Job Title: Compensation & Benefits Manager
Industry: Healthcare / Nonprofit
Location (city, state): Novato, CA
Assignment Type: Direct Hire
Pay: $100,000-$130,000 annually
Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday; primarily on-site
Job Description: The Compensation & Benefits Manager will take ownership of both compensation and benefits programs, combining strategic planning with hands-on execution. This role will focus heavily on compensation structure development, salary benchmarking, benefits administration, vendor management, compliance, and workforce analytics.
The ideal candidate is currently working in a Compensation, Benefits, or Total Rewards role and has demonstrated experience independently managing both sides of the function. This is not a benefits-only or generalist HR position; the organization is seeking someone with strong technical compensation expertise who can develop salary ranges and structures from the ground up.
Key Responsibilities: - Manage and enhance the organization's overall Total Rewards programs.
- Develop and maintain salary ranges, compensation structures, job levels, and job architecture.
- Perform market research, salary surveys, benchmarking, and compensation analysis.
- Support internal equity and competitive pay practices through data-driven analysis.
- Lead annual salary review and compensation adjustment processes.
- Partner with Finance and Talent Acquisition on compensation planning, budgeting, and offer recommendations.
- Oversee employee benefit programs, including health, dental, retirement, leave, and related offerings.
- Manage relationships with benefits brokers, carriers, and external vendors.
- Coordinate benefit renewals, vendor evaluations, RFPs, and contract negotiations.
- Evaluate opportunities to enhance employee benefits and Total Rewards offerings.
- Monitor compensation and benefits programs for compliance with applicable regulations.
- Develop workforce reports, dashboards, and analytics for leadership.
- Translate complex compensation and benefits data into clear recommendations.
- Help educate employees and leadership on compensation and benefits programs.
- Partner with HR leadership on employee engagement, retention, and broader people initiatives.
- Occasionally visit nearby organizational locations to support HR initiatives and benefits enrollment.
Qualifications: - Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field.
- 3+ years of direct Total Rewards, Compensation & Benefits, or comparable experience.
- Current or recent experience owning both compensation and benefits responsibilities.
- Proven experience developing salary ranges and compensation structures.
- Strong compensation benchmarking and market pricing experience.
- Experience with job architecture and compensation analysis.
- Hands-on benefits administration experience.
- Experience managing benefits brokers, vendors, and external partners.
- Strong Excel and data analysis skills.
- Experience using an HRIS.
- Strong knowledge of compensation and benefits compliance.
- Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.
- Strong communication, analytical, and presentation skills.
Additional Details: - Healthcare or nonprofit experience is strongly preferred.
- ADP Workforce Now experience is a plus.
- Experience with HR analytics and executive-level reporting is preferred.
- RFP, vendor negotiation, and benefits renewal experience is a plus.
- Spanish language skills are a plus.
- Candidates should have substantial compensation experience in addition to benefits administration.
- Candidates whose backgrounds are primarily recruiting, HR generalist, or benefits-only focused will not be the strongest fit.
- Must be able to meet applicable workplace health and fit-for-duty requirements.
- Position is primarily performed in an office environment and requires regular computer use.
- Occasional travel to nearby organizational locations may be required.
Perks: - Medical insurance
- Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)
- Dental and vision coverage
- 403(b) retirement savings plan with employer match
- Life and disability insurance
- Educational and continuing education benefits
- Employee assistance resources
- Paid time off
- Paid holidays
- Personal days
- Extended illness benefits
- Opportunity to own and shape the organization's Total Rewards strategy
- Strategic and hands-on scope across compensation, benefits, analytics, and employee programs
- Mission-driven healthcare environment
