Associate Director, Total Rewards & HR Operations

Job description

**This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for an Associate Director, Total Rewards & HR Operations based in the United States.** This role offers the opportunity to lead and enhance total rewards and HR operations programs within a growing life sciences environment. You will partner closely with HR leadership to develop, implement, and administer compensation, benefits, policies, systems, and employee programs. The position combines strategic total rewards expertise with hands-on ownership of HR processes, data, systems, and compliance. You will help ensure compensation and benefits remain competitive, cost-effective, legally compliant, and aligned with business priorities. The role also provides an opportunity to modernize HR operations through technology, process improvement, automation, and the practical use of artificial intelligence. You will collaborate with employees, HR leaders, Payroll, IT, vendors, and other stakeholders to deliver a consistent and effective employee experience. This is an impactful leadership opportunity for an organized, analytical, and relationship-oriented HR professional who thrives in a fast-paced, evolving environment. ### Accountabilities - Partner with HR leadership to develop, implement, administer, and continuously improve global compensation and benefits programs. - Monitor the effectiveness and competitiveness of compensation practices and benefit offerings, recommending cost-effective solutions aligned with market trends, corporate objectives, and employee needs. - Maintain compensation structures, grade frameworks, and wage bands while supporting job evaluations and determining appropriate grade levels based on role responsibilities. - Support executive compensation activities, equity benchmarking, and presentations for the compensation committee. - Manage the annual compensation planning process, including salary increases, bonus administration, and equity plan administration. - Develop and recommend innovative compensation, benefits, and incentive plan solutions that address evolving business and employee needs. - Evaluate and renew benefit programs annually while overseeing the full open enrollment process, including vendor coordination and employee education and communications. - Oversee benefits technology, interface file feeds, and data transfers, partnering with IT and external vendors to ensure employee information is accurate and transferred effectively. - Reconcile monthly benefit invoices and manage the organization’s 401(k) plan while supporting the 401(k) committee. - Manage Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) processes, ensuring appropriate compliance, employee communication, and leave tracking. - Support the development and maintenance of HR policies covering areas such as tuition reimbursement, paid time off, leaves, compensation, and benefits. - Participate in annual salary surveys and analyze market data to support compensation strategy and competitiveness. - Prepare and deliver employee education on benefits programs, including insurance, retirement plans, life insurance, and other employer-sponsored programs. - Ensure compensation and benefits practices comply with applicable federal, state, local, and other regulatory requirements, including benefit audits and Form 5500 filings. - Partner closely with Payroll to implement and reconcile compensation and benefit changes, resolve discrepancies, and ensure accurate and timely processing of employee pay, deductions, and contributions. - Support process improvements, workflows, and HR processes associated with new hires and employee lifecycle activities. - Own and manage HR metrics and reporting, including monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting requirements. - Lead projects involving new HR processes, policies, workflows, systems, and operational improvements. - Develop an AI-in-HR strategy to identify opportunities to improve day-to-day HR activities, productivity, and the employee and customer experience. - Review, rewrite, and enhance HR policies and procedures to ensure compliance with employment laws and alignment with organizational values. - Act as a change management champion by facilitating and communicating updates to HR systems, processes, policies, and workflows. - Drive continuous improvement initiatives that use technology to streamline, standardize, and simplify HR operations while improving efficiency and service quality. - Perform additional HR, total rewards, and operational responsibilities as required. ### **Requirements** - Hold a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or possess equivalent relevant education and experience. - Bring at least 7 years of experience in total rewards, with significant expertise across compensation and benefits. - Have at least 3 years of experience working within the life sciences, pharmaceutical, or medical device industry. - Possess strong knowledge of U.S. federal and state employment laws, compensation requirements, benefits regulations, and leave laws. - Demonstrate strong expertise in U.S. compensation and benefits, with international compensation and benefits experience considered an asset. - Have experience designing, implementing, evaluating, and administering health benefits, retirement plans, leaves of absence, accommodations, workers’ compensation, and wellness programs across the United States and/or globally. - Demonstrate experience managing grade structures, wage bands, job evaluations, and compensation frameworks. - Have experience supporting change management, process improvement, workflow simplification, and HR operational transformation initiatives. - Possess a solid understanding of HR processes, HR data management, HR systems, and the relationship between data quality and effective HR operations. - Demonstrate a proven ability to develop, manage, and evaluate incentive plan components. - Bring strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to prioritize competing demands. - Demonstrate excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to understand stakeholder needs and what motivates employees. - Communicate effectively with employees, HR leaders, executives, vendors, Payroll, IT, and other internal and external stakeholders. - Demonstrate strong leadership capabilities and the ability to influence stakeholders across different functions. - Be comfortable evaluating emerging technologies and applying artificial intelligence tools to improve HR productivity, processes, reporting, and employee experience. - Be proactive, adaptable, and comfortable operating in a rapidly evolving business environment. ### **Benefits** - Annual base salary of **$150,000–$175,000 USD**. - Potential additional compensation through bonus, stock, benefits, and/or other applicable variable compensation. - Comprehensive total rewards and benefits programs. - Opportunities to lead strategic compensation, benefits, and HR operations initiatives. - Exposure to global total rewards programs and cross-functional HR transformation. - Opportunity to develop and implement an AI-focused HR strategy. - Collaborative work with HR leadership, executives, and cross-functional stakeholders. - Opportunity to contribute to a mission-driven life sciences environment focused on improving outcomes for patients. - Opportunities to drive process improvement, technology adoption, and employee experience initiatives.