| Location | The Woodlands, TX |
| Salary | $150,000–$190,000 Per Year |
Director of Benefits, Compensation & Payroll
Location: The Woodlands, TX (100% Onsite)
Employment Type: Direct Hire
Salary: $150,000-$190,000 Base + Annual Bonus
Schedule: Monday-Friday | 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
About the Opportunity
A growing organization is seeking an experienced and hands-on Director of Benefits, Compensation & Payroll to lead its Total Rewards function. This role is heavily focused on benefits strategy, compliance, leave administration, vendor management, and employee wellness programs, while also providing oversight for compensation initiatives and payroll operations.
The ideal candidate is a collaborative leader with deep expertise in employee benefits and leave management who is comfortable balancing strategic planning with day-to-day operational support.
Key Responsibilities
Benefits Leadership (70%)
As the organization's senior benefits leader, you will:
Develop and execute comprehensive benefits strategies that support employee engagement, retention, and business objectives.
Oversee all health, welfare, wellness, retirement, and leave programs.
Serve as the subject matter expert for leave administration, including FMLA, ADA, and state leave regulations.
Lead annual open enrollment strategy, execution, communication, and employee education initiatives.
Manage relationships with brokers, carriers, consultants, and third-party vendors.
Negotiate renewals, plan design changes, and vendor contracts.
Oversee 401(k) and retirement programs, ensuring compliance and employee understanding.
Analyze utilization, costs, and market trends to recommend improvements and cost-management strategies.
Ensure compliance with ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, and other applicable regulations.
Compensation (20%)
Conduct compensation analysis, salary benchmarking, and market pricing.
Support annual merit, bonus, and compensation planning processes.
Perform job evaluations and partner with HR leadership on pay equity initiatives.
Ensure compensation programs remain competitive and aligned with business objectives.
Assist with incentive and executive compensation programs as needed.
Payroll & 401(k) Oversight (10%)
Provide strategic oversight of multi-state payroll operations.
Review payroll controls, audits, compliance processes, and reporting.
Partner with Payroll, Finance, and HRIS teams to improve payroll efficiency and accuracy.
Ensure compliance with payroll tax regulations and wage-and-hour laws.
Support retirement plan administration, audits, and vendor relationships.
Leadership Responsibilities
Lead and develop Benefits, Payroll, and Total Rewards team members.
Establish strong internal controls, workflows, and compliance practices.
Maintain audit-ready documentation and operational excellence.
Foster a culture of accountability, service, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Stay current on changes in benefits legislation, compensation trends, and payroll regulations.
Required Qualifications
Education
Bachelor's degree required.
Advanced certifications such as CEBS, CCP, CBP, SHRM-SCP, or SPHR are preferred.
Experience
10+ years of progressive HR or Total Rewards experience.
5+ years leading Benefits, Compensation, Payroll, or Total Rewards functions.
Deep expertise in benefits administration and leave management.
Experience leading open enrollment and managing complex benefits programs.
Strong vendor management and contract negotiation experience.
Experience overseeing multi-state payroll operations.
Experience conducting compensation analyses and market benchmarking.
Experience with HRIS platforms such as Paycom, Paycor, ADP Workforce Now, Workday, Oracle, or Paylocity.
Ideal Candidate
The successful candidate will be:
A benefits expert first and foremost.
Highly knowledgeable in leave management and regulatory compliance.
Comfortable leading open enrollment for a large employee population.
Experienced in vendor management, carrier negotiations, and retirement plans.
Capable of providing payroll oversight without being heavily involved in payroll processing.
Hands-on, approachable, and willing to support team members when needed.
Pay Details: $150,000.00 to $190,000.00 per hour
Search managed by: Laarnie Thompson
Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled
Military connected talent encouraged to apply
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