Total Rewards & HR Operations Manager

Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance; West Des Moines (IA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Bonuses

Medical/dental/vision plan

401(k) with company match

Employee Assistance Program

On-site cafeteria and fitness center

Job summary

Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Company in the United States seeks a Total Rewards & HR Operations Manager to lead benefits, payroll, compensation, leave administration, and HR programs. This working manager role emphasizes strong internal controls and hands-on execution to deliver accurate HR services.

The ideal candidate has extensive benefits expertise, payroll experience, sound judgment, and an ownership mindset to support employees and ensure compliant, efficient operations across the HR

Qualifications

• 8+ years HR experience with total rewards, benefits, payroll or HR operations.
• 2+ years of people management experience preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or related field.
• PHR, SHRM-CP, CEBS, CPP or similar certification highly desired.

Responsibilities

• Manages and administers employee benefit programs including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement, and wellness initiatives.
• Owns the annual benefit renewal and enrollment processes with evaluation of plan performance and vendor proposals.
• Manages retirement and retiree benefit programs, vendor coordination and compliance.
• Oversees payroll operations including semi-monthly payroll review, reconciliations, and controls.
• Provides oversight for compensation programs including annual planning and market benchmarking.
• Acts as leave manager for FMLA, ADA, PTO, and other leave policies.
• Leads payroll, benefits, and HR audit activities and regulatory reporting.
• Maintains HRIS data integrity and system security; manages relationships with brokers and vendors.
• Supervises staff and ensures continuity through cross-training and documentation.
• Produces payroll, benefits, and HR operational reports to identify process improvements.
• Participates in other HR projects as assigned.

Skills

Total rewards

Payroll

HR operations

Employee benefits

HRIS/payroll systems

People management

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR/Business Administration/Finance/Accounting

PHR/SHRM-CP/CEBS/CPP certification (highly desired)

Tools

ADP

Job description

At Farmers Mutual Hail (FMH), our mission is simple: protect the livelihoods and legacies of America’s farmers through the complete farm insurance solutions we offer. As America’s Crop Insurance Company™, we’re headquartered in the U.S. and have been owned by the farmers we insure for over 125 years.

FMH is seeking a Total Rewards & HR Operations Manager to manage the administration and execution of total rewards and HR operations functions, including benefits, payroll, compensation, leave administration, compliance, and related HR programs. This individual serves as a working manager providing operational oversight, strong internal controls, and hands‑on execution to ensure accurate, efficient, and effective HR service delivery.

The ideal candidate brings strong employee benefits expertise, hands‑on payroll experience, sound judgment, and a practical, ownership‑oriented approach to solving problems and supporting employees.

Benefits

Our employees appreciate our family‑oriented culture, and we make sure their benefits reflect that. In addition to a competitive salary and bonuses, medical/dental/vision plan, 401(k) plan with a generous company match, you will be eligible for benefits such as:

• Hybrid work schedule, after training is completed.
• Paid Parental leave and Caregiver leave.
• Employee appreciation events.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for support when you and your family need it.
• On‑site cafeteria and fitness center.

Requirements

• Experience: Eight or more years of HR experience with increasing responsibility in total rewards, benefits, payroll, or HR operations, including demonstrated expertise in employee benefits administration and hands‑on experience administering full‑cycle payroll. Two or more years of people management experience preferred.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or a related field required.
• Skills: Experience with retirement plans, leave administration, and HRIS/payroll systems, preferably ADP, is preferred. PHR, SHRM‑CP, CEBS, CPP, or similar professional certification is highly desired. Strong analytical, communication, organizational, and Microsoft Office skills required.

Key Responsibilities

• Manages and administers employee benefit programs including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement, deferred compensation, flexible spending, wellness initiatives, and other company-sponsored programs. Leads employee communications, education, wellness activities, and benefit‑related engagement initiatives.
• Owns the annual benefit renewal and enrollment processes, including evaluation of plan performance, costs, utilization, market competitiveness, and vendor proposals. Implements approved benefit changes and ensures accurate annual enrollment and new hire elections.
• Manages and administers retirement and retiree benefit programs, including retiree eligibility, vendor coordination, compliance, and policy administration. Coordinates fiduciary reviews, retirement meetings, and employee education activities.
• Oversees payroll operations, including independent review and audit of semi-monthly payroll, related reconciliations, internal controls, and resolution of complex payroll issues.
• Provides oversight and support for compensation programs and processes, including annual compensation planning, salary structure reviews, market benchmarking, incentive programs, and related initiatives.
• Acts as leave manager for company leave programs including FMLA, ADA, PTO, Extended Sick Bank (ESB), parental leave, and other leave policies, ensuring consistent and compliant administration.
• Leads payroll, benefits, and HR audit activities and regulatory reporting while maintaining appropriate documentation and record retention.
• Serves as a key owner and administrator of HRIS systems, ensuring data integrity, system controls, appropriate security access, and effective workflows.
• Maintains relationships with brokers, carriers, vendors, advisors, and third‑party administrators and serves as an escalation point for complex payroll, benefits, retirement, and HR system‑related issues.
• Supervises and develops staff, manages workflow and priorities, and ensures operational continuity through cross‑training, documentation, and backup procedures.
• Produces and analyzes payroll, benefits, and HR operational reports and identifies opportunities to improve processes, controls, systems, and HR service delivery.
• As a member of the HR team, engages in various other projects, activities, and duties as assigned.

This position is not eligible for sponsorship for work authorization by Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Company, SI. Therefore, if you will require sponsorship for work authorization now or in the future, we cannot consider your application at this time.

Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Company does not discriminate in employment (EOE). All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.