Director, Total Rewards

Job description

ROLE TITLE: Director, Total Rewards Reports To: Senior Managing Director, Total Rewards Priority Application Date: Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 11:59PM ET. Resumes will be reviewed on a rolling basis after this deadline. Location: Remote WHAT YOU'LL DO At Teach For America, we are inspired by a single mission: one day, all children will have access to an excellent education. Achieving that mission requires attracting, supporting, and retaining exceptional talent while ensuring our people systems evolve to meet the changing needs of our organization and workforce. As Director, Total Rewards, you will play a key role in designing, implementing, and continuously improving Teach For America's total rewards programs and practices. You will administer compensation, benefits, wellbeing, and recognition programs that help create a positive employee experience while supporting equitable, sustainable, and data-informed talent decisions. We are seeking a collaborative and experienced total rewards professional who combines strong operational execution with strategic thinking. You are energized by improving systems, solving complex challenges, and using data to inform decisions. You have experience managing programs, building strong vendor and stakeholder partnerships, and delivering employee-focused solutions that balance organizational priorities with staff needs. This role requires someone who is comfortable working across multiple priorities, translating complex concepts into clear recommendations, and partnering effectively with leaders across the organization to deliver high-quality total rewards programs and services. WHAT YOU'LL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR Reporting to the Senior Managing Director, Total Rewards, the Director, Total Rewards supports the implementation, administration, and continuous improvement of Teach For America's total rewards portfolio, ensuring programs effectively support staff experience, organizational needs, and talent strategy. Lead the design and delivery of Total Rewards programs (25%) Execute the implementation and continuous improvement of integrated total rewards programs, including compensation, benefits, wellbeing, and recognition initiatives. Partner with leaders and People Team colleagues to ensure programs remain competitive, equitable, and aligned with organizational priorities and workforce needs. Contribute recommendations and insights that inform future program design and enhancements. Drive program execution and operational excellence (25%) Ensure efficient execution and administration of total rewards programs (including compensation, benefits, leaves and accommodations) across the employee lifecycle. Partner with Payroll, Finance, HR Operations, Talent, and other stakeholders to maintain efficient processes, system integrity, and a high-quality employee experience. Identify opportunities to improve workflows, streamline operations, and enhance service delivery. Manage vendor partnerships and program performance (20%) Foster relationships with benefit providers, brokers, consultants, and other external partners supporting total rewards programs. Monitor vendor performance, manage service delivery, and identify opportunities to improve effectiveness, employee satisfaction, and operational efficiency. Support contract renewals, program evaluations, and implementation of new services as needed. Lead communication, engagement, and employee experience (15%) Develop and implement communication strategies that help employees understand and effectively utilize total rewards offerings. Create resources, tools, and educational materials that promote awareness, engagement, and informed decision-making. Partner with internal stakeholders to ensure consistent messaging and a positive employee experience across programs. Use data and insights to optimize investments (15%) Monitor utilization, participation, costs, and outcomes across total rewards programs. Analyze workforce, compensation, and benefits data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities. Develop recommendations that improve program effectiveness, equity, employee experience, and long-term sustainability while supporting organizational decision-making. REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS Required Qualifications 4+ years of progressive HR experience specializing in various areas of total rewards, benefits and compensation. Demonstrated experience implementing, administering, and continuously improving compensation, benefits, wellbeing, and rewards programs. Knowledge of compensation administration, market salary benchmarking, salary structures, benefits operations, and total rewards program management. Working knowledge of federal and state requirements affecting compensation and benefit programs. Experience managing benefit programs and vendor relationships, including and evaluating service, program performance against operational and employee experience goals. Experience managing complex projects and cross-functional initiatives with multiple stakeholders. Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgement and handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion. Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret workforce data, identify trends, and develop actionable recommendations. Experience partnering with HR, Finance, Payroll, and business leaders to support effective program execution and decision-making. Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and navigate ambiguity. Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain complex programs and concepts to diverse audiences. Experience developing employee communications, resources, or engagement strategies related to compensation, benefits, or other total rewards offerings. Preferred Qualifications Experience conducting compensation benchmarking, market analysis, or job architecture initiatives. Experience using HRIS, compensation, or benefits administration systems. Experience evaluating employee experience, engagement, or program effectiveness metrics. Knowledge of federal and state regulations related to compensation and benefits administration. Experience supporting organizational change initiatives and communicating complex people-related programs. Stakeholder consultation and influence Employee experience design YOUR FUTURE TEAM The People Team enables Teach For America's mission by ensuring the organization has the talent, leadership, and systems needed to deliver sustained impact. We steward talent across the full lifecycle and build the people infrastructure that supports, develops, and deploys staff to drive strong outcomes for students and communities. The Director, Total Rewards sits within the Total Rewards team and serves as a key partner in delivering rewards programs that help attract, support, engage, and retain exceptional talent. This role works closely with leaders across the organization to ensure total rewards programs are effectively managed, continuously improved, and aligned to both staff and organizational needs. YOUR COMPENSATION The applicable salary range for each U.S.-based role is based on where the employee works and is aligned to one of 3 tiers according to a cost-of-labor index in that geographic area. Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of job-related factors, which may include education, training, experience, location, business needs, or market demands. New hires are typically brought into the organization at a salary between the minimum and the salary range, depending on qualifications, internal equity, and the budgeted amount for the role. The expected salary ranges for this role are set forth below. These ranges may be modified in the future. Tier A: $81,700 - $107,300 Tier B: $89,100 - $116,900 Tier C: $96,400 - $126,600 You can view which tier applies to where you plan to work here .