Total Rewards Manager

The Total Rewards Manager is responsible for the administration, compliance, and operational oversight of the organization's total rewards programs, including benefits, retirement plans, compensation, payroll governance, leave administration, and related regulatory reporting. This role partners closely with the organization's benefits broker, retirement advisors, external consultants, and internal stakeholders to support total rewards strategies that attract, retain, and engage employees while ensuring compliance with all applicable federal, state, and plan requirements.

The Total Rewards Manager oversees employee benefits, retirement programs, compensation structures, payroll compliance and controls, leave administration, and regulatory reporting activities. Reporting to the Director, Talent Management Operations & Total Rewards, this position serves as the organization's subject matter expert on total rewards and payroll compliance matters and partners closely with the Senior Talent Management Operations Specialist to ensure effective operational execution, system administration, and reporting.

This position does not have direct supervisory responsibility. The role provides subject matter expertise for the organization's total rewards, payroll governance, leave administration, and compliance programs and may lead projects and cross-functional initiatives. This position is eligible for hybrid work (telecommuting), which includes working on-site at least 3 days a week at our office in Iowa City.

Benefits Administration Manage the administration of employee benefit programs including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, wellness, voluntary benefits, and other employee benefit offerings. Serve as the primary internal contact for employee benefits inquiries and resolution of complex benefits issues. Coordinate annual open enrollment activities, plan communications, employee education, and vendor interactions.

Interacts regularly with vendors to ensure service levels   are being met. Partner with the Senior Talent Management Operations Specialist to ensure accurate benefit system configuration, eligibility administration, enrollment processing, and vendor data integrations. Review and reconcile benefit billing and eligibility reporting to ensure accuracy and compliance. Recommend program improvements based on employee feedback, utilization trends, and organizational needs.

  Retirement Plan Administration Administer the organization's retirement plans and ensure compliance with plan documents and regulatory requirements. Coordinate with retirement plan advisors, recordkeepers, auditors, legal counsel, and finance as needed. Oversee employee enrollment, contribution changes, distributions, and other retirement plan transactions. Support fiduciary governance processes and retirement plan committee activities.

Ensure accurate and timely completion of required retirement plan reporting, disclosures, audits, and communications.   Monitor retirement plan participation, utilization, and employee engagement trends and recommend improvements to plan administration, employee communications, financial wellness education, and overall program effectiveness.   Compensation Management Administer the organization's compensation programs, salary structures, job classifications, and pay practices.

Coordinate compensation benchmarking and market analysis activities utilizing third-party compensation consultants and resources. Conduct compensation analyses to support hiring, promotions, transfers, market adjustments, and organizational changes. Maintain compensation structures, salary ranges, and classification frameworks. Support annual compensation planning processes and compensation review activities.

Ensure compliance with compensation-related laws, regulations, and organizational practices.   Payroll Governance, Compliance, and Oversight   Provide oversight of payroll administration and maintain