Vice President, Benefits & Compensation

ICR; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

ICR is seeking a strategic leader to head Total Rewards, Benefits & Compensation in New York City. You will own strategy, administration, compliance, and vendor management for employee benefits and leave programs, ensuring a high-quality employee experience and regulatory compliance across federal and state laws.

The role requires managing Open Enrollment, benefits data accuracy, 401(k) administration, and cross-functional collaboration with Payroll, Legal, and HR teams in a fast-paced

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Solid working knowledge of benefits regulations and compliance requirements (HIPAA, COBRA, ACA, ERISA, FMLA, ADA, IRS, DOL).
• Experience with 401(k) plan administration and U.S. benefits renewals.
• Experience managing benefits brokers, carriers, and third-party vendors, including leave programs.
• Experience transitioning fully insured plans to self-funded models and HRIS migrations.

Responsibilities

• Own strategy, administration, compliance, and vendor management of employee benefits and leave programs.
• Serve as primary contact for benefits inquiries and manage Open Enrollment processes.
• Manage employee leave programs (FMLA, disability, parental, statutory, company-sponsored).
• Maintain benefits data in HRIS and other systems, ensuring accuracy.
• Oversee 401(k) administration and coordination with recordkeeper and auditors.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and support audits and reporting.
• Negotiate with benefits brokers, carriers, and vendors to meet service levels.
• Design, implement, and improve benefits programs including health, wellness, and retirement plans.
• Review invoices, conduct audits, and resolve benefit eligibility/payroll issues.
• Collaborate with Payroll on benefits, salary, and leave updates; standardize processes.

Skills

Benefits administration

Vendor management

Project management

Data analysis

Communication skills

HR policy interpretation

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field

Tools

Paylocity

Workday

MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook)

Job description

Vice President, Total Rewards, Benefits & Compensation

Human Resources

Location: New York City Hybrid

ICR, one of the most highly regarded strategic communications and capital markets advisory firms, is seeking a strategic, detail-oriented Total Rewards, Benefits & Compensation leader to join our Human Resources team. This role owns the strategy, administration, compliance, and vendor management of ICR's employee benefits and leave programs, ensuring a high-quality employee experience and compliance with federal and state regulations

.The ideal candidate is a self-motivated strategic thinker who manages multiple priorities with accuracy, exercises sound judgment and discretion, and communicates complex benefits information clearly. This role requires driving strategic initiatives while maintaining strong day-to-day execution in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities include:

• Serve as the primary point of contact for benefits-related inquiries, responding in a timely manner.
• Own new hire, qualifying life event, and annual Open Enrollment processes, including system configuration, communications, and reconciliation.
• Manage employee leave programs (FMLA, disability, parental, statutory, and company-sponsored) in partnership with third-party vendors.
• Maintain benefits data in the HRIS, SharePoint, and other systems, ensuring accuracy and alignment.
• Manage 401(k) administration, including recordkeeping, funding, and coordination with the recordkeeper and auditors.
• Ensure compliance with federal and state benefits legislation, and support audits, regulatory reporting, and testing.
• Manage relationships with benefits brokers, carriers, and vendors, negotiating plans and holding partners accountable to service levels and compliance requirements.
• Help design, implement, and improve benefits programs, including health insurance, wellness, and retirement plans.
• Review benefit invoices and perform regular audits to ensure accuracy.
• Research and resolve issues involving benefit eligibility, enrollment, and payroll deductions.
• Manage the COBRA process for terminations and ineligible dependents.
• Partner with Payroll on benefits, salary, and leave updates to ensure accurate processing.
• Standardize and improve benefits and leave processes, policies, and procedures.
• Develop employee communications and education to build awareness and engagement with benefits programs.
• Manage firmwide wellness program, including events and reimbursements.
• Support additional HR initiatives as needed.

Qualifications and Expectations:

• 7 – 10+ years of progressive experience administering and managing employee benefits programs.
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Solid working knowledge of benefits regulations and compliance requirements, including HIPAA, COBRA, ACA, ERISA, FMLA, ADA, IRS, and DOL.
• Experience with 401(k) plan administration.
• Demonstrated experience leading U.S. benefits renewals and annual open enrollment.
• Experience managing benefits brokers, carriers, leave administrators, and other third-party vendors, including leave programs such as FMLA, disability, and parental leave.
• Experience transitioning fully insured plans to self-funded models.
• Experience supporting benefits implementations, HRIS migrations, or system optimization initiatives.
• Experience with HRIS and/or benefits administration platforms (Paylocity, Workday, etc.).
• Exposure to payroll processes, with a willingness to cross-train and provide backup support.
• Comfortable working cross-functionally with Human Resources, Payroll, and Legal.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make data-informed recommendations.
• Proven ability to identify opportunities for automation and process improvement.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills, managing multiple priorities independently.
• Strong client-service orientation, managing sensitive employee matters with discretion and empathy.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to explain complex benefits information clearly.
• High level of judgment, ethics, integrity, and attention to detail in handling confidential information.
• Ability to balance strategic initiatives with day-to-day execution in a fast-paced environment.
• Familiarity with international benefits programs.
• Expert knowledge of Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook.
• Base salary:$120,000 - $150,000 based on experience and skillset