Manager, HR - Total Rewards

Goodwill-Industries-of-Northwest-Nc; Winston-Salem (NC); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

403(b) Retirement Savings Plan

Employee Assistance Program

Quarterly Incentive Programs

Corporate Discount Programs

Medical Insurance

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina, Inc. seeks a Total Rewards Manager to lead benefits, wellness, and leave programs while optimizing costs. Reporting to the Chief People Officer, you will supervise two direct reports and partner with Finance, Payroll, and external providers.

The ideal candidate has depth in benefits administration, compensation practices, and vendor relationships, with strong communication and leadership capabilities to influence senior leaders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR or a related field.
• Minimum 5–7 years of HR experience.
• Experience designing and maintaining compensation and benefits programs.
• Excellent communication and vendor management skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee employee benefits programs, including medical, dental, the 403(b) retirement plan, tuition assistance, wellness, and Goodwill Cares.
• Monitor medical claims cost trends and program utilization; work with carriers, brokers, and partners to improve value.
• Lead renewals, evaluate plan options, pricing, and vendor performance; partner with Finance on budgets and reporting.
• Lead open enrollment and benefits communications; maintain benefits handbook and ensure accurate records.
• Oversee leave of absence programs and ADA/FMLA processes with compliant administration.
• Guide the Leave of Absence Analyst and coordinate with managers to resolve cases.
• Promote timely return to work through accommodations or modified duties where appropriate.
• Apply compensation knowledge to support merit increases and incentive plans.
• Coach the team and drive continuous improvement; leverage data and AI to improve processes.

Skills

HR experience

supervisory experience

Benefits administration

Leave management

Compensation analysis

Vendor management

Data analysis

Communication skills

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

Master's degree preferred

Certifications: SPHR/PHR/SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP

Tools

Microsoft Office

HRIS

Excel

Job description

WS WFD Ctr University Pky
Winston-Salem, NC 27105, USA

Use your skills to transform your local community. Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina offers numerous career opportunities with competitive pay, excellent benefits, and the reward of knowing your hard work is helping others.

WHY WORK FOR GOODWILL?

Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina, Inc. (Goodwill) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Winston-Salem, NC. We employ more than 1,100 team members who are dedicated to our mission of providing employment and training services that help people find jobs and reach financial stability. With 52 retail stores, 28 career centers, and dozens of attended donation centers across a 31-county territory, Goodwill is a complex enterprise offering a wide range of career opportunities.

At Goodwill, the work we do makes a difference in the lives of the individuals we serve and, in turn, in the community in which we live. Our business operations provide stability to our organization that is not always enjoyed by nonprofit organizations solely funded by outside sources. Our employees enjoy excellent benefits and a unique work environment that is professional, fast paced, and fulfilling.

Our organization’s values shape our culture and guide our interactions with program participants, customers, and each other. Our shared commitment to Living the Mission; Promoting Teamwork; Driving Improvement; Taking Responsibility for Actions and Behaviors; and Respecting and Appreciating Others is what makes us successful and inspires all that we do.

Want to learn more about Goodwill? Click on the links at the top of this page or go to: www.goodwillnwnc.org .

Job Summary

The Total Rewards Manager helps create and support programs that enable Goodwill team members to live healthy, productive lives. This role leads benefits, wellness, and leave programs while helping Goodwill manage costs responsibly. This is a hands‑on leadership opportunity for a strong benefits professional with working knowledge of compensation practices and a commitment to responsive team member service.

Reporting directly to the Chief People Officer, this leader serves on the People Leadership Team and supervises two direct reports: the Benefits Manager and the Leave of Absence Analyst. The role partners with the Director of Recognition and Engagement, Director of Talent Management, Finance, Payroll, people managers, and external providers. The position has exposure to senior leadership when promoting benefits programs and leading open enrollment communications.

The ideal candidate is a collaborative, service‑oriented leader with depth in benefits administration, carrier and vendor relationships, claims cost analysis, wellness, and leave management. The ideal candidate brings sound judgment, analytical ability, discretion with sensitive information, and experience developing others. Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills are essential, including the ability to engage senior leaders, explain benefits programs clearly, and tailor communications to different audiences. Working knowledge of compensation, merit cycles, and incentive administration is important; benefits and leave expertise are the primary focus.

Key Responsibilities

Benefits and financial stewardship

• Oversee employee benefits programs, including medical, dental, the 403(b) retirement plan, tuition assistance, wellness, and Goodwill Cares, the employee assistance program.


• Monitor medical claims cost trends and program utilization; work with carriers, brokers, and other partners to identify opportunities to improve care, service, plan value, and cost management.


• Support renewals and evaluate plan options, pricing, and vendor performance to secure competitive rates and dependable service. Partner with Finance on benefits budgets, forecasts, and reporting.


• Lead open enrollment, employee education, and benefits communications, including presentations and discussions with senior leaders. Maintain and update the benefits handbook and coordinate accurate administration, records, and required reporting with internal teams and external partners.

Wellness and employee well being

• Advance programs that support employees’ mental and physical well‑being, promote preventive care, and improve awareness and use of available resources.


• Partner across the People organization to make wellness practical and accessible, assess participation and employee feedback, and improve program effectiveness.

Leave management and return to work

• Oversee leave of absence programs and related ADA accommodation and FMLA processes, ensuring consistent administration, timely communication, appropriate documentation, confidentiality, and compliance with applicable requirements.


• Guide the Leave of Absence Analyst and coordinate with managers, employees, providers, and external administrators to resolve cases and support employees throughout leave and return to work.


• Promote timely, safe return to work through appropriate accommodations, modified work, or light duty where available and appropriate, consistent with medical restrictions, protected leave rights, and applicable requirements.

Compensation support

• Apply working knowledge of compensation practices to support annual merit increases and the administration of hourly and exempt employee incentive plans.


• Partner with the Chief People Officer and Finance on compensation analysis, market comparisons, internal equity considerations, and clear communication of pay programs.

Team leadership and continuous improvement

• Coach and develop the Benefits Manager and Leave of Absence Analyst; establish clear priorities, service expectations, and accountability.


• Stay current with industry standards and emerging practices, and use AI technology to improve the team member experience. Use program data, team member feedback, and vendor results to improve processes, strengthen data accuracy, and recommend practical changes to the People Leadership Team.

Education

Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree preferred. Certifications: SPHR, PHR, SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP, highly preferred.

Qualifications

• At least 5-7 years of Human Resources experience required.


• 1-2 years of supervisory experience required. Experience working with confidential information.


• Experience designing, implementing, and maintaining employee compensation and benefits programs.


• Advanced computer skills. Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.


• Excellent communication skills—both written and verbal.


• Ability to adapt to different communication styles.


• Excellent knowledge of HR practices and principles, all applicable labor, pay, benefits, health and safety laws and regulations.


• Excellent negotiation and critical thinking skills.


• Must be detail oriented.


• Ability to work independently and multi-task.


• Ability to collect and analyze data—both qualitatively and quantitatively.


• Strong professional acumen.


• Ability to establish and manage vendor relationships.


• Excellent planning, time management, decision‑making, presentation, organization, and interpersonal skills.


• Valid driver’s license required. Personal transportation vehicle required.

BENEFITS

Goodwill believes strongly in supporting our team members and offers excellent benefits, professional development, and opportunities for internal career growth. We are continuously looking for opportunities to expand our benefits program to accommodate the needs of our team members. While this list is not all-inclusive, some of the many benefits we offer to all employees are:

• Paid Time Off (PTO)


• 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan


• Employee Assistance Program


• Employee Referral Program


• Quarterly Incentive Programs (for all retail positions)


• Corporate Discount Programs

In addition, we offer the following benefits for our full‑time team members working 30 or more hours per week:

• Medical Insurance


• Prescription Coverage


• Dental and Vision Coverage


• Flex Spending Accounts (Medical and Dependent Care)


• Short & Long-Term Disability


• Life Insurance


• Tuition Reimbursement

EOE. E‑Verify Employer.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.