Director of Total Rewards

Department: Human Resources

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Grand Rapids, MI

Reporting To: Michelle Baldwin Henderson

Description

The Director of Total Rewards serves as the strategic leader responsible for designing, implementing, and overseeing the organization's total rewards philosophy and programs. This includes team member benefits, retirement plans, leave administration, wellness initiatives, team member advocacy, and related compliance functions.

This role is uniquely positioned at the intersection of organizational strategy and human care. The Director of Total Rewards leads a team dedicated to helping team members navigate some of life's most significant moments, including health challenges, family responsibilities, retirement planning, and personal well-being. As a result, success in this role requires exceptional emotional intelligence, empathy, compassion, and the ability to lead through service.

The Director partners closely with the CHRO and organizational leaders to ensure total rewards programs support team member attraction, retention, engagement, well-being, and organizational sustainability while fostering a culture where team members feel valued, supported, and connected to the mission.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Total Rewards Leadership

• Develop and execute a comprehensive Total Rewards strategy aligned with organizational goals and workforce needs
• Evaluate labor market trends, benchmarking data, and team member feedback to ensure competitive and sustainable programs.
• Advise executive leadership regarding benefits design, retirement strategies, wellness initiatives, and workforce trends.
• Identify innovative approaches that enhance team member well-being and engagement while balancing financial stewardship.
• Establish metrics and reporting to evaluate program effectiveness and team member experience outcomes.

Benefits Administration

• Provide strategic oversight of all team member benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, voluntary benefits, FSAs, HSAs, retirement, and wellness programs.
• Lead annual benefits strategy, renewals, open enrollment, and team member education initiatives.
• Bring experience with unique, creative, and cost-effective benefit design approaches that enhance team member value while supporting organizational sustainability.
• Oversee vendor relationships, broker partnerships, and third-party administrators.
• Evaluate utilization data, claims experience, and emerging trends to drive informed decision-making.
• Ensure high-quality benefit services and exceptional team member support.

Retirement Plan Administration

• Oversee all retirement savings and financial wellness programs, including 403(b) plans.
• Ensure compliance with ERISA, IRS, Department of Labor, and related regulatory requirements.
• Provide leadership for retirement plan governance, audits, disclosures, and fiduciary processes.
• Partner with investment advisors, recordkeepers, auditors, and legal counsel.
• Promote retirement readiness through education and financial wellness initiatives.

Leave Administration and Workplace Support

• Oversee all leave and accommodation programs, including FMLA, ADA, workers' compensation, disability programs, paid leave, and state-specific leave requirements.
• Ensure compliant, consistent, and compassionate administration of leave programs.
• Partner with leaders and HR staff to resolve complex leave and accommodation situations
• Monitor trends and identify opportunities to improve team member experience and operational effectiveness.
• Ensure team members navigating health concerns, family needs, or workplace challenges receive timely support and guidance.

Wellness and Well-Being

• Lead the organization's wellness strategy and programming.
• Develop initiatives that support physical, emotional, financial, social, and spiritual well-being.
• Partner with organizational leaders to create a culture that prioritizes team member health and resilience.
• Measure program participation and outcomes to drive continuous improvement.

Team Member Advocacy & Team Member Experience

• Provide strategic oversight of the Team Member Advocacy function.
• Ensure team members receive compassionate support when navigating benefits, leaves, workplace concerns, and organizational resources.
• Establish service standards focused on responsiveness, care, respect, and problem resolution.
• Collaborate with HR partners and leaders to identify systemic barriers impacting team member experience related total rewards.
• Lead initiatives that strengthen engagement, belonging, retention, and overall workplace satisfaction.
• Champion policies and programs that support the organization's commitment to caring for its people.

Leadership and Team Development

• Lead, coach, develop, and inspire the Benefits Manager, Leave & Wellness Specialist, and Team Member Advocate.
• Foster a collaborative, service-oriented culture focused on trust, accountability, compassion, and excellence.
• Develop future leaders through mentoring, coaching, and succession planning.
• Establish clear expectations, performance goals, and measures of success.
• Promote innovation, continuous improvement, and team member-centered problem solving.

Compliance and Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local laws governing benefits, leaves, retirement plans, privacy, and employment practices.
• Maintain policies, processes, and controls that minimize organizational risk.
• Oversee audits, reporting requirements, regulatory filings, and plan documentation.
• Stay current on emerging legislation and regulatory updates affecting total rewards programs.

Financial Stewardship

• Develop and manage benefit and total rewards budgets.
• Partner with Finance to oversee forecasting, cost management, and program sustainability.
• Analyze return on investment and program effectiveness.
• Balance fiscal responsibility with team member value and organizational mission.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, Healthcare Administration, or related field. (Open to working experience in lieu of a degree).
• Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in benefits, leave administration, retirement programs, total rewards, or human resources leadership.
• Minimum of 3 years leading and developing professional-level team members.
• Experience managing complex benefits and retirement programs.
• Experience with team member leave administration, accommodations, and regulatory compliance.

Preferred

• Master's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, or related field.
• Healthcare, senior living, nonprofit, or multi-site employer experience.
• CEBS, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or other related certifications.
• Experience with innovative health plan strategies, including Reference Based Pricing models, is a plus.

Critical Leadership Competencies

Emotional Intelligence

Demonstrates exceptional self-awareness, empathy, active listening, and interpersonal effectiveness. Responds thoughtfully to difficult situations while maintaining professionalism, trust, and compassion.

Compassionate Leadership

Approaches team member concerns with kindness, dignity, respect, and genuine care. Creates an environment where team members feel heard, supported, and valued.

Relationship Building

Develops strong partnerships across all levels of the organization and builds credibility through trust, transparency, and follow-through.

Courageous Communication

Addresses difficult issues directly, respectfully, and constructively while balancing organizational needs with team member well-being.

Strategic Thinking

Connects people programs to organizational goals and effectively translates strategy into action.

Why You'll Love Working Here

• Competitive pay and bonus opportunities
• 6-weeks of paid Flexible Time Off (FTO)
• Emotionally intelligent and team-member-first leadership
• Health, Vision, Dental, Retirement, and Wellness Programs

You will have the opportunity to influence organizational culture, improve team member well-being, and make a daily difference in the lives of team members across the organization.

The work is meaningful. The mission matters. The people matter.

If you are a compassionate, emotionally intelligent leader who believes that taking care of team members is one of the most important responsibilities of an organization, we would love to hear from you.

Join us as we create exceptional experiences for the people who dedicate their lives to caring for others.