HR Manager: Total Rewards and Compensation

Alfred University; Town of Alfred (NY); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Alfred University seeks a Manager of Total Rewards & Compensation to lead health, retirement, wellness, leave programs, and compensation structures. You will steer market pricing, equity reviews, and reporting to support university goals, while supervising the Benefits Specialist and collaborating with brokers and internal stakeholders.

You will ensure compliant, cost-effective plans, excellent service, and data-driven decisions, reporting to the Associate Director of HR.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in human resources, business administration, psychology or closely related field.
• 3–5 years of progressive benefits/compensation experience preferred, including at least 1 year of supervisory or team lead responsibility.
• CEBS/CBP preferred, SHRM or PHR certification preferred.
• Vendor/broker management experience in HR with responsibilities including performance appraisals, workers’ compensation, employee leaves and ADA functions.
• Effective written and oral communication skills.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality.
• Proficiency in HRIS and benefits administration systems; experience with PlanSource, NYBEAS, or Banner HR preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead benefits and compensation programs and ensure compliance with applicable laws and university policies.
• Supervise and mentor the HR Specialist (Benefits & Training) and support onboarding and cross-training within HR.
• Provide high-quality, confidential customer service to employees and supervisors.
• Ensure timely compliance reporting, including ACA filings, 1095-C forms, and nondiscrimination testing.
• Oversee leaves administration (FMLA, NY PFL, disability, workers’ comp, sabbatical) and coordinate with payroll and HRIS.
• Manage market analyses, job evaluations, FLSA determinations, and salary range administration; support annual merit processes.
• Maintain data integrity in HRIS and support reporting needs with dashboards and audits.
• Develop and deliver benefits, leave, and compensation training materials for supervisors and staff.

Skills

Leadership

Supervision

Benefits administration

Data analysis

HRIS

Communication

Confidentiality

Vendor management

Education

Bachelor's degree

CEBS/CBP preferred

SHRM/PHR preferred

Tools

PlanSource

NYBEAS

Banner HR

Job description

The Manager of Total Rewards & Compensation leads the Alfred University’s total rewards programs—including health and welfare, retirement, wellness, and statutory and disability leave programs—and stewards compensation structures through market pricing and equity reviews. The Manager of Total Rewards & Compensation reports to the Associate Director of HR and supervising one Benefits Specialist. The Manager of Total Rewards & Compensation this role partners with brokers, carriers, and internal stakeholders to deliver compliant, cost-effective plans, excellent employee service, and data-driven decisions that align with university goals. This is an on-site role.

Essential Functions

Leadership & Supervision

• Supervises, trains, and directs the work of the HR Specialist (Benefits & Training), providing mentorship, performance feedback, and guidance on complex cases.
• Participate in the orientation of new HR staff members and cross-training within the HR team to promote consistency and service continuity.
• Provides quality and timely customer service to employees and supervisors, ensuring professional, courteous, and confidential support.

Benefits Administration & Compliance

• Supervises, trains, and directs the work of the HR Specialist (Benefits & Training), providing mentorship, performance feedback, and guidance on complex cases.
• Participate in the orientation of new HR staff members and cross-training within the HR team to promote consistency and service continuity.
• Provides quality and timely customer service to employees and supervisors, ensuring professional, courteous, and confidential support.
• Ensures timely completion of compliance reporting, including ACA filings, 1095-C forms, and nondiscrimination testing.

Leave Management Oversight

• Serves as the primary administrator for all employee leaves, ensuring communication with the HR Manager for continuity across onboarding and separation processe
• Works closely with the Associate Director of HR in managing employee leaves, ensuring that all applicable laws and policies are followed and documentation is complete.
• Oversees administration of FMLA, NY PFL, short-term and long-term disability, workers’ compensation,military, and sabbatical leaves.
• Coordinates with vendors, payroll, and HRIS to maintain accurate leave tracking and ensure appropriate follow-up with employees and supervisors.

Compensation Program Management

• Conducts market analyses and benchmarking to maintain competitive and equitable compensation structures.
• Oversees job evaluations, FLSA determinations, and salary range administration in collaboration with the Associate Director of HR.
• Coordinates the annual salary and merit increase process, providing data analysis and documentation to ensure equity and consistency.
• Participates in compensation surveys and recommends adjustments based on market and internal data.

Data Integrity & Reporting

• Maintains benefits and compensation data integrity within the HRIS and related systems.
• Assists with departmental and institutional reporting needs, including benefits utilization, leave trends, and compensation metrics.
• Partners with HRIS and Payroll to develop dashboards and audit reports that support data-driven decisionmaking.

Employee Communication & Training

• Serves as a subject matter expert for benefits, compensation, and leave programs, providing consultation and training to supervisors and employees.
• Develop clear, accessible employee communication materials and resources.
• Assists in the implementation of annual compliance training related to benefits, leaves, and workplace policies.
• Trains new supervisors on performance documentation related to leaves, pay changes, and position updates.
• Provides compliance training administration through the Benefits and Training Specialist and coordinates with the HR Operations Manager to ensure training integration into onboarding workflows.

Collaboration & University Engagement

• Collaborates with HR leadership on strategic initiatives related to total rewards and employee well-being.
• Supports HR-sponsored events and initiatives that foster employee engagement and awareness of University programs and resources.
• Administer and govern employee benefits programs(health insurance, vision, dental, life/AD&D, disability, EAP, retirement plans, and other employee perks.
• Administers various leave programs (FMLA, PFL, Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability, ADA interactive process coordination and Workers Compensation claim and return to work policy adherence for all University employees.

Qualifications - Education & Experiencem Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree is required from an accredited college or university in human resources, business administration, psychology or closely related field.
• Minimum of (3) three to (5) five years of progressive benefits/compensation experience preferred, including at least (1) one year of supervisory or team lead responsibility.
• CEBS/CBP preferred, SHRM or PHR certification, preferred
• Vendor/broker management experience of working in a human resource function with responsibilities that include administration of performance appraisals, workers' compensation, employee leaves and ADA functions.
• Effective written and oral communication skills.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality.
• Proficiency in HRIS and benefits administration systems; experience with PlanSource, NYBEAS, or Banner HR preferred.

Institutional Citizenship

• Demonstrates professionalism, discretion, and respect in all interactions.
• Supports the University’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging through culturally competent and respectful interactions.
• Contributes to a collaborative culture of mentoring, engagement, and service that supports the success of faculty, staff, and students.
• Maintains a safe and compliant working environment and participates in required training, including safety protocols.
• Participates in required and elective professional development, University committees, and initiatives.
• Maintains a safe working environment within and around their facilities and associated equipment and supplies including, but not limited to, obtaining Safety Data Sheet (SDS) information pertaining to any hazards associated with their work environment.
• Performs other related duties as assigned to support departmental and institutional goals.

About Alfred University

Lighting the way for students since 1836.“We've always been a place for makers, especially those who make the future. Our commitment to independent thinking, creativity, academic rigor and community has made us a unique kind of leader since 1836.

Alfred University (AU) was founded on principles of social justice in 1836 by liberal, independent thinkers who placed high value on education for all citizens. The University has retained and built upon the strong values of its founders, developing as an institution of national and international renown that is responsive to the needs of contemporary society while remaining consistent with the spirit of its origins. Alfred University is the second oldest coeducational college in the United States as well as one of the earliest nineteenth century colleges to have enrolled African American and Native American students. It has a long-standing history of educating socially conscious students who make a difference in their professions and their communities.

Over the course of the twentieth century, Alfred University evolved into a complex institution offering a full range of programs in the liberal arts and sciences, art and design, engineering, business, education, counseling, and school psychology to its nearly 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students that live, learn, and play on a 232-acre campus located in an idyllic, creative valley in Western New York. To learn more, visit alfred.edu.

Alfred University actively subscribes to a policy of equal employment opportunity, and will not discriminate against any employee, student or applicant because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, gender identification or expression, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry or national origin, marital status, genetic information, military or veteran status, domestic violence victim status, criminal conviction status, political affiliation or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.