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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Total Rewards Analyst

💰 $75,000 - $110,000

Human ResourcesCompensation & BenefitsAnalytics

🎯 Role Definition

A Total Rewards Analyst is the analytical engine of the Human Resources department, serving as a strategic partner to the business. This role is dedicated to the design, implementation, and administration of our company's comprehensive rewards strategy, encompassing everything from salary and incentives to benefits and recognition. You will be the guardian of our compensation philosophy, using data-driven insights to ensure our programs are not only competitive in the marketplace but also internally equitable and aligned with our corporate objectives. This position requires a blend of strong analytical acumen, business-savvy, and a deep understanding of the factors that attract, retain, and motivate top talent.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • HR Coordinator / Specialist
  • Junior Compensation Analyst
  • HR Generalist with an analytical focus

Advancement To:

  • Senior Total Rewards Analyst
  • Total Rewards Manager / Compensation Manager
  • People Analytics Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • HR Business Partner (HRBP)
  • People Analytics Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Conduct complex analyses of internal and external salary data to assess the competitiveness of our compensation programs and ensure internal equity across all departments and levels.
  • Participate in and analyze results from annual compensation and benefits surveys (e.g., Radford, Mercer, Willis Towers Watson) to benchmark our packages against industry peers.
  • Administer and manage the end-to-end annual compensation review cycle, including merit increases, bonus payouts, and long-term incentive awards, from system configuration to manager training.
  • Develop, evaluate, and maintain the company's job architecture, including job families, career ladders, and salary structures, through rigorous job evaluation and market pricing.
  • Model the financial impact and ROI of proposed modifications to compensation, bonus, and benefits plans to support strategic decision-making by leadership.
  • Serve as a key consultant to Talent Acquisition and HR Business Partners, providing data-backed compensation recommendations for new hires, promotions, and internal transfers.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness, utilization, and cost-efficiency of our comprehensive benefits portfolio, including health, wellness, retirement, and time-off programs.
  • Assist in the design, documentation, and communication of new and revised Total Rewards programs, policies, and procedures to ensure clarity and consistency.
  • Prepare and deliver clear, engaging communication materials and training sessions for managers and employees to enhance their understanding of our total rewards philosophy and programs.
  • Ensure strict compliance with all relevant federal, state, and local compensation and benefits regulations, including FLSA, pay equity laws, and reporting requirements.
  • Manage and audit the company's job description library, ensuring all content is current, accurately reflects role responsibilities, and is graded appropriately.
  • Support the administration of executive compensation programs, including the tracking and management of long-term incentives (LTI), stock options, and RSU grants.
  • Develop and maintain insightful dashboards and reports to track key total rewards metrics, providing leadership with actionable data on trends and program effectiveness.
  • Serve as a primary point of contact for resolving complex employee and manager inquiries related to compensation, benefits, and recognition programs with a high degree of empathy and accuracy.
  • Play a key role in the annual benefits open enrollment process, from system testing and data auditing to developing employee communications and supporting enrollment events.

Secondary Functions

  • Conduct ad-hoc research and in-depth analysis on emerging market trends, pay equity, recognition strategies, and other specialized topics as requested by leadership.
  • Collaborate closely with the HRIS team to maintain data integrity within HR systems and to support the implementation and enhancement of compensation and benefits modules.
  • Assist in the preparation of analytical reports and presentation materials for meetings with the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.
  • Participate actively in cross-functional HR projects, providing a specialized Total Rewards perspective and robust analytical support to achieve broader HR objectives.
  • Support merger and acquisition (M&A) activities by performing due diligence on target company's rewards programs and assisting with integration planning and execution.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including complex formulas, pivot tables, v-lookups/index-match, and financial modeling.
  • Hands-on experience with major HRIS platforms (e.g., Workday, SAP SuccessFactors) and dedicated compensation management software.
  • Exceptional quantitative and analytical skills with a proven ability to interpret complex datasets and translate them into actionable business insights.
  • Deep familiarity with market pricing methodologies and experience utilizing major third-party compensation survey data.
  • Working knowledge of data visualization tools like Tableau or Power BI to create compelling and easy-to-understand reports and dashboards.
  • A strong foundational knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations governing compensation and benefits (e.g., FLSA, Equal Pay Act).

Soft Skills

  • Meticulous attention to detail and a steadfast commitment to accuracy and data integrity in all work products.
  • Superior communication and presentation skills, with a talent for explaining complex quantitative topics to diverse, non-technical audiences.
  • Unquestionable integrity and the ability to handle highly sensitive and confidential information with the utmost discretion and professionalism.
  • A proactive and curious mindset with excellent problem-solving skills, capable of independently troubleshooting issues and identifying solutions.
  • Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
  • A highly collaborative, team-oriented work style with a proven ability to build strong, trust-based relationships with HR colleagues and business leaders.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's Degree

Preferred Education:

  • Master's Degree or relevant certification (e.g., CCP, GRP, CBP)

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Human Resources
  • Business Administration
  • Finance

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 3-5 years of direct experience in a compensation, benefits, or total rewards analyst role.

Preferred:

  • Experience in a fast-growing, global, or publicly-traded company. Direct experience working with both compensation and benefits analysis is highly desirable.
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