Total Rewards Manager (56219)

Department: Human Resources

Reports To: HR Director 

Position Summary

The Total Rewards Manager is a hands-on, player-coach role responsible for the design, administration, and continuous improvement of the organization’s compensation, benefits and payroll programs. This position owns the payroll system, payroll processing, training, and governance, while site-based HR Generalists execute day-to-day transactions.

The role balances strategic ownership with operational execution, ensuring compensation, benefits, and payroll programs are competitive, compliant, consistently delivered, and well understood by employees and leaders.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Leadership & Operations 

· Own the payroll system and end-to-end payroll process, including configuration, maintenance, upgrades, and vendor relationships while collaborating with the HR team.

· Oversee and administer payroll processing to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll delivery across hourly, salaried, and incentive-eligible populations.

· Establish payroll controls, audits, and reconciliation procedures to ensure data integrity and compliance.

· Train, support, and enable site HR Generalists on payroll processes, system usage, and data accuracy expectations.

· Serve as the escalation point for payroll issues, corrections, audits, and complex transactions.

· Partner with Finance on reconciliations, reporting, and audit support.

· Drive automation and process improvement initiatives related to payroll and timekeeping.

Compensation Strategy & Administration

· Lead and administer the organization’s compensation programs in alignment with company philosophy and business objectives.

· Manage compensation planning activities, including annual increases, job evaluations, market pricing, and pay equity reviews.

· Conduct benchmarking and compensation surveys to ensure external competitiveness and internal equity.

· Provide guidance to HR leadership and managers on compensation decisions, structures, and practices.

· Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local wage and hour regulations.

Benefits Administration & Employee Support

· Oversee benefits administration, including enrollment, changes, audits, employee inquiries, and vendor coordination.

· Support leave administration programs (e.g., FMLA, STD, LTD) in partnership with third-party administrators.

· Provide direct employee support for benefits, payroll, and HR-related questions as needed.

· Assist with Workers’ Compensation administration and coordination.

· Support annual open enrollment planning, communication, and execution.

HR Administration & Program Support

· Develop, update, and maintain HR policies, procedures, forms, and related documentation tied to compensation, benefits, and payroll.

· Prepare and distribute employee communications related to pay, benefits, payroll changes, and HR programs.

· Support employee engagement, wellness initiatives, and recognition programs.

· Ensure confidentiality when handling sensitive employee and company information.

Compliance, Governance & Continuous Improvement

· Ensure compliance with all applicable employment, payroll, compensation, and benefits laws and regulations.

· Maintain documentation, internal controls, and audit readiness across all assigned programs.

· Analyze metrics and trends to identify risks, opportunities, and improvement areas.

· Partner with the HR Director on total rewards strategy, program evolution, and workforce planning support.

Qualifications & Experience

· Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Accounting, Finance, or related field preferred.

· 5+ years of progressive HR experience, including compensation, benefits, and payroll responsibilities.

· Demonstrated hands-on payroll experience, including system ownership and processing.

· Experience supporting hourly and salaried employee populations in a manufacturing or operational environment preferred.

· Strong experience with payroll and HRIS systems.

· Proficiency in Microsoft Excel; strong analytical skills required.

· Knowledge of compensation methodologies and benefits administration practices.

· Ability to operate effectively in a player-coach role with both execution and leadership responsibility.

· Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.

· Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment with minimal supervision.