Total Rewards & HR Operations Manager

About the role

At Farmers Mutual Hail (FMH), our mission is simple: protect the livelihoods and legacies of America’s farmers through the complete farm insurance solutions we offer. As America’s Crop Insurance Company™, we’re headquartered in the U.S. and have been owned by the farmers we insure for over 125 years. FMH is seeking a Total Rewards & HR Operations Manager to manage the administration and execution of total rewards and HR operations functions, including benefits, payroll, compensation, leave administration, compliance, and related HR programs. This individual serves as a working manager providing operational oversight, strong internal controls, and hands-on execution to ensure accurate, efficient, and effective HR service delivery. The ideal candidate brings strong employee benefits expertise, hands-on payroll experience, sound judgment, and a practical, ownership-oriented approach to solving problems and supporting employees.

Responsibilities

• Manages and administers employee benefit programs including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement, deferred compensation, flexible spending, wellness initiatives, and other company-sponsored programs.
• Leads employee communications, education, wellness activities, and benefit-related engagement initiatives.
• Owns the annual benefit renewal and enrollment processes, including evaluation of plan performance, costs, utilization, market competitiveness, and vendor proposals.
• Implements approved benefit changes and ensures accurate annual enrollment and new hire elections.
• Manages and administers retirement and retiree benefit programs, including retiree eligibility, vendor coordination, compliance, and policy administration.
• Coordinates fiduciary reviews, retirement meetings, and employee education activities.
• Oversees payroll operations, including independent review and audit of semi-monthly payroll, related reconciliations, internal controls, and resolution of complex payroll issues.
• Provides oversight and support for compensation programs and processes, including annual compensation planning, salary structure reviews, market benchmarking, incentive programs, and related initiatives.
• Acts as leave manager for company leave programs including FMLA, ADA, PTO, Extended Sick Bank (ESB), parental leave, and other leave policies, ensuring consistent and compliant administration.
• Leads payroll, benefits, and HR audit activities and regulatory reporting while maintaining appropriate documentation and record retention.
• Serves as a key owner and administrator of HRIS systems, ensuring data integrity, system controls, appropriate security access, and effective workflows.
• Maintains relationships with brokers, carriers, vendors, advisors, and third-party administrators and serves as an escalation point for complex payroll, benefits, retirement, and HR system-related issues.
• Supervises and develops staff, manages workflow and priorities, and ensures operational continuity through cross-training, documentation, and backup procedures.
• Produces and analyzes payroll, benefits, and HR operational reports and identifies opportunities to improve processes, controls, systems, and HR service delivery.
• As a member of the HR team, engages in various other projects, activities, and duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Experience: Eight or more years of HR experience with increasing responsibility in total rewards, benefits, payroll, or HR operations, including demonstrated expertise in employee benefits administration and hands-on experience administering full-cycle payroll.
• Two or more years of people management experience preferred.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or a related field required.

Skills

• Experience with retirement plans, leave administration, and HRIS/payroll systems, preferably ADP, is preferred.
• PHR, SHRM-CP, CEBS, CPP, or similar professional certification is highly desired.
• Strong analytical, communication, organizational, and Microsoft Office skills required.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and bonuses
• Medical/dental/vision plan
• 401(k) plan with a generous company match
• Hybrid work schedule, after training is completed
• Paid Parental leave and Caregiver leave
• Employee appreciation events
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for support when you and your family need it
• On-site cafeteria and fitness center