Position OverviewThe Associate Director / Director, Total Rewards will strengthen engagement and retention by building a competitive, scalable, and employee-centered total rewards. This role will lead the design and administration of compensation practices, benefits, leave programs, 401(k), equity planning, and rewards & recognition ensuring our offerings attract, motivate, and retain top talent while remaining compliant, cost-effective, and aligned to our culture.
ResponsibilitiesEngagement and Retention- Develop and execute a total rewards strategy that supports talent attraction, engagement, and retention.
- Partner with other functions of HR and business leaders to ensure rewards programs reinforce performance, internal equity, and our culture.
- Translate company growth and workforce needs into scalable and fiscally responsible rewards programs.
Compensation Programs - Lead the development, implementation, and ongoing management of compensation plans, including salary structures, incentive programs, market pricing, pay equity analysis, and compliance oversight.
- Support equity planning (new hire grants, promotions, refresh cycles, and annual planning) in coordination with Finance, Legal, and the equity administration partner.
- Prepare for and support the annual compensation cycle (merit, promotion, bonus planning as applicable): tools, timelines, manager guidance, calibration support, and reporting.
- Assist Chief Financial Officer by researching trends, gathering data and preparing compensation information to be reviewed by executive team, compensation committee, and board of directors.
Benefits Administration - Oversee day-to-day benefits administration including medical, dental, vision, life/AD&D, disability, FSA, and related programs.
- Own leave administration processes (e.g., FMLA, state leaves, disability coordination), ensuring an excellent employee experience and compliant practices.
- Manage 401(k) administration: vendor partnership, annual testing support, audits as needed, enrollment and education initiatives.
- Lead annual benefits renewal: plan design evaluation, cost modeling, vendor negotiations, open enrollment project management, and employee communications.
- Ensure compliance with applicable regulations (e.g., ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, ACA) in partnership with legal/benefits vendors and internal stakeholders.
Rewards & Recognition - Own and improve recognition programs that reinforce values and performance (spot awards, peer recognition, and milestone/service awards).
- Partner with people leaders to ensure recognition is timely, inclusive, and consistently applied across teams.
Stakeholder Partnership & Influence - Serve as a strategic advisor to leaders on total rewards decisions, tradeoffs, and communications.
- Collaborate closely with HRBPs, Talent Acquisition team, Payroll, Finance, Legal, and People Operations to ensure seamless program delivery.
- Lead vendor relationships (brokers, carriers, leave administrator, 401(k) provider, compensation survey partners, recognition platform).
Measurement & Continuous Improvement - Monitor costs, utilization, participation, and employee feedback to refine offerings and improve experience.
- Create scalable documentation, SOPs, and governance for all total rewards programs.
Qualifications- Bachelor's Degree required.
- A minimum of 8+ years of progressive experience in Total Rewards, Compensation, Benefits, or HR, including program ownership in a scaling organization.
- Biotech/life science industry experience is strongly preferred.
Knowledge and Skills- Hands-on experience with benefits administration (health plans, leave administration, 401(k)) and vendor management.
- Strong compensation experience including benchmarking roles, creating job architecture/leveling frameworks administering annual compensation cycles, and supporting sales incentive programs.
- Demonstrated experience with equity administration platforms and stock plan basics.
- Strong analytical skills (modeling, reporting, and presenting insights) and ability to translate data into clear recommendations.
- Strong stakeholder influence and experience partnering cross-functionally with Finance, Legal, Payroll, and senior leaders.
- Excellent facilitation, program design, and communication skills.
Washington State Pay Range
$175,048-$247,592 USD
