Manager

The Total Rewards Manager is responsible for the design, implementation, administration, communication, and ongoing evaluation of the organization’s compensation and benefits programs, policies, and procedures. This role ensures that compensation and benefits programs support organizational business objectives, remain competitive within the market, and comply with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The Total Rewards Manager develops and manages compensation and benefits budgets, oversees compensation processes, and leads the administration of employee benefit programs. This position also manages relationships with outsourced vendors and serves as a strategic partner to Human Resources and Finance leadership.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Compensation Administration

• Designs, implements, and manages employee compensation programs, including salary structures, premium pay practices, bonus programs, and incentive plans.
• Conducts market salary benchmarking and compensation surveys to evaluate external competitiveness and make recommendations for salary adjustments.
• Performs job evaluations and oversees the development and maintenance of job descriptions and salary structures.
• Administers base pay and premium pay programs in alignment with organizational strategy and market trends.
• Conducts pay equity analyses and recommends corrective actions as appropriate.
• Leads annual market compensation review cycles and supports compensation planning initiatives.

Benefits Administration

• Oversee the administration of employee benefits programs, including medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, retirement plans, paid time off programs, leave programs, and wellness initiatives.
• Develops and implements creative solutions to address rising benefits costs through plan design changes, contribution modeling, and strategic vendor partnerships.
• Leads the annual open enrollment process and ensures effective employee communication regarding benefit offerings.
• Manage relationships with third-party vendors, brokers, consultants, and benefits administrators to ensure high-quality service delivery and compliance.

Compliance and Reporting

• Ensures compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations, including FLSA, ERISA, ACA, and Tennessee labor laws.
• Develop reports and analyze compensation and benefits data to support executive decision-making and organizational planning.
• Maintains accurate records, documentation, and reporting related to compensation and benefits programs.

Leadership and Collaboration

• Partners closely with Human Resources leadership, Finance, and organizational leaders to align total rewards strategies with business objectives.
• Develops and manages compensation and benefits budgets and monitors expenditures to ensure fiscal responsibility.
• Chairs the organization’s Benefits Committee and leads discussions related to benefits strategy, plan performance, and employee engagement.
• Provides leadership, guidance, and mentorship to team members as assigned.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field required.

Experience

• Minimum of 5–10 years of progressive experience in Human Resources, compensation, benefits administration, or total rewards management required.
• Demonstrated experience with compensation analysis, benefits strategy, and market benchmarking required.
• Prior leadership or team management experience preferred.
• Experience working with HRIS systems and advanced Excel functionality required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong understanding of compensation principles, benefits administration, and applicable employment laws and regulations.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to communicate complex compensation and benefits information in a clear and understandable manner.
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively across departments and leadership levels.

Preferred Certifications

• CCP (Certified Compensation Professional)
• SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP
• CEBS (Certified Employee Benefit Specialist)