Sr. Manager, Total Rewards

The Job Title: Sr. Manager, Total Rewards

The Company: GIA is the world’s foremost authority in gemology. GIA is a global organization with headquarters located in Carlsbad, CA. GIA in Carlsbad boasts a 17-acre ocean view campus that accommodates approximately 600 of its 3,000 total employees worldwide. It offers many competitive health and commuter benefits that promote the well-being of its employees as well as that of the environment. Click here to learn more about GIA!

The Location: This position is located in Carlsbad, California at our corporate headquarters. We offer a hybrid schedule with 3 days in the office (subject to change), provided if metrics such as productivity and the quality of the deliverables are achieved.

The Environment

• On-site cafe - affordable custom breakfast and lunch meals and Starbucks drinks!
• Economic friendly services - electric vehicle charging stations on-site
• Ergonomic assessments offered on-site and virtually
  
  

The Culture: We foster an environment of autonomy, performance, and passion. Our team members collaborate extensively across various departments, providing high-quality service to internal staff, stakeholders, and the organization as a whole. We value initiative, cross-functional cooperation, and a commitment to excellence in all our endeavors.

What To Expect

• We offer competitive medical, dental, vision and matching 401-K plans (no vesting required)
• Paid vacation, sick and holidays, tuition assistance, commuter benefits
  
  

This position will lead and oversee the development, implementation, and administration of global compensation and benefits programs. This role ensures programs are competitive, equitable, compliant with all regulations, and aligned with the company's strategic goals and values.

Strategy & Design

• Partner to develop and evolve the global total rewards philosophy, strategy, frameworks, and policies across laboratory, research, education and corporate functions.
• Design and administer competitive global base pay, variable pay, recognition and benefit programs.
• Ensure programs are equitable, meet employee needs, and align with company’s strategic goals.
  
  

Program Management & Administration

• Oversee the design and administration of job architecture, salary structures, and merit planning globally.
• Lead annual compensation cycles, including merit increases, promotions, and bonus payouts.
• Manage and optimize all benefits programs, such as health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and wellness initiatives.
• Partner with global brokers and vendors to manage global benefits administration, renewals, and cost optimization.
• Develop and deliver effective communication and training materials for employees and managers regarding compensation and benefits programs.
  
  

Market Analysis & Benchmarking

• Conduct comprehensive market research and salary surveys to assess competitive compensation trends.
• Evaluate existing benefits programs against peer organizations to ensure competitiveness.
• Analyze and interpret compensation and benefits data to identify trends, issues, and opportunities for improvement.
  
  

Compliance & Governance

• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, local, and international compensation and benefits laws and regulations, including pay transparency and equity laws.
• Lead pay equity and bias testing analysis and develop action plans to address any identified risks.
• Partner with Legal and Finance to ensure compliance with global laws and regulations, including tax and accounting requirements.
  
  

Collaboration & Leadership

• Partner with HR Business Partners and business leaders to provide compensation expertise and data-driven guidance.
• Advise leaders, managers, and HR on compensation strategy, pay decisions, and best practices.
• Build strong partnerships with the HR Business Partner team, Talent Acquisition, Payroll, Legal, Finance, and Accounting teams.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, curiosity, and service orientation.
  
  

Analytics & Reporting

• Develop and deliver reports, and insights for senior leaders, enabling data-driven decisions related to compensation strategy and spending.
• Monitor compensation trends and proactively identify opportunities for optimization.
• Partner with benefit brokers to optimize benefits programs to improve employee engagement, control costs, and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Performs other duties as assigned
  
  

Job Competencies

• Analyzing compensation data, conducting market research, and creating financial models are crucial for designing and evaluating compensation and benefits programs
• Analytical & Critical Thinking: Applying critical thinking to translate complex data into actionable insights, evaluate different compensation and benefits options and make informed recommendations.
• Project Management: Strong project management skills and an ability to lead activities while balancing conflicting priorities and business needs.
• Change Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead change initiatives and build leadership capability to sustain transformation.
• Communication & Influence: Exceptional interpersonal and presentation skills with executive presence.
• Enterprise Thinking: Capable of balancing local needs with global priorities in a matrixed organization.
• Technology Proficiency: Experience with HCM systems (Workday preferred), analytics dashboards, and virtual collaboration tools.
  
  

Minimal Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, Finance, or a related field.
• Master's degree preferred.
• 10 years of progressive experience in compensation and benefits, with a focus on global compensation / benefit program leadership working across cultures, regions, and regulatory environments.
• Experience with market benchmarking, salary structure design, job architecture, benefits design, and recognition programs.
• Certification in compensation (CCP) or benefits (CEBS) is highly preferred.
  
  

Salary range: $136,000 - $180,000

An Equal Opportunity Employer

All employment decisions are made without regard to unlawful considerations of race, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, or any other legally protected status. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request.

Disclaimer: This job description indicates in general terms, the type and level of work performed as well as the typical responsibilities of employees in this classification and it may be changed by management at any time. Other duties may also apply. Nothing in this job description changes the at-will employment relationship existing between the Company and its employees.