Director Total Rewards

Director, Total Rewards

The Director, Total Rewards provides strategic leadership and oversight for DCH Health System's total rewards programs, including compensation, employee benefits, retirement programs, wellness and other employee reward programs. This position is responsible for the development, implementation, administration, evaluation, and continuous improvement of comprehensive total rewards strategies that attract, retain, engage, and motivate employees while supporting the organization's financial, operational, and workforce objectives.

The Director serves as a strategic advisor to executive leadership, Human Resources leadership, and organizational leaders on compensation and benefits matters. The position ensures that total rewards programs are competitive, equitable, cost-effective, compliant, and aligned with DCH Health System's mission, vision, values, and strategic priorities.

The Director oversees the design and administration of compensation structures, job evaluation and classification, market pricing, pay equity, salary administration, incentive and premium pay programs, employee benefits, retirement plans, and related programs. The Director also leads vendor and third-party administrator relationships, evaluates market trends and emerging practices, develops cost projections and recommendations, and ensures compliance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations.

This position requires strong business acumen, analytical expertise, sound judgment, exceptional communication skills, and the ability to translate complex compensation and benefits information into clear, actionable recommendations for leadership and employees.

Responsibilities

Strategic Total Rewards Leadership

• Develop, implement, and continuously evaluate a comprehensive Total Rewards strategy that supports DCH Health System's organizational objectives, workforce strategy, employee value proposition, recruitment, retention, engagement, and financial goals.
• Serve as the subject matter expert and strategic advisor to executive leadership, HR leadership, and organizational leaders on compensation, benefits, pay equity, retirement programs, and other total rewards matters.
• Monitor external market trends, industry practices, workforce trends, legislative developments, and emerging total rewards practices to ensure DCH's programs remain competitive, relevant, equitable, and sustainable.
• Establish and maintain effective governance, policies, procedures, and processes for compensation and benefits programs, ensuring consistency, transparency, compliance, and appropriate internal controls.

Compensation

• Design, develop, implement, and administer compensation programs, including base pay structures, salary ranges, market pricing, job classification, job evaluation, merit increases, promotional increases, market adjustments, differentials, premiums, incentives, and other special pay programs.
• Conduct regular market analyses, salary surveys, and benchmarking studies to assess the competitiveness of DCH compensation programs and make recommendations regarding market positioning and pay practices.
• Evaluate job descriptions and conduct job evaluations and job audits to determine appropriate job classification, internal equity, market competitiveness, and compensation placement.
• Lead the development and maintenance of compensation structures and salary ranges for clinical and non-clinical positions, ensuring appropriate alignment between internal equity and external market competitiveness.
• Analyze compensation data to identify pay equity concerns, compression, market gaps, inconsistencies, and other compensation issues. Develop recommendations and corrective strategies as appropriate.
• Develop structure redesign proposals, cost impact analyses, and alternative compensation scenarios for review by HR and executive leadership.
• Establish and oversee processes for annual compensation planning, including merit increases, market adjustments, promotional increases, and other compensation actions.
• Partner with Talent Acquisition and HR leadership to develop competitive and internally equitable compensation recommendations for new hires, promotions, transfers, retention situations, and other employment actions.
• Provide guidance and consultation regarding complex wage and salary matters and serve as a key resource for leaders and employees regarding compensation policies and practices.
• Develop and deliver compensation education and best-practice training to leaders, managers, HR professionals, and other appropriate stakeholders.

Benefits and Retirement

• Direct and oversee the day-to-day administration and strategic management of DCH Health System's employee benefit programs, including group medical, dental, vision, short- and long-term disability, workers' compensation, life insurance, travel and accident plans, flexible spending accounts, retirement plans, and other employee benefit programs.
• Research benefit plans, vendors, funding approaches, and emerging market practices to identify opportunities that provide competitive employee value while supporting organizational financial objectives.
• Design, recommend, and implement new or modified benefit programs, plan designs, funding strategies, and administrative processes.
• Negotiate with benefit vendors, carriers, consultants, brokers, and third-party administrators regarding plan options, services, performance, contracts, and rates.
• Serve as the primary strategic contact for benefit vendors, consultants, carriers, third-party administrators, and other external partners.
• Oversee the administration of benefit programs and processes, including enrollments, eligibility, qualifying life events, COBRA, terminations, beneficiary changes, disability, accident and death claims, retirement plan transactions, rollovers, QDROs, QMCSOs, distributions, loans, hardship withdrawals, and compliance testing.
• Oversee employee benefit records, benefit databases, HRIS information, and related payroll records to ensure data integrity, confidentiality, accuracy, and timely processing.
• Oversee the collection, validation, reconciliation, and processing of monthly benefit billing, premiums, administrative fees, and related payment documentation.
• Analyze benefit utilization, claims experience, plan performance, costs, services, coverage, employee needs, and competitive trends to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Coordinate and oversee benefit plan audits and actuarial assessments. Prepare, collect, validate, and organize data required for actuarial analysis and other financial or compliance reviews.
• Develop short- and long-range cost projections and statistical analyses associated with benefit plan changes, new programs, funding strategies, and other total rewards initiatives.
• Develop and implement benefits cost-containment strategies, including alternative funding, plan design, vendor, and administrative approaches.

Compliance, Risk Management, and Governance

• Ensure compensation and benefits programs comply with applicable federal and state laws, regulations, reporting requirements, and regulatory guidance.
• Maintain current knowledge of applicable requirements, including ACA, ERISA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, Section 125, workers' compensation, Medicare, Social Security, Department of Labor requirements, pay equity requirements, and other applicable compensation and benefits regulations.
• Ensure the timely and accurate completion of required filings, reporting, notices, fees, audits, compliance testing, and regulatory requirements.
• Develop and maintain appropriate documentation and administrative procedures for compensation and benefits processes.
• Conduct periodic audits of compensation and benefits processes, records, transactions, and controls to ensure accuracy, consistency, compliance, and operational effectiveness.
• Identify potential compliance, financial, operational, and employee-relations risks associated with total rewards programs and develop appropriate mitigation strategies.

Data, Analytics, and Technology

• Analyze compensation and benefits data to evaluate program effectiveness, cost, utilization, competitiveness, equity, and employee impact.
• Develop dashboards, reports, presentations, and other analytical tools to communicate total rewards trends, costs, risks, and recommendations to leadership.
• Oversee the accuracy and integrity of compensation and benefits information maintained within HRIS, payroll, benefits administration, and related systems.
• Partner with HRIS, Payroll, Finance, Information Technology, and other stakeholders to optimize technology, reporting, data integration, and processes supporting total rewards administration.
• Evaluate and implement process improvements and technology solutions that increase efficiency, reduce administrative burden, improve employee experience, and strengthen data accuracy and controls.

Leadership and Employee Experience

• Lead, supervise, develop, coach, and evaluate total rewards staff to ensure effective service delivery, professional development, accountability, and achievement of department objectives.
• Promote a high level of customer service by ensuring employees and leaders receive timely, accurate, professional, and understandable information regarding compensation and benefits programs.
• Develop communication strategies and educational resources that help employees understand the value of their total rewards and make informed decisions regarding compensation and benefit programs.
• Collaborate with Talent Acquisition, HR Business Partners, HR leadership, Finance, Payroll, and organizational leaders to ensure compensation and benefits programs support recruitment, retention, employee engagement, and workforce strategies.
• Maintain professional affiliations and participate in professional activities appropriate to the scope of responsibility. Stay current on industry trends, emerging practices, regulatory changes, and professional standards.
• Promote DCH Health System's culture of service and quality excellence through teamwork, respectful communication, maintenance of a professional environment, partnership with those we serve, and anticipation of patient/customer needs.
• Adhere to and serve as a role model for compliance with DCH Health System's policies, procedures, mission, vision, values, and standards.
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