What are the responsibilities and job description for the Total Rewards Leader position at Brookhaven National Laboratory?
Why This Role Matters
At Brookhaven, Total Rewards is more than compensation and benefits—it is a strategic lever for attracting and retaining the talent that enables the Laboratory's mission. Our workforce includes internationally recognized researchers, engineers, postdoctoral scientists, skilled trades professionals, union-represented employees, technicians, operations staff, and administrative professionals, each playing an essential role in the Laboratory's success.
As Manager of Total Rewards, you will help shape the employee experience across a workforce spanning research, operations, and administration by leading programs that support attraction, retention, engagement, and organizational effectiveness. Your work will directly influence Brookhaven's ability to compete for talent, support employee well-being, and maintain compliance within a highly regulated environment.
This role offers the opportunity to partner with senior leaders across the organization, lead significant strategic initiatives, and drive programs that have a meaningful impact on employees and the Laboratory's long-term success.
What You'll Do
Lead Total Rewards Strategy
Develop and execute a comprehensive compensation and benefits strategy aligned with Brookhaven's mission, workforce needs, and long-term organizational objectives to attract, retain, and engage talent.
Collaborate with the CHRO and senior leadership to align Total Rewards strategies with organizational objectives by providing strategic, data-driven counsel and recommendations on compensation and benefits trends, emerging workforce practices, regulatory developments, market intelligence, and organizational opportunities and challenges.
Work closely with HR Business Partners, Talent Acquisition, and organizational leaders to lead job evaluation, market pricing, assessments, benchmarking, and compensation analyses that ensure programs remain competitive, equitable, and aligned with organizational objectives.
Partner with HR colleagues, Legal, and organizational leadership to ensure compensation and benefits programs comply with Department of Energy contractual requirements and applicable federal and state regulations, serving as a primary representative during audits, reviews, and inquiries conducted by DOE and other oversight agencies.
Drive Compensation Excellence
Provide strategic and operational leadership for all aspects of the Laboratory's salary review process, partner closely with other leaders who have shared responsibilities in the process (e.g., Laboratory senior leaders, Chief HR Officer, HRIS, Deployed HR teams, etc.).
Conduct and oversee internal compensation reviews and audits to ensure consistency, competitiveness, compliance, and alignment with institutional policies and regulatory requirements.
Lead and Inspire a High-Performing Team
Lead and develop a high-performing team by providing clear direction, mentorship, and growth opportunities, while fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence.
Lead, mentor, and develop Compensation and Benefits fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, customer service, continuous improvement, and innovation.
Use metrics, workforce data, and analytics to evaluate program effectiveness, measure outcomes, and inform strategic decision-making.
Provides leadership oversight for the team responsible for the administration of employee leave, absence management, and related benefits programs.
Qualifications:
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance or related field. Masters preferred.
Ten (10) or more years of progressive Total Rewards experience, with deep expertise in compensation strategy, job architecture, market benchmarking, pay program design, and executive consultation. Benefits leadership experience is desirable, with the ability to leverage and guide an experienced benefits team.
Demonstrated ability to successfully scale programs and practices to meet the needs of organizations with comparable workforce size and operational complexity.
Strong analytical, compliance, vendor management, and stakeholder management capabilities.
Demonstrated ability to lead at a strategic level, navigate high-visibility environments, and engage effectively with stakeholders and oversight bodies.
Experience conducting comprehensive needs and/or effectiveness assessment for compensation and/or benefits programs, developing proposals, and implementing notable program enhancements with tangible results.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and engage stakeholders at all levels.
Strong analytical skills with demonstrated ability to interpret complex data, identify trends, and effectively communicate insights.
Knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations related to HR industry practices and pertaining to compensation andbenefits (e.g. ACA, FLSA, OFCCP, EEOC, DFEH, etc.).
Proficiency with HR systems and tools including HCMS (preferably Workday), Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Preferred skills/knowledge:
Experience in a scientific, research, government contracting or other highly regulated environment.
Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) and/or Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) designation.
Experience supporting both union-represented and non-represented employee populations.
**This role is onsite/hybrid - 4 days onsite and one day remote**
Join Brookhaven
This is an opportunity for an experienced Total Rewards leader to apply strategic expertise in a complex and dynamic environment where the workforce spans research, operations, and administration.
You'll lead a talented team, advise senior leadership, and help shape programs that support employees across every part of the Laboratory—from research and engineering to operations and administration. If you are energized by solving complex workforce challenges, leading meaningful changes, and building programs that help organizations thrive, we encourage you to apply.
Brookhaven National Laboratory requires all non-badged personnel including visitors to produce a REAL-ID or REAL-ID compliant documentation to access Brookhaven National Laboratory – view more information at www.bnl.gov/real-id. This is due to nationwide identification requirements for federal site access as required by the federal REAL ID Act. Those not in possession of a REAL ID-compliant document will not be permitted to access the site which includes access to the Laboratory for interviews.