Manager, Total Rewards

Manager, Total Rewards

Richmond Public Schools believes that exceptional employees create exceptional outcomes for students. The Manager, Total Rewards serves as the strategic leader responsible for designing and delivering compensation, benefits, and employee rewards programs that attract, retain, and recognize a high-performing workforce. Reporting directly to the Chief Talent Officer, this position leads the division's Total Rewards strategy, supervises the Benefits team, and partners with district leaders to ensure compensation and benefits programs are equitable, competitive, fiscally responsible, and aligned with the division's strategic priorities.

The ideal candidate is an innovative leader who thrives on solving complex workforce challenges, building high-performing teams, and continuously improving the employee experience.

Essential duties and responsibilities include:

• Leads the division's Total Rewards strategy, ensuring compensation and benefits programs support the recruitment, retention, and recognition of exceptional employees.
• Serves as a strategic member of the Talent Office leadership team, helping define, advance, and implement division-wide talent initiatives.
• Supervises, coaches, develops, and evaluates the Compensation Coordinator and Benefits Specialists while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and exceptional customer service.
• Develops and administers compensation strategies, salary structures, pay practices, and classification processes that promote equity, competitiveness, and fiscal responsibility.
• Oversees the administration of employee benefits programs, including medical, dental, vision, retirement, disability, voluntary benefits, and employee leave programs.
• Provides strategic oversight of ADA accommodations, FMLA, workers' compensation, and other leave programs to ensure compliance and a positive employee experience.
• Partners with Finance, Payroll, Labor Relations, Talent Acquisition, and district leaders to develop compensation solutions that support organizational goals.
• Serves as the division's primary advisor on compensation philosophy, salary administration, benefits strategy, and Total Rewards programs.
• Analyzes workforce data, compensation trends, and market conditions to develop recommendations that strengthen the division's ability to compete for top talent.
• Evaluates and continuously improves compensation and benefits programs through innovation, technology, automation, and best practices.
• Ensures compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations related to compensation, benefits, wage and hour requirements, and leave administration.
• Cultivates productive relationships with benefits providers, consultants, and external partners to maximize employee value and operational effectiveness.
• Oversees and evaluates the work of assigned personnel by providing coaching, training, and performance feedback to ensure alignment with program goals.
• Represents the Talent Office on cross-functional initiatives, executive projects, and strategic planning efforts. Performs other duties as assigned.

Education and experience required:

• Bachelor's degree in Math, Finance, Human Resources, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field. Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in compensation, benefits, or human resources.
• Minimum of three (3) years of supervisory or management experience.
• Experience in public education or another large, complex organization.

Licenses/certifications:

• Professional certification, such as SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CCP, CBP, or CEBS preferred.

Additional requirements:

• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-responsibility environment requiring responsiveness to urgent employee needs.
• Proficiency with HRIS systems, Microsoft Office applications, and workforce analytics tools.
• Frequent collaboration and relationship building across internal teams and with external agencies.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Extensive knowledge of compensation strategy, employee benefits, leave administration, and Total Rewards principles.
• Thorough knowledge of…