Total Rewards Leader
At a glance
Mid-level Compensation & Benefits role at Ignite Human Capital. Los Angeles · full-time · $190,000–$250,000 base.
hrroles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Set pay structures and incentive plans for executives, office staff, and plant teams, including shift and premium pay
- Build job levels and salary ranges, then run market surveys, benchmarking, and annual merit planning
- Oversee health, retirement, leave, and wellbeing plans, including enrollment, renewals, and vendor relationships
- Track pay equity and compensation costs through analyses and dashboards, and advise leaders on reward decisions
- Use AI and HR systems to streamline rewards processes while maintaining California pay and wage compliance
What you bring
- At least eight years in total rewards across compensation and benefits, including building or leading programs
- Experience supporting manufacturing or a similar setting with both salaried and hourly employees
- Strong knowledge of California pay transparency and wage-and-hour rules, plus market pricing and salary structure design
- Advanced analytical skills, including building models, dashboards, and pay equity analyses in Excel and an HRIS
Who this fits
This role suits a hands-on total rewards leader comfortable setting direction and handling program details for a mixed office and production workforce. It is based in Los Angeles and requires three on-site days each week, with two remote days. The stated base salary range is $190,000 to $250,000, with an annual incentive.
From the employer
Director, Total Rewards
Industry: Food & Beverage Manufacturing
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Work Model: Hybrid — 3 days on-site / 2 days remote
Reports To: Chief Human Resources Officer / VP, Human Resources
The Opportunity
A well-established Los Angeles food manufacturer is seeking a Director of Total Rewards to design, lead, and modernize its compensation, benefits, and wellbeing strategy across a workforce that spans corporate professionals and a large hourly production and operations population. This is a build-and-lead role for a hands-on, tech-forward total rewards leader who can bring structure, market discipline, and a compelling employee experience to a fast-moving, high-volume manufacturing environment.
Partnering closely with senior HR and business leadership, this role owns the full total rewards portfolio — from job architecture and market pricing to health, retirement, and recognition programs — while leveraging AI tools and efficient systems to drive smarter, faster decisions and ensuring full compliance with California's evolving pay and wage-and-hour landscape.
What You'll Own
- Compensation strategy across executive, corporate, and plant/production populations, including base pay structures, incentive plans, shift differentials, and premium pay.
- Job architecture & market pricing- build and maintain job architecture, leveling frameworks, and salary structures; lead annual market benchmarking, survey participation, and merit/comp planning cycles.
- Benefits & wellbeing- manage health & welfare, retirement (401k), leave, and wellbeing programs; oversee open enrollment, vendor and broker relationships, and plan renewals with an eye on cost and employee value.
- Compliance- ensure programs meet California pay transparency (SB 1162), pay-scale posting, wage statement, and wage-and-hour requirements, along with FLSA, ACA, ERISA, and multi-jurisdiction obligations.
- Analytics & pay equity- build dashboards and pay equity analyses; use data to guide leadership decisions and monitor competitiveness, cost, and internal equity.
- AI & systems efficiency- leverage AI and modern HR technology to streamline total rewards processes, automate manual work, and deliver faster, data-driven insights; continuously improve tools, workflows, and reporting for accuracy and scalability.
- Recognition & retention- design recognition and reward programs that resonate with a frontline, shift-based workforce and support attraction and retention in a competitive labor market.
- Partnership- advise executives and people managers on offers, promotions, retention, and reward decisions; partner with talent acquisition and HRBPs to keep pay competitive and consistent.
- Systems & operations- optimize total rewards processes and HRIS/comp tools to improve accuracy, scalability, and the employee experience.
What You Bring
- 8+ years of progressive total rewards experience spanning compensation and benefits, with time spent leading or building programs.
- Direct experience supporting a manufacturing, food & beverage, CPG, distribution, or similar environment with a blended salaried and hourly/non-exempt workforce.
- AI-savvy and systems-efficient , comfortable using AI tools, automation, and technology to work smarter, streamline processes, and elevate the total rewards function.
- Deep working knowledge of California compensation and wage-and-hour compliance, including pay transparency and pay-scale requirements.
- Strong command of market pricing, survey methodology, job evaluation, and salary structure design.
- Advanced analytical skills; comfort building models, dashboards, and pay equity analyses in Excel and within an HRIS.
- A hands-on, build-oriented approach, equally comfortable setting strategy and executing the details.
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience; CCP, CBP, or SHRM/HRCI certification is a plus.
Preferred
- Multi-site and/or unionized workforce experience.
- Experience standing up or maturing job architecture and leveling in a growing organization.
- Familiarity with modern comp and HRIS platforms (e.g., Workday, UKG, ADP, or comparable) and AI-enabled HR tools.
Work Model & Location
This is a hybrid role based in Los Angeles, CA, with three days per week on-site to stay close to the business, HR leadership, and the plant/operations teams, and two days remote.
Compensation & Benefits
Competitive base salary plus annual incentive, comprehensive health and welfare benefits, 401(k), and wellbeing programs. A specific salary range will be provided in the posting in accordance with California pay transparency requirements.
$190,000 - $250,000 DOE & Flexible.