Total Rewards Manager, Human Resources

Description

TOTAL REWARDS MANAGER

WHY VRC:

VRC is a growing, multi-location organization investing intentionally in its people infrastructure. As we expand across regions and services, we are strengthening our total rewards strategy to ensure compliance, competitiveness, and sustainability.

At VRC, the Total Rewards Manager will:

• Play a critical role in financial and compliance integrity
• Partner directly with senior leadership on high-impact decisions
• Influence pay, benefits, and payroll strategy at scale
• Build programs that support growth, acquisition, and retention
• Be empowered to bring expertise, structure, and improvement

This role offers the opportunity to shape how VRC rewards its workforce — thoughtfully, compliantly, and strategically.

PURPOSE:

The Total Rewards Manager is responsible for designing, managing, and optimizing VRC’s compensation, payroll oversight, benefits, and employment tax programs. This role ensures regulatory compliance, market competitiveness, internal equity, and financial discipline across a geographically diverse workforce.

SUMMARY:

The Total Rewards Manager leads the strategy, analysis, and governance of VRC’s total rewards programs, including compensation structures, market pricing, benefits design, payroll oversight, and employment tax compliance. This role operates at a strategic level — establishing frameworks, controls, and decision-making models — while ensuring operational accuracy and regulatory compliance.

REPORTS TO:

Vice President, Human Resources

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Design, maintain, and govern compensation structures, job architecture, and pay ranges across multiple regions and job families.
• Conduct market pricing analyses to ensure external competitiveness and internal equity.
• Support annual merit, incentive, and bonus planning cycles.
• Partner with HR and leadership on compensation decisions, promotions, offers, and adjustments.
• Analyze pay practices across locations to account for geographic, market, and regulatory differences.
• Serve as subject matter expert for employment taxes, including SUI, withholdings, and jurisdictional tax requirements.
• Partner with Payroll and Finance to ensure accurate tax setup, filings, and compliance across states.
• Support audits, notices, and inquiries related to payroll and employment taxes.
• Provide strategic oversight of payroll operations to ensure accuracy, compliance, and strong internal controls.
• Establish payroll governance, review processes, and escalation protocols.
• Lead the design, evaluation, and enhancement of employee benefits programs.
• Partner with brokers and vendors to assess plan performance, costs, and utilization.
• Support annual open enrollment strategy, plan changes, and employee communications.
• Develop reporting and analytics to support leadership decision-making.

Requirements

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Compliance & Risk Management: Ensure all compensation, payroll, tax, and benefits programs comply with applicable laws and regulations.
• Financial Stewardship: Balance competitiveness and employee value with cost control and fiscal responsibility.
• Governance & Controls: Establish clear frameworks, policies, and review processes to ensure accuracy and consistency.
• Strategic Partnership: Serve as a trusted advisor to HR leadership, Finance, and executives.
• Scalability: Build programs and processes that support growth, acquisitions, and geographic expansion.

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS:

• Deep knowledge of compensation practices, market pricing, and job architecture.
• Strong expertise in employment taxes (SUI, withholdings, multi-state taxation).
• Experience overseeing payroll governance and controls.
• Experience designing and managing benefits programs.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen.
• Excellent communication skills and executive presence.
• High attention to detail and strong professional judgment.
• Proficiency with HRIS, payroll systems, and Excel-based analytics.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Finance, Accounting, Business, or related field required.
• Minimum 7–10 years of progressive total rewards, compensation, payroll, or related experience.
• Multi-state experience required.
• CCP, CBP, SHRM-SCP, or related certifications preferred.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Professional office environment supporting a distributed workforce. 
• Role requires close collaboration with HR, Finance, and external partners.