Director, HR Operations & Rewards - Minneapolis, MN

Position: Director, HR Operations & Total Rewards - Minneapolis, MN
Director, HR Operations & Total Rewards – Minneapolis, MN

Join Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. as the Director, HR Operations & Total Rewards, a strategic and operational leader responsible for advancing the Firm’s HR infrastructure, modernizing core processes, and stewarding a comprehensive and competitive total rewards philosophy. This role oversees HR operations—including HRIS, payroll, benefits, and leave management—ensuring systems, policies, and practices are efficient, scalable, and aligned with organizational objectives.

Who We Are

Fredrikson & Byron is the premier Midwest‑based law firm working collaboratively to help businesses achieve their goals regionally, nationally, and globally.

Key Responsibilities

• HR Operations:
- Provide strategic oversight for HR operations associated with total rewards delivery, HRIS management, payroll, AskHR platform, benefits administration, and leave management.
- Ensure firm‑wide adoption of Workday, integrating and optimizing data integrity and sustainability.
- Design, maintain, and continually refine employee‑centered HR processes that improve day‑to‑day service delivery, reduce inefficiencies, and ensure consistency, accuracy, and scalability across all HR functions.

• Total Rewards (Compensation & Benefits) & Leave Management:
- Develop and implement a modern job architecture and career framework to support organizational clarity, mobility, and workforce planning.
- Establish compensation benchmarks and a robust market‑pricing strategy to ensure competitive, equitable, and transparent pay practices for operations staff and executive leadership.
- Define and steward the compensation philosophy, aligning it with business goals and talent strategies.
- Evaluate, optimize, and oversee benefits programs that are innovative and competitive, reflecting employee needs and industry standards.
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local leave laws (including FMLA) and oversee the design and administration of leave processes that balance employee support with organizational risk mitigation.

• Change Management & Continuous Improvement:
- Lead firm‑wide HR transformation by reimagining processes, redesigning workflows, and leveraging new HRIS capabilities to create future‑state operating models.
- Design and execute change management strategies that enable smoother transitions, greater adoption, and enhanced organizational readiness.
- Lead ongoing assessments of team structure, roles, and processes to build a flexible, scalable HR operations and total rewards function.
- Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement across HR teams and programs.

Qualifications & Skills

•

Education:

- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related discipline required.
- Master’s degree or professional certification (e.g., SHRM‑SCP, CCP) preferred.

•

Experience:

- 10+ years of progressive HR experience, including 5+ years in a leadership capacity.
- Demonstrated expertise in HR operations, HRIS implementation, and payroll administration.
- Strong background in compensation strategy, market analysis, benefits design, and leave compliance.

• Technical

Skills:

- Advanced knowledge of HRIS platforms and emerging HR technologies.
- Proficiency in workforce analytics, HR metrics, and data‑driven decision‑making.

• Leadership &

Core Competencies:

- Strategic thinker with the ability to convert organizational priorities into impactful HR strategies and initiatives.
- Proven excellence in change management, project execution, and cross‑functional leadership.
- Exceptional communication, relationship‑building, and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast‑paced environment while navigating ambiguity and driving clarity.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, short‑ and long‑term disability, employee resource benefits (counseling, coaching, caregiving guidance).

• Paid parental leave, parenting classes, pre‑tax parking and transportation options.

• Retirement plan including financial planning, Social Security/Medicare planning, 401(k)/Roth investment options, and firm‑paid profit‑sharing contribution.

•…