Compensation & Benefits Manager

Overview Our client operates an HR Shared Services model supporting a workforce of approximately 400 employees, with a dedicated focus on delivering accurate, compliant, and consistent compensation and benefits programs across the organization. This role owns day-to-day administration of compensation and benefits programs for a 400-employee organization delivered through an HR Shared Services model — driving program accuracy, compliance, vendor performance, and consistent employee-facing service delivery across pay, health & welfare benefits, and retirement programs. Responsibilities Administer compensation and benefits programs end-to-end — base pay, incentive plans, health & welfare benefits, and retirement plans — for the full employee population Serve as the primary escalation point for employee inquiries related to pay, benefits enrollment, leaves of absence, and qualifying life-event changes, resolving cases within defined shared-services SLAs Own day-to-day operation of the HRIS/benefits administration platform , maintaining data integrity and eligibility rules Partner with Payroll to ensure accurate, timely processing of compensation changes, benefit deductions, and leave-related pay adjustments Lead annual open enrollment end-to-end, including vendor coordination, employee communications, system configuration and testing, and post-enrollment audits Conduct compensation benchmarking and market analysis to inform pay equity reviews, annual budget planning, and merit/bonus cycles Maintain regulatory compliance with ERISA, ACA, FMLA, COBRA, HIPAA, and FLSA, including required notices, filings, and nondiscrimination testing Manage relationships with benefits brokers, carriers, and third-party administrators , including renewals, contract negotiations, and service-level performance Develop and maintain standard operating procedures , service-level agreements, and case-management workflows for the compensation and benefits function Produce reporting and analytics on compensation trends, benefits utilization, plan costs, and service-level performance for HR leadership Support job evaluation, leveling, and FLSA exemption classification reviews in partnership with HR Business Partners Lead or support compensation- and benefits-related audits , including retirement plan audits and ACA reporting Qualifications Education: Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience Experience: 5+ years of progressive experience in compensation and/or benefits administration, including at least 2 years in an HR shared-services or HR operations environment Regulatory knowledge: Working knowledge of ERISA, ACA, FMLA, COBRA, HIPAA, and FLSA requirements HRIS/benefits platform experience: Hands-on experience administering an HRIS or benefits platform (e.g., Workday, ADP, UKG, or similar) Analytical skills: Strong analytical and Excel skills, with the ability to interpret and act on compensation and benefits data Preferred Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) or Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) designation Experience supporting a multi-state or multi-site employee population Experience with compensation benchmarking surveys (e.g., Mercer, Radford, Willis Towers Watson) Work Location Work Location: This position is hybrid, based in Fairlawn, OH. On-site days are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday; remote days are Wednesday and Friday. Placement Type: Temporary Compensation: Hourly / non-exempt contract Employment Requirements Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship. Successful completion of background checks, assessments, or screenings as required by our client. #J-18808-Ljbffr