Manager, Total Rewards in United States Embassy at Jobgether

The Manager, Total Rewards will lead the strategy and daily operations of compensation, benefits, and payroll programs while ensuring compliance, accuracy, and a high-quality employee experience. This role partners across multiple functions to optimize systems, improve processes, and provide trusted guidance on total rewards initiatives.

• Lead the administration and ongoing improvement of employee compensation, benefits, payroll, and recognition programs.
• Develop and maintain a competitive total rewards strategy aligned with organizational goals, market practices, and employee needs.
• Manage annual compensation cycles, including market pricing, salary reviews, increase processes, bonus administration, and benefits enrollment activities.
• Oversee payroll operations, ensuring accurate and timely processing of regular, supplemental, bonus, commission, and off-cycle payrolls.
• Review and approve payroll submissions, ensuring accuracy across earnings, deductions, taxes, benefits, garnishments, and timekeeping inputs.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations related to payroll taxes, wage and hour requirements, benefits, and employee records.
• Manage benefits administration, including eligibility, enrollment, deductions, billing, audits, reconciliations, and issue resolution.
• Oversee relationships with benefits brokers, payroll providers, carriers, and third-party administrators.
• Lead retirement plan compliance activities, including 401(k) audits, Form 5500 preparation, and coordination with external partners.
• Partner with Finance and Accounting on payroll funding, reconciliations, accruals, reporting, and resolution of discrepancies.
• Maintain HRIS and payroll system configuration, integrations, data accuracy, reporting, and process improvements.
• Identify opportunities to automate workflows, strengthen controls, and improve operational efficiency.
• Create employee communications and educational resources related to benefits, compensation, and payroll programs.
• Manage employee inquiries and escalations with a focus on responsive, accurate, and service-oriented support.
• Lead, coach, and develop payroll team members while managing priorities and operational performance.

The ideal candidate is an experienced total rewards professional with strong expertise in payroll, benefits, compliance, and HR operations. They should be comfortable managing complex processes, analyzing workforce data, and partnering with cross-functional stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance, Accounting, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in benefits administration, payroll operations, compensation, or total rewards.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations affecting payroll and benefits, including ACA, ERISA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, Section 125, FLSA, payroll tax, wage and hour requirements, and recordkeeping obligations.
• Experience managing payroll and benefits operations in a multi-state environment.
• Hands-on experience with HRIS and payroll platforms; Dayforce/Ceridian experience strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of HRIS configuration, payroll integrations, benefits systems, reporting, and data management.
• Strong analytical skills with experience handling payroll and benefits audits, reconciliations, reporting, and compliance reviews.
• Ability to identify process gaps, perform root-cause analysis, and implement scalable improvements.
• Strong understanding of payroll accounting, general ledger reconciliation, and internal controls.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage deadlines and multiple priorities.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate across all levels of an organization.
• Ability to handle confidential employee and payroll information with discretion and professionalism.
• Demonstrated experience leading, coaching, and developing payroll or HR operations team members.
• Willingness to travel occasionally based on business needs.

• Competitive compensation package based on experience and qualifications.
• Remote work flexibility within the United States.
• Comprehensive healthcare benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Retirement savings plan and employee financial wellness support.
• Opportunities to contribute to strategic HR initiatives within a growing organization.
• Collaborative environment with cross-functional partnership across HR, Finance, Accounting, and business teams.
• Professional growth opportunities and exposure to complex total rewards programs.
• Supportive workplace culture focused on improving employee experience and operational excellence.