Team Lead - US Compensation & Benefit

Role Overview:

As the Associate Manager – Compensation & Benefits , you will lead a broader compensation and benefits service function supporting US employees through a shared services operating model. This role is responsible for operational delivery, people leadership, stakeholder management, compliance governance, process optimization, and service transformation.

You will oversee multiple process streams or teams responsible for compensation administration, benefits operations, payroll coordination support, employee issue resolution, and reporting. The role requires strong leadership, sound judgment, and the ability to manage scale while improving process quality and operational maturity.

Your objective is to ensure the function delivers stable, accurate, and compliant services while continuously improving employee experience and delivery efficiency.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Operational Oversight

• Service Leadership: Oversee daily and cyclical operations across compensation and benefits service lines.
• Delivery Planning: Align team capacity, workload distribution, and support coverage with business and cycle requirements.
• Performance Governance: Monitor productivity, accuracy, turnaround time, and service-level adherence across teams.
• Leadership Support: Manage leads and senior analysts while building strong execution ownership across the function.
• Service Continuity: Ensure stable delivery during high-volume periods such as merit cycles, bonus processing, and open enrollment.

2. Compensation & Benefits Systems Management

• Cycle Governance: Oversee annual merit planning, bonus inputs, compensation changes, and benefit administration cycles.
• System Integrity: Ensure data integrity across Workday, payroll interfaces, and benefits platforms.
• Cross-System Coordination: Strengthen integration and process alignment between HR, payroll, and benefits administration tools.
• Operational Visibility: Use dashboards and controls to maintain oversight on queue status, backlog, and exception items.
• Process Standardization: Ensure standardization of workflows and system usage practices across teams.

3. Benefits Administration & Vendor Coordination

• Benefits Governance: Oversee administration of employee benefits, eligibility processes, life event changes, and employee enrollments.
• Vendor Coordination: Work with external vendors, carriers, or internal partners supporting benefits and related administration.
• Service Quality: Ensure employee issues impacting coverage, deductions, and enrollment are resolved within service commitments.
• Issue Escalation: Review high-risk or sensitive cases involving benefits coverage or compensation concerns.
• Operational Controls: Establish stronger controls for benefits documentation, process approvals, and transaction accuracy.

4. Payroll Coordination, Compliance & Issue Resolution

• Payroll Dependency Management: Ensure pay-impacting changes are governed effectively and shared accurately with payroll teams.
• Compliance Oversight: Monitor adherence to internal controls, policy requirements, and audit expectations.
• Risk Management: Review discrepancies, exceptions, and repeat errors affecting compensation or benefits outcomes.
• Escalation Leadership: Lead resolution of sensitive employee pay or benefits issues requiring business judgment.
• Audit Support: Ensure documentation and process evidence are maintained for internal and client reviews.

5. Reporting, Team Development & Continuous Improvement

• Reporting Governance: Review dashboards, cycle reports, exception summaries, and service performance trends.
• Capability Building: Develop leads and analysts to strengthen process knowledge, judgment, and accountability.
• Process Improvement: Drive changes that reduce manual effort, improve accuracy, and strengthen employee experience.
• Root Cause Actioning: Lead deeper RCA on recurring operational issues and implement corrective measures.
• Knowledge Management: Institutionalize SOP updates, training refreshers, and governance routines across the function.

Qualifications & Skills:

• Experience: 10–12 years of progressive experience in compensation and benefits, payroll operations, HR shared services, or employee administration.
• Leadership Scope: Proven experience managing teams, leads, or multiple process streams.
• Technical Expertise: Strong experience with Workday, compensation cycles, benefits workflows, payroll coordination, and operational reporting.
• Functional Depth: Strong knowledge of US compensation and benefits operations.
• Business Communication: Strong stakeholder handling and leadership communication skills.
• Education: Bachelor's or master's degree in HR, Finance, Commerce, Business Administration, or related field.