Manager or Senior Manager, Total Rewards & People Operations

desri-careers; New York (NY); On-site; USD 140,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Year-end bonus

Medical coverage

401(k) matching

Paid time off

Wellness reimbursement

Family building benefits

Charitable gift match

Job summary

DESRI, a leading renewable energy owner and operator, seeks a bold Total Rewards and People Operations professional to shape compensation, benefits, and related programs in our New York office. You will drive competitive rewards, manage HRIS, and partner with Finance to optimize payroll while delivering an outstanding employee experience.

Ideal candidates have 6–10+ years in Total Rewards within high-performance organizations, strong analytics, and the ability to implement scalable, data-driven

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or HR certification preferred.
• 6–10+ years in human capital with Total Rewards and payroll, benefits, compliance.
• Experience in talent-centric, high-performance organizations.
• Proven ability to lead complex Total Rewards initiatives with accuracy.
• Strong knowledge of federal and state employment laws.
• Analytical thinker with data-driven decision making.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; cross-functional collaboration.
• Salary and benefits are market-aligned; base is 140k-175k.

Responsibilities

• Lead DESRI's Total Rewards programs (compensation, benefits, retirement plans).
• Partner with Human Capital on annual compensation and talent reviews.
• Own HRIS data integrity, reporting, automation, and enhancements.
• Collaborate with Finance to oversee payroll from a HC perspective.
• Oversee leave administration, immigration, and regulatory compliance.
• Develop and improve HR policies, processes, and workflows.
• Leverage technology, automation, and AI to improve efficiency.
• Build partnerships across departments to deliver high-quality support.

Skills

Total Rewards

Benefits

HRIS

Payroll

Compliance

Analytics

Communication

Project management

Education

Undergraduate degree

Advanced degree or HR certification

Tools

Rippling HRIS

Job description

About DESRI

DESRI (formerly D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments) is a market-leading owner and operator of renewable energy projects throughout the United States. We have acquired or developed approximately 13 gigawatts of contracted capacity across a portfolio of over 85 renewable energy projects in 24 states.

At DESRI, our culture is grounded in rigorous analytics and thoughtful risk-taking, with a strong emphasis on creativity, intellectual curiosity, and continuous improvement. We operate with lean teams that prioritize efficiency and minimize unnecessary bureaucracy, enabling individuals to take ownership and move quickly. We value open, constructive dialogue and believe it leads to better outcomes. Above all, we are driven to go the extra mile and support one another, fostering a collaborative environment built on accountability, integrity, and care.

About the role

DESRI is seeking a highly motivated Total Rewards and People Operations professional to oversee compensation, benefits, and People Operations programs that support a high-performing organization. The ideal candidate has experience in organizations where talent is a defining competitive advantage and where performance, development, and differentiated rewards are central to the culture. This individual will bring strong operational execution while helping shape Total Rewards programs that attract, retain, and motivate exceptional talent.

What you'll do

• Lead DESRI's Total Rewards programs, including compensation, benefits, retirement plans, and vendor management, ensuring programs remain competitive and aligned with business objectives.
• Partner with Human Capital leadership on annual compensation, performance, promotion, and talent review processes.
• Own DESRI's HRIS (currently Rippling), ensuring data integrity, reporting, workflow optimization, process automation, and continuous system enhancements.
• Partner closely with Finance to oversee payroll from a Human Capital perspective, ensuring accurate execution and continuously improving payroll processes and controls.
• Oversee leave administration, immigration, and regulatory compliance while delivering a thoughtful employee experience.
• Develop and continuously improve Human Capital policies, processes, reporting, and operational workflows to support a growing, high-performing organization.
• Identify opportunities to leverage technology, automation, and AI to improve efficiency, scalability, and the employee experience.
• Build strong partnerships across Human Capital, Finance, Recruiting, and business leaders to deliver responsive, high-quality support.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree required; advanced degree or relevant Human Resources certification preferred.
• Approximately 6–10+ years of progressive Human Capital experience with significant expertise in Total Rewards, including compensation, benefits, HRIS, payroll, and compliance.
• Experience working in a high-performing, talent-centric organization where differentiated compensation, performance management, and talent development are central to the business.
• Demonstrated experience independently leading complex Total Rewards and People Operations initiatives with sound judgment, accuracy, and accountability.
• Strong knowledge of compensation, benefits, payroll, leave administration, and applicable federal and state employment laws.
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills with experience improving processes, implementing scalable solutions, and using data to inform decisions.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills with the ability to build trusted relationships across all levels of the organization.
• Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail, follow-through, and execution in a fast-paced environment.
• At DESRI, we consider a wide range of factors to determine your compensation. We rely on market indicators and consider your specific job family, background, location, skills, and experience. The expected annual base salary for this position is $140,000 - $175,000.
• Our compensation and benefits package includes variable compensation in the form of a year-end bonus, guaranteed in the first year of hire, and benefits including medical and prescription drug coverage, 401(k) contribution matching, paid time off, wellness reimbursement, family building benefits, and a charitable gift match program.