Manager, Compensation & Benefits

Beiersdorf • Stamford, CT

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

As the Manager, Compensation & Benefits for our North America business, you’ll play a key role in shaping our compensation, benefits, retirement and wellness programs. You will leverage deep expertise in U.S. federal, state, and local compensation and benefits laws and apply a data-driven approach to program design and decision-making. This includes balancing cost, competitiveness, compliance, and employee experience to support business priorities and workforce needs. You will develop and deliver strategic total rewards solutions to achieve our business ambitions and enhance the employee experience and drive employee retention.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and 7–10+ years of progressive experience in compensation, benefits, and payroll, with demonstrated ownership of program design and strategy related to benefits and compensation and payroll execution.
• Deep expertise in U.S. federal, state, and local compensation and benefits laws, including wage & hour, pay transparency, ACA, ERISA, and leave regulations.
• Proven ability to make and influence strategic decisions on compensation and benefits design, including plan structure, cost strategy, and vendor selection.
• Deep experience analyzing, designing and developing Compensation and Benefits programs and identifying key strategies that link the Company’s goals to these programs.
• Strong proficiency in all compensation tools & principles and deep expertise in the various state and local requirements around pay and pay mandates.
• Monitor external trends and engage with industry groups and peer companies to identify risks and opportunities in Compensation and Benefit programs for long-term sustainability.
• Experience designing Compensation and Benefit programs that drive employee engagement by applying key learnings and insights identified through program analytics.
• Oversee pension plan regulations and requirements to develop and engage in local governance protocols required for benefit programs; and influencing key stakeholders and presenting recommendations to senior leaders.
• Proficiency using Excel and strong business acumen.
• Passion for in the total rewards area and confidence presenting ideas/programs to all levels of employees and leadership in a measured, caring and impactful way.
• Excellent active listening, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Build and manage interpersonal relationships at all levels of the company including vendor partners.

Responsibilities

• Own and drive the strategic design, evaluation, and optimization of benefit programs, ensuring alignment with business strategy, market competitiveness, employee needs, DEI strategy, and legal requirements.
• Lead broker and vendor governance, including RFPs, contract negotiation, fee transparency, SLAs, KPIs, and performance management.
• Use data, benchmarking, workforce insights, and ROI analysis to inform plan structure, vendor selection, funding strategies, employee cost-share, PBM performance, specialty drug cost management, and plan optimization.
• Develop communication strategies that increase employee understanding, engagement, utilization, and issue resolution with employees, vendors, brokers, and consultants.
• Drive digital benefits experience, including enrollment platforms, decision-support tools, and self-service capabilities.
• Lead Total Rewards projects and annual programs, including Open Enrollment, Voluntary Enrollment, Fitness Challenges, wellness strategy, and affiliate engagement.
• Supervise benefit communications, 5500 filings, procedures, changes, and required disclosures.
• Manage complex multi-state leave programs, including FMLA, state-paid leave, short-term disability, ADA accommodations, vendor coordination, HRBP/manager partnership, return-to-work, compliance, and legal risk mitigation.
• Lead the design, administration, and governance of local compensation programs in line with global principles, including base pay, incentives, variable compensation, LTI, and pay competitiveness.
• Apply expertise in wage & hour laws, pay transparency, and equal pay requirements to ensure compliant and equitable pay practices across jurisdictions.
• Evaluate market practices, assess business position to market, and recommend cost-competitive programs that support business objectives.
• Partner with P&C, HR, business leaders, Finance, and managers to execute the annual compensation process and build understanding of compensation, incentive, and equity programs.
• Determine and implement industry pay practices based on benchmark studies, including Mercer, while enhancing tools, systems, and compensation planning.
• Oversee retirement and pension plan design, administration, compliance, governance, benchmark data, reporting, retirement calendars, and Financial Wellness events.
• Manage outsourced payroll and benefits team through ADP and act as primary HR point of contact, ensuring reports management, accuracy, compliance, and timely execution.
• Ensure payroll practices align with federal, state, and local wage and tax regulations, including multi-state complexities and US payroll for 400+ employees.
• Own compliance with U.S. regulations including HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, Section 125, ACA reporting, and non-discrimination testing for 401(k) and health plans.
• Coordinate global expat compensation sheets with Finance and ADP, supporting variable processes, onboarding/offboarding, and localizations.
• Execute semi-monthly and monthly payrolls, including approvals, reconciliation, reporting, 401(k) approvals, Finance inquiries, PeopleConnect inquiries, new hire enrollment, and HDHP employer contributions.
• Ensure accurate and timely execution of compliance filings and notices, including SARs, SBCs, Medicare Part D Notices, and required disclosures.
• Manage compliance activities, including unemployment claims, benefits inquiries, regulatory requests, Finance/internal reporting, vendor payments, administrative processes, HR correspondence, retirement plan activities, 401(k) changes/loans, and error escalation.

Benefits

• Generous and flexible PTO policy
• Paid Parental Leave
• Comprehensive Wellness and Benefits program
• Cash Balance Plan (similar to a pension)
• 401k match
• Established Employee Resource Groups/affinity groups help to grow important connections and belonging with other colleagues

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager