THE ROLEThe Manager, Total Rewards & HR Operations is responsible for the administration, governance, and continuous improvement of Nando's U.S. Total Rewards, Leave Administration, HRIS, and employee benefits programs. This role partners closely with People Team leadership, brokers, vendors, and business stakeholders to deliver a compliant, efficient, and employee-centered experience across benefits, compensation administration, leave management, HR systems, and related operational processes.
The position serves as the primary point of coordination for benefits administration, leave and accommodation programs, HR system configuration, vendor management, compliance monitoring, reporting, and Total Rewards operational support. The Manager provides recommendations and analysis to support business decisions while ensuring programs operate effectively and align with organizational objectives.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIESBenefits Administration and Employee Wellbeing- Manage the day-to-day administration of employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, retirement, wellness, and voluntary benefits.
- Partner with brokers, carriers, and vendors to coordinate annual renewals, open enrollment activities, employee communications, and ongoing program administration.
- Analyze participation, utilization, and cost trends and provide recommendations to improve employee experience and program effectiveness.
- Support benefits strategy development through data analysis, benchmarking, and recommendations to leadership
Total Rewards Administration- Support compensation administration, market pricing, salary benchmarking, incentive administration, and compensation analyses.
- Prepare data and recommendations to support pay decisions, organizational changes, and compensation planning activities.
- Ensure compensation programs are administered consistently and in alignment with applicable regulations and internal guidelines.
Leave, Disability & Accommodations- Oversee the administration of leave and disability programs, including FMLA, ADA, state and local leave programs, paid family leave programs, and accommodation requests.
- Manage vendor relationships supporting leave administration and identify opportunities for automation, outsourcing, and process improvement.
- Coordinate complex employee situations, escalations, accommodations, and exception management.
- Ensure accurate documentation, communication, and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
HRIS & HR Operations- Manage HR system configuration, maintenance, testing, workflow administration, security access, and data integrity.
- Oversee HRIS processes including benefit events, leave workflows, organizational structure maintenance, eligibility rules, ACA-related setup, and employment status changes.
- Partner with HRBPs, Talent Acquisition, Payroll, and IT to ensure system effectiveness and process alignment.
- Provide back-up capability and support to Payroll Sr. Manager
- Lead troubleshooting efforts and coordinate resolution of system-related issues with external vendors.
Vendor Management & Governance- Manage relationships with benefits providers, brokers, leave administrators, and HR technology partners.
- Conduct regular business reviews, performance monitoring, compliance reviews, and service evaluations.
- Escalate issues, monitor contractual obligations, and ensure vendors deliver agreed-upon services and performance standards.
Compliance & Risk Management- Monitor regulatory changes affecting benefits, compensation, HR records, leave administration, and employee programs.
- Coordinate required notices, filings, audits, reporting, and compliance activities.
- Provide guidance and recommendations to leadership regarding compliance requirements and operational risks.
Reporting & Analytics- Develop, maintain, and analyze reports related to benefits, leave, compensation, vendor performance, and HR operations.
- Monitor trends, participation rates, costs, utilization, compliance metrics, and operational effectiveness.
- Deliver meaningful insights and recommendations to support decision-making and continuous improvement initiatives.
Project Leadership- Lead and support implementation of new benefits programs, technology enhancements, vendor transitions, process improvements, regulatory initiatives, and special projects.
- Drive operational excellence through process redesign, automation, documentation, and continuous improvement efforts.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS- Bachelor's degree in human resources, Business Administration, Finance, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 7+ years of progressive experience in Total Rewards, Benefits Administration, HR Operations, HRIS, Leave Administration, or a related discipline.
- Experience administering employee benefits, leave programs, HR systems, and vendor relationships.
- Strong knowledge of FMLA, ADA, ACA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, and applicable state leave programs.
- Experience supporting compensation administration and salary benchmarking activities.
- Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Strong project management and process improvement capabilities.
- Experience working with HR technology platforms and data reporting tools.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS- Experience supporting ADP Workforce Now, Harri, UKG, Workday, or similar HR platforms.
- Experience in a multi-state environment.
- CEBS, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR, or related certification.
- Experience leading vendor implementations, benefits renewals, open enrollment, or HR transformation projects.
- Restaurant, hospitality, retail, or multi-unit operating environment experience.
WORK ARRANGEMENTBased in Washington, D.C. Schedule includes 5 days fully on-site at our Restaurant Support Office.
TOTAL COMPENSATION RANGE: $89k - $127k
