Director of Total Rewards

🇺🇸In-Person - United States$180K–$250K/yri3h ago

Corporate Human Resources Compensation Strategy Benefits Management Total Rewards Payroll Operations HR Leadership

Summary

Director of Total Rewards leads comprehensive compensation, benefits, and payroll strategy across a multi-division organization of 1,500+ employees. This strategic leadership role drives competitive talent acquisition and retention through data-driven program design and execution.

Key Responsibilities: Develop and oversee total rewards strategy including compensation programs, benefits design, and payroll operations while ensuring compliance and market competitiveness. Partner with executive leadership on workforce planning, manage vendor relationships, drive process optimization, and lead M&A due diligence initiatives.

Skills & Tools: Expert-level knowledge of compensation strategy, benefits program design, payroll operations, and regulatory compliance (FLSA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, PPACA). Strong leadership, strategic advisory, process improvement, and cross-functional communication abilities.

Qualifications: 7-10 years of total rewards experience with 5-7 years in leadership roles, preferably in complex multi-division organizations. Deep expertise in compensation design, benefits management, and payroll operations with experience in private equity or high-growth environments preferred.

Location: United States

Compensation: Not provided by employer. Typical compensation for this role is $180,000 – $240,000/year based on title, seniority, and location.

Job Description

At Colibri, culture is a critical part of our collective success, and we live our values everyday: Love, Joy, Boldness, Teamwork and Curiosity. These values guide our interactions with each other, our customers, and the community as a whole. We have a rich and storied history. Colibri is one of the pioneers of online professional education, introducing some of the first web-based professional education courses in 2001. Today, the company’s family of brands are the leading online professional education platforms in their respective end-markets. We proudly serve >1 million customers annually and employ more than 1,500 mission-aligned professionals. To learn more, please visit: www.colibrigroup.com What You’ll Do:

Total Rewards Strategy & Leadership

Develop and evolve a comprehensive total rewards strategy aligned to business objectives, growth plans, and talent priorities
Ensure programs are competitive, equitable, and scalable across a multi-division organization
Serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership on compensation, benefits, and workforce planning decisions

Compensation Strategy & Program Design

Lead the design, implementation, and communication of all compensation programs, including base salary structures, annual merit cycles, variable pay, commissions, and executive compensation
Ensure alignment between compensation strategy and company performance, financial goals, and talent strategy
Oversee salary planning processes and ensure consistent, data-driven decision-making

Benefits Strategy & Program Management

Develop and manage health and welfare benefit strategies, balancing employee experience with cost effectiveness
Oversee plan design, vendor partnerships, implementation, and ongoing optimization
Ensure programs remain competitive and aligned with employee needs and market trends

Payroll Leadership & Operational Excellence

Establish and oversee payroll processes, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and efficiency in routine processing and reporting
Identify opportunities to improve payroll operations, systems, and delivery through process optimization and automation
Ensure alignment with internal financial requirements and regulatory standards

Governance, Compliance & Program Effectiveness

Evaluate and continuously improve compensation and benefits programs to ensure market competitiveness, compliance, and alignment with business goals
Maintain compliance with all applicable regulations (e.g., FLSA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, PPACA)
Implement governance structures to ensure consistency and risk mitigation

Vendor Strategy & External Partnerships

Partner with external consultants and vendors to benchmark programs, stay current on market trends, and optimize offerings
Manage vendor relationships to ensure quality, cost-effectiveness, and alignment with company strategy

M&A & Strategic Initiatives

Lead total rewards due diligence for mergers, acquisitions, and new ventures
Assess and integrate compensation and benefits programs to support successful transitions

Communication & Employee Experience

Develop and execute a comprehensive communication strategy for compensation and benefits programs
Enhance transparency, understanding, and engagement across the organization
Ensure messaging supports broader company strategy and growth

What You’ll Bring:

7-10 years of experience in total rewards, including compensation, benefits, and payroll

5–7 years of leadership experience, ideally within complex or multi-division organizations

Deep expertise in compensation strategy, including salary structures, incentive design, and executive compensation

Strong experience designing and managing health and welfare benefit programs

Knowledge of payroll operations, compliance, and process optimization

Strong understanding of regulatory requirements (FLSA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, PPACA, etc.)

Experience working in private equity-backed or high-growth environments preferred

Demonstrated ability to drive process improvement and operational excellence

Strong business acumen and ability to align rewards strategy with organizational performance

Experience supporting M&A or business transformation initiatives

Colibri Group welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and experiences, and we understand that not every candidate will meet every requirement listed in the job description. Research has shown that women and people of color may be less likely to apply to jobs unless they feel they meet every qualification, and we want to actively combat this bias in our hiring process. If you're excited about the role and believe you have the skills and experience to contribute to our team, we encourage you to apply, even if your background doesn't align perfectly with every qualification listed. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we believe that diversity of perspectives and experiences is essential to our success. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another position within our organization. Don't hesitate to take the leap and apply today!