Manager, Total Rewards

CFA Institute•Charlottesville, VA

About The Position

Are you ready for a Total Rewards role where your work is visible, your expertise is trusted, and your impact reaches senior leadership? CFA Institute is seeking a Manager, Total Rewards to partner closely with the Senior Director, Total Rewards, HR, Finance, and business leaders to deliver data-driven compensation and benefits programs. This role brings insight and operational rigor to pay equity, market competitiveness, and rewards governance while building credibility with senior stakeholders and advancing a cohesive, global Total Rewards strategy. The Manager, Total Rewards is responsible for designing, implementing, and optimizing the organization’s global compensation, benefits, and recognition programs to ensure competitiveness, equity, and alignment with business strategy. This role provides subject-matter expertise, drives analytical insights, and partners with HR and business leaders to deliver a cohesive Total Rewards program that attracts, motivates, and retains top talent. It also serves as the operational and analytical backbone of Total Rewards, ensuring all processes are clearly mapped, documented, continuously improved, and aligned with governance standards. This position requires strong analytical acumen, operational excellence, and the ability to influence decision-making through data-driven recommendations. The Manager, Total Rewards manages cyclical reward processes, supports governance and compliance, and contributes to long-term reward strategy development.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.
Essential experience managing U.S. benefits, including healthcare and retirement programs, along with management of benefits brokers and providers.
Experience in job evaluation, with experience using the Korn Ferry Hay methodology strongly preferred.
Experience managing international benefits across multiple countries, including navigating differing regulatory, cultural, and market contexts is strongly preferred.
Progressive experience in both Compensation and Benefits within a Total Rewards remit, ideally in a complex, global organization.
Proven experience managing global or multi-country Total Rewards programs, including governance and implementation.
Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, fast-changing environments, including managing and embedding change across stakeholders and geographies.
Strong numeracy and analytical capability, with confidence working with data, financial models, and quantitative analysis to inform reward decisions.
Strong understanding of market benchmarking, job architecture, and compensation modelling.
Advanced analytical capabilities and proficiency with compensation and HRIS tools (e.g. Workday, Korn Ferry, WTW).
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical and financial concepts into clear, pragmatic messages for senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Design, evaluate, and administer global compensation programs, including base salary structures, variable pay, recognition programs, and job evaluation processes using the Hay methodology.
Conduct market benchmarking, compensation surveys, and competitive analyses to ensure salary ranges and reward programs remain aligned with industry standards.
Lead annual compensation cycles (merit, bonus, promotions), ensuring accuracy, compliance, and effective communication to stakeholders.
Provide guidance to HR Business Partners and leaders on job architecture, job evaluations and role levelling, internal equity, offers, and compensation-related decisions.
Manage the design, administration, vendor relationships, and annual renewal process for U.S. and international employee benefits (health, retirement, insurance, leave programs, and wellbeing initiatives).
Monitor benefits utilization, trends, and employee feedback to identify opportunities for program enhancement and cost optimization.
Ensure compliance with global benefits regulations and partner with external consultants as needed.
Map, document, and maintain all Total Rewards processes (e.g., compensation cycle, job evaluation, salary structure updates, benefits renewals, vendor management, eligibility audits).
Develop end-to-end process flows, SOPs, governance controls, and RACI matrices to ensure clarity, efficiency, and consistent execution.
Identify operational gaps, standardize processes across regions, and lead continuous improvement initiatives.
Partner with HRIS to automate manual workflows and improve data integrity.
Develop and maintain dashboards, KPIs, and workforce analytics to support informed decision-making and program evaluation.
Deliver reporting and recommendations using a data-driven approach.
Ensure data integrity across compensation and benefits systems and support HRIS optimization related to Total Rewards.
Maintain compensation and benefits policies, ensuring alignment with global compliance requirements and internal governance standards.
Support audits, regulatory filings, and internal risk reviews related to rewards programs.
In partnership with the Senior Director, Total Rewards, collaborate with HR, Finance, and business leaders to ensure Total Rewards programs are well understood, effectively communicated, and aligned with organizational goals.
In partnership with the Senior Director, Total Rewards, develop clear and engaging communication materials, including annual total rewards statements, to help employees understand reward programs and value propositions.
Monitor and respond to employee help desk inquiries regarding compensation and benefits.