, and a shared commitment to quality.

Compensation range: $90,000 - $110,000. Based on our office location. (West Yost uses geographic salary differentials that would apply for candidates in other regions).

Status: Full-time, Exempt

Location: Davis, CA (https://www.westyost.com/locations/ ).

This is a Hybrid role with 3 days in the office and 2 days remote.

Human Resources Operations and Total Rewards Lead

The Human Resources Operations and Total Rewards Lead is responsible for owning and executing core HR operations and total rewards programs across the employee lifecycle. This role serves as a key partner within the HR team, ensuring accurate, compliant, and scalable HR processes, systems, and data.

How This Role Operates:

This is a highly hands-on role for someone who takes pride in getting the details right and delivering a high-quality employee experience through operational excellence. This role is deeply involved in the day-to-day execution of HR processes and systems and is not a purely strategic or advisory position.

The ideal candidate is equally comfortable working in HR systems, managing detailed processes, and responding to employee and manager needs with a high level of service, responsiveness, and care.

HR Operation:

• Own day-to-day HR operations across the employee lifecycle, ensuring accurate, compliant, and consistent execution of HR processes, systems, and data

• Maintain HR data integrity by overseeing HR systems (including hands-on work in UKG), documentation, workflows, and employee transactions, including HR inputs that feed payroll, through regular quality checks and audits

• Design, implement, and monitor standardized HR workflows, including QA/QC and auditing processes, to ensure accuracy, compliance, and consistency across HR operations

• Identify and implement process and system improvements to support efficiency and scalability, and the overall employee and manager experience

Compensation, Benefits & Total Rewards:

• Lead administration of compensation and benefits programs, including salary administration, incentive programs, benefits enrollment, and leave of absence (LOA) programs

• Drive annual compensation planning activities, including merit cycles, market reviews, job evaluations, and internal equity analysis

• Oversee benefits programs and vendor relationships, including brokers, third-party administrators, and leave management providers (e.g., Tilt)

• Lead open enrollment, benefits communications, and ongoing employee education

• Manage compliance requirements related to benefits, compensation, and leave programs

• Serve as a key resource for compensation and benefits guidance for leaders and employees

HR Data, Analytics & Reporting:

• Lead HR reporting and analytics across headcount, turnover, compensation, benefits, performance, and compliance metrics

• Ensure accurate and timely statutory, regulatory, and internal reporting

• Analyze HR data to identify trends and support workforce planning and decision-making

HR Partnership & Flexibility:

This role focuses on HR operations and total rewards, complementing other areas of expertise across the HR team

• Serve as a trusted HR partner to leaders, with a primary focus on operational excellence, total rewards, and scalable people processes

• Provide guidance to managers and employees related to HR processes, compensation, and benefits

• Collaborate closely across the HR team to ensure aligned, consistent HR practices

• Proactively identify opportunities to improve HR processes and enhance the employee and manager experience

Success Profile

This role is a great fit if you:

• Enjoy being deeply involved in the details of HR operations and owning processes end-to-end

• Take pride in accuracy, organization, and getting things right the first time

• Have strong experience in compensation, benefits, and HR systems

• Are comfortable spending significant time in HRIS, data, and workflows

• Provide high-touch, responsive support to employees and managers

• Enjoy improving processes and building scalable solutions

This role is not a fit if you:

• Prefer primarily strategic or advisory HR work

• Want to delegate execution rather than own it

• Dislike detailed, process-driven responsibilities or systems work

Required Qualifications:

• 10+ years of progressive HR experience

• Strong knowledge of employment laws and HR best practices

• Demonstrated experience supporting compensation cycles and/or benefits administration

• Experience managing HRIS systems and ensuring data integrity

• Proven ability to handle confidential information with discretion and professionalism

• Strong organizational skills with a high level of attention to detail

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook) or equivalent tools

Preferred Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field

• HR certification (e.g., PHR, SHRM-CP)

• Experience with UKG, Asana, ticketing systems, Tilt, Lever

• Experience working with vendors or third-party administrators for benefits and leave programs

• Experience working with captive healthcare models preferred

• Familiarity with payroll processes and collaboration across departments

• Experience with project management or process improvement initiatives

• Exposure to data reporting and HR analytics tools

Travel Requirements:

This position may require travel to other offices and/or client offices.

A Little About the West Yost Life

You will experience many opportunities to grow and develop professionally with your colleagues through collaborative in-person work experience, knowledge sharing, and mentorship opportunities. We also offer hybrid and flexible work schedules to our employees to help promote and encourage a healthy work/life balance. All of our team members have access to local and company-wide events, our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Workgroup, Culture Workgroup, Wellness Workgroup, book clubs, charitable giving and community service, firm-wide resources, peer groups (young professionals & middlers group), and mentorship and leadership programs. We support and foster your career success and encourage you to be in control of your future with us.

At West Yost, we make space for connection across the firm. Each month, we hold an all-hands meeting that bring together team members from every location, including those working remotely, to stay aligned and engaged. Individual sectors and teams also hold their own monthly meeting. At the local level, our offices host gatherings, from camping trips and river rafting to community events and celebrations.