Compensation & Benefits Manager

Job Title: Compensation & Benefits Manager


Industry: Healthcare / Nonprofit


Location (city, state): Novato, CA


Assignment Type: Direct Hire


Pay: $100,000-$130,000 annually


Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday; primarily on-site


Benefits: This position is eligible for medical, dental, vision, and retirement benefits.

About The Company:


A mission-driven healthcare organization is seeking an experienced Compensation & Benefits Manager to oversee its Total Rewards function. The organization supports a diverse workforce across clinical, administrative, and operational teams and is committed to providing high-quality services to the local community.


Job Description:


The Compensation & Benefits Manager will take ownership of both compensation and benefits programs, combining strategic planning with hands-on execution. This role will focus heavily on compensation structure development, salary benchmarking, benefits administration, vendor management, compliance, and workforce analytics.


The ideal candidate is currently working in a Compensation, Benefits, or Total Rewards role and has demonstrated experience independently managing both sides of the function. This is not a benefits-only or generalist HR position; the organization is seeking someone with strong technical compensation expertise who can develop salary ranges and structures from the ground up.


Key Responsibilities:

• Manage and enhance the organization's overall Total Rewards programs.
• Develop and maintain salary ranges, compensation structures, job levels, and job architecture.
• Perform market research, salary surveys, benchmarking, and compensation analysis.
• Support internal equity and competitive pay practices through data-driven analysis.
• Lead annual salary review and compensation adjustment processes.
• Partner with Finance and Talent Acquisition on compensation planning, budgeting, and offer recommendations.
• Oversee employee benefit programs, including health, dental, retirement, leave, and related offerings.
• Manage relationships with benefits brokers, carriers, and external vendors.
• Coordinate benefit renewals, vendor evaluations, RFPs, and contract negotiations.
• Evaluate opportunities to enhance employee benefits and Total Rewards offerings.
• Monitor compensation and benefits programs for compliance with applicable regulations.
• Develop workforce reports, dashboards, and analytics for leadership.
• Translate complex compensation and benefits data into clear recommendations.
• Help educate employees and leadership on compensation and benefits programs.
• Partner with HR leadership on employee engagement, retention, and broader people initiatives.
• Occasionally visit nearby organizational locations to support HR initiatives and benefits enrollment.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field.
• 3+ years of direct Total Rewards, Compensation & Benefits, or comparable experience.
• Current or recent experience owning both compensation and benefits responsibilities.
• Proven experience developing salary ranges and compensation structures.
• Strong compensation benchmarking and market pricing experience.
• Experience with job architecture and compensation analysis.
• Hands-on benefits administration experience.
• Experience managing benefits brokers, vendors, and external partners.
• Strong Excel and data analysis skills.
• Experience using an HRIS.
• Strong knowledge of compensation and benefits compliance.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.
• Strong communication, analytical, and presentation skills.

Additional Details:

• Healthcare or nonprofit experience is strongly preferred.
• ADP Workforce Now experience is a plus.
• Experience with HR analytics and executive-level reporting is preferred.
• RFP, vendor negotiation, and benefits renewal experience is a plus.
• Spanish language skills are a plus.
• Candidates should have substantial compensation experience in addition to benefits administration.
• Candidates whose backgrounds are primarily recruiting, HR generalist, or benefits-only focused will not be the strongest fit.
• Must be able to meet applicable workplace health and fit-for-duty requirements.
• Position is primarily performed in an office environment and requires regular computer use.
• Occasional travel to nearby organizational locations may be required.

Perks:

• Medical insurance
• Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)
• Dental and vision coverage
• 403(b) retirement savings plan with employer match
• Life and disability insurance
• Educational and continuing education benefits
• Employee assistance resources
• Paid time off
• Paid holidays
• Personal days
• Extended illness benefits
• Opportunity to own and shape the organization's Total Rewards strategy
• Strategic and hands-on scope across compensation, benefits, analytics, and employee programs
• Mission-driven healthcare environment