Vice President, Benefits & Compensation (Total Rewards)
Human Resources
Location: New York City Hybrid
ICR, one of the most highly regarded strategic communications and capital markets advisory firms, is seeking a strategic, detail-oriented Total Rewards, Benefits & Compensation leader to join our Human Resources team. This role owns the strategy, administration, compliance, and vendor management of ICR's employee benefits and leave programs, ensuring a high-quality employee experience and compliance with federal and state regulations.
The ideal candidate is a self-motivated strategic thinker who manages multiple priorities with accuracy, exercises sound judgment and discretion, and communicates complex benefits information clearly. This role requires driving strategic initiatives while maintaining strong day-to-day execution in a fast-paced environment.
Responsibilities include:
- Serve as the primary point of contact for benefits-related inquiries, responding in a timely manner.
- Own new hire, qualifying life event, and annual Open Enrollment processes, including system configuration, communications, and reconciliation.
- Manage employee leave programs (FMLA, disability, parental, statutory, and company-sponsored) in partnership with third-party vendors.
- Maintain benefits data in the HRIS, SharePoint, and other systems, ensuring accuracy and alignment.
- Manage 401(k) administration, including recordkeeping, funding, and coordination with the recordkeeper and auditors.
- Ensure compliance with federal and state benefits legislation, and support audits, regulatory reporting, and testing.
- Manage relationships with benefits brokers, carriers, and vendors, negotiating plans and holding partners accountable to service levels and compliance requirements.
- Help design, implement, and improve benefits programs, including health insurance, wellness, and retirement plans.
- Review benefit invoices and perform regular audits to ensure accuracy.
- Research and resolve issues involving benefit eligibility, enrollment, and payroll deductions.
- Manage the COBRA process for terminations and ineligible dependents.
- Partner with Payroll on benefits, salary, and leave updates to ensure accurate processing.
- Standardize and improve benefits and leave processes, policies, and procedures.
- Develop employee communications and education to build awareness and engagement with benefits programs.
- Manage firmwide wellness program, including events and reimbursements.
- Support additional HR initiatives as needed.
Qualifications and Expectations:
- 7 – 10+ years of progressive experience administering and managing employee benefits programs.
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
- Solid working knowledge of benefits regulations and compliance requirements, including HIPAA, COBRA, ACA, ERISA, FMLA, ADA, DOL, and IRS.
- Experience with 401(k) plan administration.
- Demonstrated experience leading U.S. benefits renewals and annual open enrollment.
- Experience managing benefits brokers, carriers, leave administrators, and other third-party vendors, including leave programs such as FMLA, disability, and parental leave.
- Experience transitioning fully insured plans to self-funded models.
- Experience supporting benefits implementations, HRIS migrations, or system optimization initiatives.
- Experience with HRIS and/or benefits administration platforms (Paylocity, Workday, etc.).
- Exposure to payroll processes, with a willingness to cross-train and provide backup support.
- Comfortable working cross-functionally with Human Resources, Payroll, and Legal.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make data-informed recommendations.
- Proven ability to identify opportunities for automation and process improvement.
- Excellent project management and organizational skills, managing multiple priorities independently.
- Strong client-service orientation, managing sensitive employee matters with discretion and empathy.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to explain complex benefits information clearly.
- High level of judgment, ethics, integrity, and attention to detail in handling confidential information.
- Ability to balance strategic initiatives with day-to-day execution in a fast-paced environment.
- Familiarity with international benefits programs.
- Expert knowledge of Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook.
Competitive Compensation & Benefits:
- Base salary:$120,000 - $150,000 based on experience and skillset
- A discretionary annual bonus
- Comprehensive health plans
- 401K with company matching
- Paid Parental Leave
- Flexible time off