Manager Total Rewards

Buckingham Search; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

Buckingham Search is seeking a Total Rewards Manager to strengthen compensation and benefits programs with global exposure. This role blends hands-on administration with strategic design, partnering across HR, Finance and the business to deliver competitive programs and clear communications.

You will manage benefits, retirement, wellness and leave programs, coordinate annual reviews, support salary planning and market analysis, and create reports to guide decisions.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of experience in compensation, benefits or total rewards.
• Experience supporting compensation cycles and benefits programs.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to explain data clearly.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with an HRIS; Workday is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage the administration of benefits, retirement, wellness and leave programs.
• Coordinate annual benefits reviews, vendor evaluations and plan updates.
• Help employees understand and make use of available programs through clear communications.
• Coordinate annual compensation and incentive processes, ensuring information is accurate and decisions are delivered on time.
• Support salary planning, job reviews and market analysis.
• Prepare employee communications related to compensation changes, promotions and transfers.
• Work with Finance on workforce reporting, cost analysis and planning.
• Create reporting and analysis that help leaders evaluate program costs and effectiveness.
• Maintain accurate records, documentation and processes.
• Monitor changes in the rewards landscape and recommend improvements.

Skills

Total rewards

Advanced Excel

HRIS (Workday preferred)

Communication

Data analysis

Tools

Excel

Workday

Job description

In-office Monday - Thursday and not open to relocation

An established, people-focused financial services company is seeking a Total Rewards Manager to strengthen the programs and processes that support its workforce. This role offers broad ownership across compensation and benefits, with the opportunity to influence employee experience, provide useful insights to leaders, and improve how rewards programs operate with global exposure.

You'll partner with colleagues across HR, Finance and the business. The right person enjoys both hands-on administration and the bigger picture: making programs competitive, well-run and easy for employees to understand.

What You'll Do

• Manage the administration of benefits, retirement, wellness and leave programs.
• Coordinate annual benefits reviews, vendor evaluations and plan updates.
• Help employees understand and make use of available programs through clear communications.
• Coordinate annual compensation and incentive processes, ensuring information is accurate and decisions are delivered on time.
• Support salary planning, job reviews and market analysis.
• Prepare employee communications related to compensation changes, promotions and transfers.
• Work with Finance on workforce reporting, cost analysis and planning.
• Create reporting and analysis that help leaders evaluate program costs and effectiveness.
• Maintain accurate records, documentation and processes.
• Monitor changes in the rewards landscape and recommend improvements.

What You'll Bring

• 5-7 years of experience in compensation, benefits or total rewards.
• Experience supporting compensation cycles and benefits programs.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to explain data clearly.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with an HRIS; Workday is preferred.
• Strong attention to detail and discretion with sensitive information.
• Clear communication skills and the ability to work with a range of partners.
• Experience with varied compensation programs, including equity-based rewards, is a plus.

Why Consider This Role?

This is a chance to work across the full rewards experience and have a meaningful hand in how programs are designed, communicated and delivered. You'll bring structure to important processes, provide insights that guide decisions and help create a better experience for employees. You will have the ability to build and influence the entire total rewards program.