Manager Rewards

Total Rewards Specialist
- Benefits & Compensation

Houston, TX
- Direct Hire-$100K-125K

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Total Rewards Specialist to join our Human Resources team. This role is ideal for a highly organized, analytical professional who brings strong expertise in employee benefits while also supporting compensation programs. The successful candidate will serve as an individual contributor responsible for administering and enhancing total rewards programs that attract, retain, and engage top talent.

This position is approximately 70% benefits administration and strategy and 30% compensation
, requiring someone who is comfortable partnering with HR leadership, business leaders, and external vendors to ensure competitive and compliant total rewards programs.

Key Responsibilities

Benefits (Approximately 70%)

• Administer all company-sponsored health and welfare benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, FSA/HSA, retirement, and voluntary benefits.
• Manage annual Open Enrollment planning, implementation, employee communications, and system configuration.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for employee benefit inquiries and issue resolution.
• Partner with benefits brokers and vendors to ensure efficient administration and compliance.
• Analyze benefit utilization, costs, and market trends to recommend program enhancements.
• Ensure compliance with ERISA, COBRA, ACA, HIPAA, FMLA, and other applicable regulations.
• Coordinate vendor performance reviews and maintain strong external partnerships.
• Develop employee education materials and conduct benefit presentations.

Compensation (Approximately 30%)

• Assist with compensation benchmarking and market pricing.
• Support job evaluations and internal equity analyses.
• Participate in annual merit increase and bonus planning cycles.
• Maintain compensation structures, salary ranges, and job documentation.
• Prepare compensation reports and workforce analytics for leadership.
• Partner with HR and business leaders on compensation-related recommendations while ensuring internal consistency and market competitiveness.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or related field.
• 5+ years of progressive Human Resources experience with significant focus in Benefits and Compensation.
• Strong experience administering employee benefit programs.
• Working knowledge of compensation fundamentals, including market pricing, salary benchmarking, and job evaluations.
• Experience supporting annual merit and bonus planning processes.
• Strong analytical skills with advanced Microsoft Excel proficiency.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining a high level of accuracy and confidentiality.

Preferred

• Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS), CCP, SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP, or PHR/SPHR certification.
• Experience with HRIS systems such as UKG, Workday, ADP, or similar platforms.
• Experience working in a multi-state environment.
• Strong knowledge of federal and state employment regulations impacting total rewards.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a collaborative HR professional who combines deep benefits expertise with a solid foundation in compensation. They are detail-oriented, analytical, and proactive, with the ability to independently manage programs while partnering effectively across the organization. This individual enjoys solving problems, improving processes, and delivering an exceptional employee experience through thoughtful total rewards programs.