MANAGER, TOTAL REWARDS

Scripps Research; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer Contributed Retirement Plan

Health and Welfare plans

Flexible Spending Accounts

Vacation and sick leave policies

Free on-site parking

Job summary

Scripps Research in La Jolla, CA, seeks a Total Rewards Manager to oversee employee health and welfare benefits and compensation programs, leading a Benefits team and ensuring compliance with ERISA, ADA, FMLA, and related regulations.

Responsibilities include administering benefit plans and retirement programs, coordinating annual renewals, managing salary administration, and partnering with carriers and brokers to optimise costs while delivering a positive employee experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in related field preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in Health and Welfare plan administration including vendor management.
• 2+ years of successful supervisory experience
• 5+ years of progressive compensation experience
• Proficient with HR systems such as UKG or Workday.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• On-campus position requiring a minimum of 4 days per week working onsite from our La Jolla campus, with one day remote.

Responsibilities

• Administers health and welfare benefit programs including health, dental, vision and life/disability, flexible spending and retirement plans.
• Provides professional support to staff and ensures compliance with applicable laws.
• Supervises Benefits team and handles hiring, training, performance appraisals and salary reviews.
• Communicates benefit information effectively and produces brochures and other materials.
• Oversees workers’ compensation, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, and HIPAA policies; ensures IRS/DOL reporting.
• Manages annual healthcare benefits renewal programs and vendor relations.
• Develops procedures for benefits records in HR systems and audits HR data quality.
• Administers compensation plans and salary administration, including merit processes and job description updates.

Skills

Vendor management

Supervisory experience

Communication skills

Project management

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related field

Tools

UKG

Workday

Microsoft Office

Job description

Scripps Research is a nonprofit biomedical institute ranked as one of the most influential in the world for its impact on innovation. We celebrated our 100-year legacy in 2024. This significant milestone marks a century of seminal discoveries in immunology, infectious diseases (such as COVID-19, flu, HIV), neuroscience, heart disease, cancer, and more. Located in La Jolla, California, the institute houses six research departments, multiple Nobel laureates, a top-ranked graduate school and a leading postdoctoral training program. Scripps Research encompasses two elite and highly innovative institutes, the Calibr-Skaggs Institute for Innovative Medicines and Scripps Research Translational Institute, which merge foundational studies in biology, chemistry and computer science with translational science to produce pioneering drugs and advances in digital and precision medicine. Together, we cultivate new scientific leaders and expand the frontiers of knowledge to deliver medical breakthroughs impacting human health around the globe. If you have a passion for making a difference, this could be your opportunity to join our transformative team.

Manager, Total Rewards

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Total Rewards Manager is responsible for the administration and oversight of employee health and welfare benefits and compensation programs, providing knowledge and expertise to support the goals, strategies, and directives of the department. Provides highly responsive and complex professional support to Scripps Research staff. Maintains, develops, leads and implements benefit policies and procedures to ensure legal compliance. Supervises the Benefits team to ensure effective administration of all benefit programs.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

Benefits Administration

• Administers employee fringe and mandated benefit programs including health, dental, vision and life/disability, flexible spending and health spending accounts, Employee Assistance Program, and retirement plans.
• Provides professional and confidential level of assistance to resolve healthcare benefit issues in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
• Manages and develops direct reports; responsible for employment related actions such as hiring, terminating, training, performance appraisals, and salary reviews of assigned staff; responds proactively to employee issues and concerns with empathy, confidentiality, and integrity.
• Efficiently communicates a variety of benefit information to employees both orally and in writing; composes timely benefit communication documents including brochures, booklets, and other media.
• Works with benefit carriers and brokers to ensure proper administration of benefits contracts, correct payment of premiums and resolution of any service delivery issues.
• Oversee worker’s compensation program and COBRA, FMLA, ADA, and HIPAA policies ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Maintains accurate record-keeping and ensures timely submission of required form(s) (OSHA Logs, 5500 reporting, non-discrimination testing, etc.) with the IRS, DOL and/or related agencies.
• Manages annual healthcare benefits renewal programs, manages carriers and broker participation.
• Develops and maintains procedures for benefits related records in HR systems.
• Audits and troubleshooting of HCM and vendor issues.

Compensation Program

• Responsible for the effective deployment of salary administration and the day-to-day productivity of systems and existing processes.
• Oversee participation in published surveys and perform analysis of wage and salary reports, surveys, data and other compensation tools.
• Administers compensation plans and salary administration to ensure compliance and equity both internally and externally.
• Reviews proposed salary adjustments for conformation to guidelines, policies, and practices, and make recommendations to managers for resolution of issues.
• Conduct job analysis and draft/update job descriptions for new and existing positions, as necessary.
• Performs routine audits/reviews for accuracy, and to keep abreast of market trends.
• Initiates and prepares annual salary planning data and coordinates the merit increase process including preparing related documentation and communication maintaining accurate records and preparation of summary reports for management.
• Responds proactively to employee and management compensation issues and concerns with empathy, confidentiality, and integrity.
• Coaches and counsels’ managers regarding policy interpretation and application of wage and hour and other related labor laws.
• Details of established essential functions for this position will be addressed/discussed during the interview process.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in Health and Welfare plan administration including vendor management.
• 2+ years of successful supervisory experience
• 5+ years of progressive compensation experience
• Strong experience with HCM and benefits administration software systems; UKG or Workday experience highly preferred.
• Professional etiquette and demonstrated superior oral/written communication and presentation skills required.
• Ability to utilize a resourceful and proactive approach to seek resolutions.
• Must exhibit excellent organizational and project management skills and demonstrate efficient and accurate work products.
• Solid experience with and understanding applicable HR-related laws and regulations (ERISA, ADA, FMLA, DOL, IRS, AAP/EEO reporting, Pay Equity, etc.).
• Proficient with all Microsoft Office applications
• While subject to change based on business needs, this is an on-campus position requiring a minimum of 4 days per week working onsite from our La Jolla campus, with flexibility to work 1 day per week remotely from home.

COMPENSATION:

The expected hiring range for this position is $130,000 to $150,000/annually, commensurate with experience. Consideration will be given to experience that exceeds the listed requirements.

COMPREHENSIVE BENEFITS INCLUDE:

• Employer Contributed Retirement Plan - Depending on eligibility, employees receive an employer contributed retirement plan (no employee contribution required) and the option to contribute to a 403(b) (which is similar to a 401(k) using your own pre or post-tax dollars)
• Full Suite of Health and Welfare plans including three medical plan options (including an HSA available option), dental, vision, life insurance, disability, EAP and more
• Access to Flexible Spending Accounts (Medical/Dependent Care)
• Competitive vacation and sick leave policies
• Free, on-site parking

EEO Statement

The Scripps Research Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We promote diversity of thought, culture, and background in the fields of science. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic or status. 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.