Manager, Total Rewards

Steptoe LLP, an Am Law 100 firm, is seeking a strategic, detail-oriented Manager, Total Rewards to lead the administration, delivery, governance, and continuous improvement of the firm's compensation, benefits, retirement, and leave programs. The Manager will oversee the firmwide health and welfare benefits portfolio; guide compensation processes, analysis, and market benchmarking; oversee administration of qualified retirement programs, including the firm's 401(k) plan; and serve as a primary liaison for partner benefits and retirement-related matters. The Manager will provide direction, review, and escalation support to Total Rewards staff responsible for day-to-day program administration and analysis. This role will combine strong technical knowledge with exceptional service delivery, sound judgment, and the ability to manage sensitive and confidential matters. The Manager will work closely with the Chief People Officer, People Team colleagues, Finance, Payroll, the Office of General Counsel, external brokers, consultants, carriers, and other vendors.

Essential Functions

Benefits and Wellness

• Lead the administration, governance, and continuous improvement of the firm's health and welfare benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, long-term care, employee assistance, workers' compensation, wellness programs, paid and unpaid leave programs, and related offerings.
• Lead the annual benefits renewal and open enrollment process, including plan-design review, broker and vendor coordination, employee communications, enrollment materials, and implementation of plan, carrier, or system changes.
• Evaluate benefit-plan utilization, cost trends, employee experience, vendor performance, and market practices; develop recommendations that balance competitiveness, cost management, compliance, and employee needs.
• Oversee benefit-plan administration performed by Total Rewards staff and vendors, including enrollment audits, eligibility administration, carrier feeds, invoice reconciliation, vendor payments, and resolution of complex coverage and claims escalations.
• Manage relationships with brokers, carriers, consultants, and other vendors, including service delivery, contracts, renewals, reporting, performance management, and compliance obligations.
• Oversee required benefits compliance activities and filings, as applicable, including Form 5500 filings, ACA reporting, participant notices, plan-document updates, and Summary Plan Description and Summary of Material Modification communications.
• Lead the firm's health, wellness, and benefits-education initiatives, including benefits fairs, educational programming, employee assistance initiatives, and other activities that support employee well-being and engagement.
• Provide guidance and escalation support for COBRA, HIPAA notifications, disability, workers' compensation, and related Total Rewards matters.

Retirement Programs

• Oversee the day-to-day administration of the firm's qualified retirement programs, including the 401(k) plan, and coordinate the administration of applicable employee and partner retirement arrangements in collaboration with Finance, the Office of General Counsel, and external advisors.
• Provide direction and review for retirement-plan processes performed by Total Rewards staff, including participant transactions, payroll data validation, contribution funding, invoice reconciliation, and participant inquiries.
• Support retirement-plan governance and compliance, including plan committee support, annual participant notices, nondiscrimination testing, audits, Form 5500 filings, required disclosures, and coordination with recordkeepers, investment advisors, auditors, and other service providers.
• Review and approve retirement-plan invoices and ensure accurate, timely processing of employer contributions, employee deferrals, and related payroll data.
• Serve as an escalation point for complex retirement-plan participant matters and partner retirement inquiries, providing responsive service with discretion and sound judgment.
• Partner with internal stakeholders and external advisors to identify and implement process improvements, risk-mitigation measures, and participant-education opportunities.

Compensation

• Oversee and support the administration of the firm's compensation programs, including annual compensation planning, market benchmarking, salary survey participation, job evaluation, and pay analysis.
• Provide direction and quality review for compensation analyses, market data, job-evaluation materials, reports, and recommendations prepared by Total Rewards staff.
• Partner with People Team leadership, Finance, and Payroll to ensure the accurate and timely implementation of compensation changes, bonuses, incentives, and related employee communications.
• Support the maintenance of compensation data integrity and the development of dashboards, reporting, and insights related to compensation, benefits, and total rewards.
• Monitor compensation-market practices and emerging trends and provide recommendations that support the firm's compensation philosophy, business objectives, and talent strategy.
• Assist with pay-equity analyses and other compensation-related reviews, as appropriate, in partnership with People Team leadership, Finance, and the Office of General Counsel.

Leave Administration, Compliance, and Operations

• Provide strategic oversight and escalation support for leave administration, including FMLA and other federal, state, and local leave requirements; serve as a backup for leave approvals and complex employee matters, as needed.
• Partner with the Office of General Counsel on sensitive or complex matters involving benefits coverage, claims, accommodations, leave, retirement, compensation, and other confidential employee or partner issues.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments affecting benefits, retirement, compensation, and leave programs; recommend and implement updates to policies, processes, plan documents, systems, and employee communications, as appropriate.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, and relevant state and local requirements.
• Manage the Total Rewards budget, including forecasting, expense monitoring, invoice approval, and strategic assessment of program costs, vendor value, and return on investment.
• Establish, maintain, and document effective processes, controls, workflows, and training materials for the Total Rewards function, including carrier platforms, vendor portals, HRIS, and internal systems.
• Protect the confidentiality, integrity, and appropriate use of sensitive compensation, benefits, health, leave, and retirement information in accordance with firm policy and applicable privacy requirements.
• Supervise, coach, and develop Total Rewards staff; establish clear responsibilities, quality standards, service expectations, and cross-training plans to ensure strong operational coverage and continuity.

Non-Essential Functions

• Perform other duties as assigned.

  Minimum Qualification

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree or relevant professional certification preferred.
• At least 8-10 years of progressive experience in benefits, retirement, compensation, or total rewards administration, preferably within a law firm, professional-services organization, or other complex, multi-state employer.
• Demonstrated experience administering health and welfare benefit plans and qualified retirement programs, including 401(k) plan administration.
• Experience supporting compensation processes, market benchmarking, job evaluation, and compensation analysis strongly preferred.
• Prior management, supervisory, or significant project-leadership experience, including the ability to provide direction, review work product, and develop team members.
• Working knowledge of ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, and other applicable benefits, retirement, and leave laws and regulations.
• Experience supporting retirement-plan compliance activities, including participant notices, nondiscrimination testing, audits, Form 5500 filings, and coordination with plan service providers.
• Demonstrated experience managing brokers, consultants, carriers, third-party administrators, and other external vendors.
• Experience with HRIS and benefits-administration systems; Dayforce HCM experience is a plus.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and the ability to analyze, reconcile, interpret, and present data clearly and accurately.
• Exceptional client-service orientation, communication skills, discretion, and judgment in handling confidential employee, partner, and firm matters.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and project-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• SHRM, CEBS, CBP, CCP, or similar certification preferred.

Work Environment

• Non-Smoking environment.
• Hybrid work schedule with built-in flexibility based on business needs.
• Must be available to work beyond regular hours if/when necessary.
• Must be able to comply with all safety requirements in our workplace (if applicable).

The anticipated base salary range for this position is $135,000 - $150,000. The actual base salary offered will be dependent upon the applicant's experience and qualifications, as well as other job-related factors, including but not limited to, relevant skills, education, certifications or other professional licenses held, and if applicable, geographic location.

Steptoe offers a full range of benefits for you and your eligible dependents. Benefits currently include: medical, dental, vision, life, disability, dependent care, health care flexible spending accounts, 401K Plan, Profit-Sharing, Paid Time-Off and a robust Wellness Program.