Associate Director of Total Rewards and Strategic Projects-60007701

Job Responsibilities Associate Director of Total Rewards and Strategic Projects

The Department of Administration (Admin) is seeking a strategic, collaborative, and results-driven Associate Director of Total Rewards and Strategic Operations to join the Admin Human Resources leadership team. This key leadership role provides strategic direction and operational oversight for Payroll and Benefits (Total Rewards) while also leading high-impact HR strategic and operational initiatives and special projects across Admin and Shared Services agencies.

With Admin currently providing comprehensive HR support to 18 Shared Services agencies, this is a highly visible and impactful role with the opportunity to influence HR operations across a complex, multi-agency environment. This position reports to the Assistant Director of Human Resources. The Associate Director will play an integral role in advancing HR priorities by translating strategy into action, driving operational excellence, and ensuring major initiatives are effectively planned, coordinated, and executed.

This position provides leadership and oversight to ensure payroll and benefits programs are accurate, efficient, compliant, and aligned with best practices, while also partnering across the HR functions to strengthen processes, improve service delivery, and support organizational goals.

Success in this role requires a strong ability to build partnerships with agency leadership, employees, and HR colleagues; navigate complex initiatives; and keep strategic and operational priorities moving forward. The Associate Director will also oversee organization-wide HR communications, helping ensure employees receive clear, timely, and effective information.

This position is onsite in Columbia, South Carolina.

• Provide strategic leadership and operational direction for all payroll and benefits activities for Admin and Shared Services.
• Develop and execute payroll, benefit, and wellness strategies that align with the applicable organization's goals and mission.
• Align internal processes and procedures between Admin and Shared Services for efficiency and consistency when applicable.
• Direct, track, and implement strategic and operational human resources projects for Admin and Shared Services agencies.
• Partner with agency and HR leaders to design and implement strategic and operational initiatives that support and align with agency priorities.
• Manage and disseminate overall mass HR communications to Admin and Shared Services employees or liaisons.
• Direct and manage team and program to ensure compliance with employment laws and implements best practices to ensure the efficiency and accuracy of all benefit and payroll actions.
• Direct, implement and perform quality assurance measures for all payroll and benefit activity.
• Direct and manage the partnerships with Admin and Shared Services key leadership and hiring managers to understand strategic, operational, payroll, and benefits needs. Partner with the Training and Development team to create and deliver quality training to managers and employees.
• Establish and monitor metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of internal processes to ensure the efficiency and accuracy of all payroll and benefits actions.
• Lead and support staff through coaching, training, and performance development. Streamline workflows while implementing management policies and organizational initiatives. Foster a positive, team focused environment.

A bachelor's degree and five (5) years of human resources or other relevant experience. At least two (2) years of this relevant experience must be in a management role.

• Must possess strong analytical and oral/written communication skills.
• Ability to plan and organize workload to ensure time frames and deadlines are met for strategic and operational projects.
• Proficient computer skills, specifically in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Demonstrated functional understanding of SCEIS/SAP modules or other HR systems.
• Should possess in depth understanding of federal regulations…