Strategic Total Rewards Leader — Senior Manager

Fusion Recruiters; Racine (WI); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Fusion Recruiters is partnering with a client in Racine, WI to hire a Senior Manager, Compensation & Benefits. This hybrid role includes one onsite day per week and reports to the VP of Total Rewards.

You’ll lead a team of three professionals while partnering with leaders to translate data into practical compensation and benefits strategies. The ideal candidate has 8–12+ years in compensation and benefits, 3–5+ years of people leadership, expertise in salary structures and market benchmarking,

Qualifications

• 8–12+ years of progressive experience in compensation and benefits, or total rewards, with deep expertise in U.S. compensation.
• 3–5+ years of people management experience with a demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and develop high-performing professionals.
• Strong knowledge of salary grades and structures, geographic differentials, job architecture, compensation philosophy, market benchmarking, and annual merit cycles.
• Demonstrated experience leading annual compensation planning processes and benefits programs.
• Strong working knowledge of employee benefits, including health, welfare, retirement, and wellness programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop a team, creating an environment that encourages collaboration, accountability, ideas, and thoughtful challenge
• Develop and execute compensation strategies that align with business objectives, organizational needs, and talent priorities
• Lead annual compensation planning processes, including merit increases, promotions, market adjustments, and incentive programs
• Develop and maintain salary structures, job architecture, compensation frameworks, and geographic differentials
• Conduct market pricing and benchmarking analyses using external salary surveys and internal data to ensure competitive and equitable compensation practices
• Partner with HR Business Partners, managers, and senior leaders on compensation recommendations, complex pay decisions, and sensitive employee matters
• Evaluate and administer short-term and long-term incentive programs while ensuring alignment with business and talent objectives
• Lead pay equity analyses and recommend thoughtful corrective actions where appropriate
• Oversee health, welfare, retirement, and wellness programs, evaluating plan performance, utilization trends, employee feedback, cost effectiveness, and competitiveness
• Manage relationships with benefits brokers, consultants, and third-party administrators while supporting annual renewals and open enrollment
• Ensure compensation and benefits programs remain compliant with applicable federal, state, and local requirements, including FLSA, ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, IRS regulations, and pay transparency requirements
• Support compensation and benefits audits, reporting requirements, regulatory filings, and governance documentation
• Leverage compensation, benefits, and workforce analytics to identify trends, opportunities, and business implications
• Develop executive-level reporting and present data-driven findings and recommendations to senior leadership
• Partner closely with Finance on budgeting, forecasting, and compensation expense management
• Collaborate with Talent Acquisition on offer strategies, market competitiveness, and compensation positioning
• Serve as a credible and trusted business partner to executives and leaders, balancing employee needs, business objectives, organizational practices, and sound judgment
• Help lead through change in a fast-paced, dynamic environment where priorities may shift and the organization must be willing to adapt and pivot
• Maintain the highest level of confidentiality and discretion when handling sensitive compensation, benefits, employee, and organizational information

Skills

People management

Compensation strategy

Budgeting and forecasting

Data analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Change management

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field

Tools

SuccessFactors

Excel

Job description

Fusion Recruiters is partnering with a client in Racine, WI to hire a Senior Manager, Compensation & Benefits. This hybrid role includes one onsite day per week and reports to the VP of Total Rewards.

You’ll lead a team of three professionals while partnering with leaders to translate data into practical compensation and benefits strategies. The ideal candidate has 8–12+ years in compensation and benefits, 3–5+ years of people leadership, expertise in salary structures and market benchmarking,