Director, Total Rewards & Payroll

ECMC Group is a nonprofit corporation focused on helping students succeed. Headquartered in Minneapolis, ECMC Group and its family of companies provide financial tools and services, as well as funding for innovative programs to help students achieve their academic and professional goals. Job Summary The Director, Total Rewards, serves as a strategic human resources leader reporting to the Chief Human Resource Officer.  The role champions and operationalizes the organization-wide strategy, design, and administration of Total Rewards programs, ensuring alignment of business objectives, market competitiveness, internal equity, regulatory compliance, and disciplined financial stewardship. This role is responsible for designing and leading a comprehensive total rewards strategy which ensures competitive, compliant and equitable employee experiences across compensation, benefits, leaves, and payroll. The ideal candidate is a strategic, data-driven thinker with deep expertise in multiple Total Rewards functional areas (compensation, benefits, executive compensation/benefits, payroll).   Essential Duties and Responsibilities Provide thought leadership to help shape the strategic direction of the HR function in support of a complex and evolving business model. Provide strategic and operational leadership for the following areas: health and welfare benefits, leaves/accommodations, retirement plans, payroll, base pay, variable pay, deferred compensation, executive compensation/benefits, and other rewards and perquisites Perform detailed analytical work related to incentive compensation, total rewards program cost projections, compensation data for tax and regulatory filings, and overall business decision-making Manage design and execution of annual compensation review and benefits enrollment processes; collaborate with partners in the development of communication strategies and process details to ensure the needs of business are met and employees understand their total rewards Prepare materials for quarterly and ad hoc Governance and Compensation Committee meetings, incorporating perspectives of CHRO and senior business leaders. Provide narrative and data on market/internal considerations, guiding management and board members to alignment on strategic direction and program details Regularly review benefit offerings/designs to ensure they remain market competitive and meet the changing needs of the organization and employees. Source and evaluate alternatives considering best use of spend and make recommendations to executive team Ensure accuracy and timeliness of the payroll processes. Provide guidance to HR Business Partners, Talent Acquisition and leaders on compensation recommendations related to hiring, promotions, transfers, and retention; provide input on issues such as internal compression and market competitiveness Ensure compliance with applicable government rules and regulations, including ERISA, FLSA/other wage and hour laws, FMLA, ADA, COBRA, ACA, pay equity/transparency rules, etc. Oversee the management of broker and vendor relationships, contracts and departmental budget Manage all relevant HR related audit activity and ensure full compliance Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing total rewards team Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned Required Qualifications Bachelor’s Degree 10+ years of progressive experience in at least one of the following functional specialties: compensation, benefits, or executive compensation/benefits 5+ years leading and developing a Total Rewards function and team Demonstrated ability to use HR technology platforms to manage and evolve total rewards processes and perform analytics Demonstrated experience building relationships with senior executives to enable effective outcomes for individual teams and the broader organization Experience building relevant and impactful materials for the Board of Directors Experience developing employee-facing communications to articulate total rewards programs, processes, or situations in a clear, understandable way Demonstrated experience managing external vendor partnerships and deliverables Advanced MS Excel skills Preferred Qualifications Practical experience presenting complex information to key stakeholders (e.g., Board of Directors) Experience leading a payroll function Experience with Workday HRIS Experience leading an HRIS function Demonstrated experience managing a departmental or functional budget Experience in consulting Demonstrated experience in sales incentive design and administration Comfort learning new technologies, including AI The pay range for this position is $215,000 - $235,000. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as relevant experience, peer and market benchmarks, and geographic location. Additionally, this position qualifies for an annual incentive of up to 20% of base salary, contingent upon individual and company performance. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. ECMC Group also provides a comprehensive benefits package:   Health & wellness benefits: Medical, dental, and vision insurance plan options, with a generous employer subsidy. Company paid life & disability insurance, pre-tax flexible spending accounts and robust wellness programs. Financial benefits: Generous 401(k) plan with a company match up to 6% and additional discretionary contribution potential, holiday time off, paid time off accrual starting at 20 days/year and commuter subsidy. Education benefits: Tuition reimbursement up to $10,500/year for approved programs and student loan payment reimbursement up to $4,800/year. Up to $5,250 of qualifying education benefits can be reimbursed pre-tax.