Manager, Total Rewards

Who We Are

At Freshpet, our goal is to change the way people nourish their pets forever. We strive to strengthen the bond between people and our pets so that we both live longer, healthier, and happier lives while being kind to the planet. We believe that if we can create fresh, real foods that pets love and help them live healthier lives that their pet parents will also enjoy the many benefits of a rich life shared with a pet.

We started off with a mission to change the way pet parents feed dogs and cats, but we also wanted to be a company that had a thoughtful approach to how we operate. We wanted to do things differently, make great products but be gentle to the planet, good to the people who touch our business, and leave a positive impact with everything we do. We work hard every day to ensure that the original vision is met, starting with making the highest quality foods in our kitchens to running our business with integrity, transparency, and social and environmental responsibility. IT’S AMAZING WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU START COMPLETELY FRESH!

Position Summary

We are seeking a dynamic and detail-oriented Total Rewards Manager to oversee the daily operations of our Total Rewards Team. Reporting to the Director of Total Rewards, this role will be instrumental in managing compensation, benefits, and equity programs, ensuring their alignment with organizational objectives and compliance requirements. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership skills, a deep understanding of total rewards strategies, and a proven ability to execute operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

1. Compensation Management:

• Oversee the administration of base pay, incentive pay, and other compensation programs.
• Lead the annual salary review and market benchmarking process, ensuring competitiveness and internal equity.
• Develop and maintain job evaluation and salary structures.
• Support the design and implementation of incentive plans and executive compensation strategies.

2. Benefits Administration:

• Manage the day-to-day operations of employee benefit programs, including health, wellness, retirement, and voluntary benefits.
• Partner with benefits providers to ensure a seamless employee experience and resolve escalated issues.
• Monitor and ensure compliance with legal requirements such as ACA, FMLA, and COBRA.
• Drive communication and education campaigns to increase employee understanding and engagement with benefits offerings.

3. Equity Management:

• Oversee the administration of equity programs, including stock option plans, restricted stock units (RSUs), and performance awards.
• Coordinate with external vendors, finance, and legal teams to ensure accurate reporting, compliance, and employee experience.
• Manage employee education efforts regarding equity programs and related taxation.

4. Operational Excellence:

• Develop and streamline processes to enhance efficiency and accuracy in Total Rewards operations.
• Implement and optimize HR systems and tools related to compensation, benefits, and equity management.
• Monitor and analyze data to inform decisions and improve program effectiveness.

5. Team Leadership:

• Lead and mentor a team of Total Rewards professionals, providing guidance and support to achieve department goals.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement within the team.
• Act as a liaison between the Total Rewards Team and other internal stakeholders.

6. Strategic Support:

• Collaborate with the Director of Total Rewards to develop and execute the organization's total rewards strategy.
• Provide insights and recommendations based on market trends, internal analytics, and business needs.
• Support the integration of rewards strategies during mergers, acquisitions, or other organizational changes.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 5–7 years in Total Rewards or a related field, with at least 2 years in a leadership role.
• Knowledge:
  • Strong expertise in compensation design, benefits administration, and equity program management.
  • Familiarity with relevant laws and regulations (e.g., FLSA, ERISA, SEC reporting for equity).
• Skills:
  • Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
  • Strong interpersonal and communication abilities, with the capability to influence and collaborate across all levels of the organization.
  • Proficiency in HRIS systems and Microsoft Office Suite; experience with tools like Workday or SAP is an advantage.
• Attributes:
  • High attention to detail and commitment to confidentiality.
  • A proactive mindset and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

What We Offer

At Freshpet, we offer a competitive salary and an excellent benefits package, including medical, dental and vision insurance, basic and optional life insurance, short- and long-term disability protection, flexible spending accounts, and a 401(k) plan with company match, paid parental leave, pet insurance, tuition assistance, a generous PTO plan and so much more!

Our Commitment to a Diverse Workforce:

At Freshpet, we embrace and encourage our employees’ differences in age, sex, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our employees unique.

Freshpet aims to foster, cultivate and preserve a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion. Our employees are our most valuable assets. The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, inventiveness, innovation, self-expression, unique capabilities and talent that our employees invest in their work represents a significant part of not only our culture, but our reputation and company’s achievement as well. Freshpet is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Disclaimers

We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, we are not able to sponsor visas.

Freshpet is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. Please, no phone calls or emails. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at Freshpet via-email, the Internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of Freshpet. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Freshpet as a result of the referral or through other means.

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