Director, Total Rewards: Strategy, Compensation & Benefits

Colonial Group, Inc.; Savannah (GA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Colonial Group, Inc. seeks a strategic Director of Total Rewards to lead compensation, benefits, payroll, wellness, retirement, and related HR programs.

This role sets the Total Rewards strategy, ensures programs are competitive and compliant, and partners with executives and business leaders to balance employee experience with financial discipline. The position reports to the Vice President of Human Resources and requires strong leadership, analytics, and cross-functional collaboration to drive

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree with 10+ years of related leadership experience in HR, Business, Accounting, or Finance; Master’s preferred.
• HR and/or payroll certification preferred.
• Minimum of five years of experience in a payroll function, with significant experience using HRIS/ERP systems and defining HR system requirements.
• Minimum of 10 years of benefits design and administration experience.
• Eight or more years of progressive experience in HR, Total Rewards, Compensation, Benefits, Payroll, HR Operations, Finance, or related business functions.
• Demonstrated experience leading programs, projects, functions, or teams with increasing levels of responsibility.
• Experience supporting compensation, benefits, payroll, HR systems, workforce planning, employee experience, compliance, or workforce analytics.
• Experience analyzing business, workforce, operational, or financial data and developing recommendations for management decision-making.
• Experience utilizing HRIS, payroll, benefits administration, reporting, or workforce analytics systems.
• Demonstrated ability to partner with leaders across multiple functions and influence organizational outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Set and execute the Total Rewards strategy aligned with business goals and workforce needs.
• Lead the design and administration of compensation, benefits, wellness, payroll, and retirement programs.
• Monitor market trends, employee needs, and legal changes to keep programs competitive and compliant.
• Oversee job architecture, pay practices, job evaluations, and compensation analysis.
• Partner with leaders on promotions, role changes, workforce planning, and annual budgeting.
• Lead benefits and wellness strategy, plan design, administration, and governance.
• Manage annual renewals, vendor selection, negotiations, and compliance requirements.
• Provide oversight of multi-state payroll operations, controls, compliance, and service quality.
• Ensure Total Rewards programs comply with ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, ACA, retirement plan, payroll, and other requirements.
• Lead Total Rewards analytics and reporting; track KPIs.
• Manage key vendor relationships and budgets; analyze cost and utilization.
• Support acquisitions due diligence and integration for compensation, payroll, benefits, retirement plans, and employee programs.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical skills

Financial acumen

Project management

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR, Business, Finance, or Engineering

Master's degree preferred

HR/payroll certification preferred

SHRM-SPHR/CPP/CEBS or similar preferred

Tools

HRIS/ERP systems

Job description

Colonial Group, Inc. seeks a strategic Director of Total Rewards to lead compensation, benefits, payroll, wellness, retirement, and related HR programs.

This role sets the Total Rewards strategy, ensures programs are competitive and compliant, and partners with executives and business leaders to balance employee experience with financial discipline. The position reports to the Vice President of Human Resources and requires strong leadership, analytics, and cross-functional collaboration to drive