Senior Total Rewards Manager

Department: Human Resources | Reports to: Lead Director of HR | Location: Sturtevant, WI

Position Summary

The Total Rewards Manager drives ND Paper’s ability to attract, retain, and motivate top talent by designing and executing competitive, scalable, and cost‑effective compensation, benefits, and wellness programs. This role strengthens organizational performance by ensuring pay equity, optimizing reward structures, and delivering data‑driven insights that support workforce planning and leadership decision‑making. By leading annual compensation cycles, enhancing benefits offerings, and ensuring regulatory compliance, the Total Rewards Manager directly contributes to employee engagement, operational excellence, and ND Paper’s long‑term growth.

About Us

ND Paper is a leading manufacturer of high‑quality pulp, paper, and packaging products in the United States, generating over half a billion dollars in annual sales. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Nine Dragons Paper (Holdings) Limited – the largest containerboard producer in the world – ND Paper is part of a global network committed to excellence and innovation. With two integrated pulp and paper mills in Rumford, Maine and Biron, Wisconsin, a packaging plant in Sturtevant, Wisconsin, and two sheeting facilities in Langhorne, Pennsylvania and Fairmont, West Virginia, the ND Paper family produces nearly one million tons of products annually. Our 1,100 dedicated employees are the heart of our operations, and we are committed to fostering positive work environments where individuals can advance and thrive.

Key Responsibilities & Expected Results

• Demonstrate safety as a core value and actively lead a safe work environment.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive total rewards strategy aligned with organizational goals and talent strategy.
• Lead the evolution of compensation and benefits programs to ensure competitiveness, cost‑effectiveness, and scalability.
• Provide strategic guidance to senior leadership on market trends, pay positioning, and workforce planning.
• Oversee base salary structures, incentive plans (STIP/LTIP), and executive compensation frameworks.
• Conduct market benchmarking using salary surveys and external data sources.
• Ensure internal equity through job architecture, leveling frameworks, and pay analysis.
• Lead annual compensation cycles (merit, bonus, promotions), including modeling and budget management.
• Manage design and administration of health, welfare, retirement, and wellness programs.
• Evaluate vendor performance, negotiate contracts, and manage broker relationships.
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulations (e.g., ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA).
• Lead the annual open enrollment process, including strategy, planning, system configuration, vendor coordination, and execution.
• Develop and implement comprehensive employee communication strategies to drive engagement and informed benefit elections.
• Partner with HRIS and Payroll teams to ensure accurate system setup, data integrity, and seamless enrollment processing.
• Deliver insights through compensation and benefits analytics, dashboards, and reporting.
• Perform cost analysis and forecasting for total rewards programs.
• Support audits and compliance reporting requirements.
• Maintain and update policies, procedures, and documentation.
• Manage and develop total rewards team members (2 direct reports).
• Serve as a subject matter expert to HR Business Partners and leadership teams.
• Lead cross‑functional projects including HRIS implementations and process improvements.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Timely and accurate bi‑weekly payroll cycles.
• Successful open‑enrollment with minimal errors.
• Accurate forecasting and data accuracy.
• Employee benefits engagement.
• Internal equity variance.
• Annual compensation cycle accuracy.

Qualifications & Skills

• BA/BS in a business‑focused major or related field.
• 7+ years of progressive compensation experience; manufacturing industry experience required.
• Experience in a unionized environment strongly preferred.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to present complex analyses to diverse audiences.
• Knowledge of reward vendors, consultants, and solution providers.
• Ability to create processes and practices from the ground up in collaboration with stakeholders.
• Flexibility, partnership building, critical thinking, multi‑tasking in a fast‑paced environment.
• Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) and/or Certified Benefits Professional (CBP) is a plus.
• Technical skills: market pricing and benchmarking tools; HRIS expertise (mandatory familiarity with ADP); data integrity and audit skills; multi‑site payroll collaboration; regulatory compliance knowledge; data modeling, trend analysis, forecasting.
• Core competencies: strategic alignment with talent strategy, accountability for results, problem solving/root‑cause analysis, process discipline, data‑driven decision making, rigorous regulatory adherence, cross‑functional collaboration.

Success Profile

• Consistently meets or exceeds KPIs.
• Data‑guided decision making.
• Adaptability with change‑management skills.
• Proactive problem solving.

Working Conditions

Office located within a manufacturing facility in Sturtevant, WI.

Attributes for Success

• Hard work – tackle each task with determination, passion, and creativity.
• Pursuit of Excellence – consistently exceed expectations and outperform competitors.
• Integrity – treat the company and teammates with utmost respect and strong moral codes.
• Sense of Urgency – act with speed, agility, and flexibility to capture opportunities and mitigate risks.
• Entrepreneurial Spirit – act like an owner, challenge the status quo, and seek innovative improvements.
• Adaptability – thrive amid ND Paper’s continuous evolution and fast‑paced change.
• Servant Leadership – lead with heart, empathy, foresight, and stewardship.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance plus voluntary accident, hospital indemnity, and critical illness coverage for employees and families.
• Financial protection benefits including life insurance, disability insurance, and business travel accident insurance.
• Tax‑advantaged accounts such as Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).
• Paid holidays, personal days, and vacation days to support work‑life balance.
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match and annual fixed contribution.
• Wellness programs with incentives and on‑site clinics at Rumford and Biron locations.
• Competitive salaries, comprehensive health benefits, and paid time off.