Director, Total Rewards

• Location: Flexible within the US
• Type: Full-time
• Team: Human Resources
• Job Level: LSS-4
• Start Date: Summer 2025

Priority Application Deadline: June 16th 2025

Relay Graduate School of Education (Relay) is an accredited not-for-profit institution of higher education serving thousands of educators from across the country, from pre-service teachers to system-level leaders. Our mission is to ensure that all students are taught by excellent educators, in order to build a more just world where every student has a clear path to a fulfilling life.

Relay’s Talent Team serves to further this mission by serving as an integral pillar of support, enabling Relay to function at its highest degree through the recruitment, development and retention of high-performing and mission aligned teammates. Reporting to the Vice President, HR, the Director, Total Rewards will support the Talent team's strategy to offer competitive and equitable benefits, compensation, and policies to retain top talent.

Role’s Contributions (Duties and Responsibilities): 

The essential responsibilities of this position, while not limited to the following, will include: 

Benefit Program Management & Administration  (40%) 

• Lead the administration of Relay’s benefits offerings, including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), commuter benefits, disability, and other employee supports—with a focus on equity, compliance, and employee satisfaction.
• Own the annual Open Enrollment process end to end: managing timelines, vendor coordination, system setup, and employee communications.
• Reconcile monthly benefits invoices and collaborate with Finance to ensure billing accuracy.
• Serve as the first point of contact for employee benefits questions, delivering responsive, accurate, and caring support.
• Maintain strong relationships with brokers and vendors, and oversee the Employee Navigator platform to ensure clean and accurate enrollment data.
• Complete all required benefits-related filings and reports, including ACA submissions and state-specific mandates.
• Research and maintain compliance requirements and collaborate with the Vice President, Human Resources to ensure our benefits and policy offerings are aligned to all state and federal standards

Leave Management & Administration  (30%)

• Act as the primary liaison for employees taking a leave of absence (e.g., parental, medical, personal), offering guidance and support throughout the process.
• Track and administer leaves in partnership with third-party administrators, ensuring timely documentation and claims processing.
• Monitor regulatory updates and ensure Relay’s leave policies remain compliant across all jurisdictions; maintain clear and up-to-date internal documentation.

Compensation (20%)

• Partner with Talent leadership to implement and maintain Relay’s compensation framework, ensuring consistency, equity, and compliance.
• Manage the institutional stipend process—from request through approval and disbursement.
• Conduct biannual pay audits to assess fairness and alignment with internal policies and legal standards.
• Collaborate with Talent partners to finalize salary offers for new hires, promotions, and one-time rewards.
• Support the job description review process to ensure consistent role leveling and alignment across functions, while guiding teams to craft clear, engaging, and accurate role previews for candidate

Rewards & Recognition (5%)

• Manage employee recognition programs, including service anniversaries, sabbatical awards, and title promotions—ensuring  thoughtful and timely execution.

Special Projects/Other Duties (10%)

• Lead or contribute to strategic, cross-functional initiatives that elevate the employee experience and strengthen Relay’s Total Rewards operations.

QUALIFICATIONS

First and foremost, the Director, Total Rewards must share the Relay community’s commitment to working together to improve student growth and achievement through phenomenal teacher preparation grounded in diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. This includes providing teacher preparation programs that set novice teachers up to succeed in the classroom from day one; leadership programs that train new and veteran school and district leaders to best serve their school communities; and teacher-facing professional education that provides ongoing learning to educators. Additionally, for this position we’re looking for candidates that possess a combination of the following skills:

• 6+ years of experience; 4+ years of experience in compensation, benefits, and leave administration 
• Exceptional critical thinking and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to plan, prioritize, and execute projects independently 
• Demonstrated problem solving skills; ability to balance compliance with people-centered policies 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills 
• Demonstrated data collection & analysis skills 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Experience at a non-profit and/or education organization
• PHR certification, SHRM certification or related certification or degree

Relay prepares teachers and school leaders to teach students of all identities and backgrounds in order to push toward a time when this country no longer faces stark educational inequities. We recruit, develop, support, and retain a diverse staff, faculty, and graduate student body because we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and actively anti-racist institution. We know, and the data supports, that diversity, equity, and inclusion cultivate an environment in which people of all backgrounds can thrive and this is critical to achieving our mission of educational excellence and equity.

To fulfill that commitment, Relay encourages applicants of all backgrounds and identities to apply for roles that align with their own interests and career trajectory. If you meet a majority of the qualifications and see yourself in this role, we would love to see your application!

COMPENSATION

Relay is committed to creating and maintaining a compensation and benefits system that supports our ability to recruit and retain a diverse and talented team. As we make decisions about compensation, we will be guided by the following values: clarity, consistency, and internal equity. The salary range for this role is $96,525 - $135, 135. New hires will be offered a salary at the starting point of the range, $96,525 to allow for an equitable starting salary process and continual salary growth during an employee’s time at Relay GSE.

To ensure internal pay equity:

• Relay does not currently differentiate starting salary offers based on years of experience,
• All staff salaries will be capped at the salary range maximum, and
• Relay does not negotiate salary offers.

Relay offers a comprehensive total rewards package. For full-time roles, this includes health insurance benefits, disability and life insurance, retirement plan, professional development, gym reimbursement, adoption assistance, paid time off (PTO), parental leave, etc. To learn more about Relay’s benefits, please visit here.   

WORK LOCATION POLICY

Employees must have a primary work location within the U.S., where they are legally authorized to work. Relay is a registered employer in the following states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington State and Washington DC. Please note that Relay Graduate School of Education's headquarters are in New York City. Employees who choose to perform work from states not listed here will be subject to NYC state withholdings.

Relay Graduate School of Education provides equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees.