Full-Time
Senior Director
Total Rewards
NPR
1,001-5,000 employees
Public radio network delivering unbiased news
Compensation Overview
$192k - $230k/yr
Washington, DC, USA
Hybrid
At least 2 days per week in the Washington, D.C. office; must reside in the D.C. Metropolitan Area.
Bachelor's
 People & HR (1) |
|---|
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- At least 12 years of progressive leadership experience across Total Rewards and HR Technology, including at least 6 years directly managing multidisciplinary HR teams.
- Proven experience designing and executing holistic benefit, retirement, and wellness strategies in complex organizations.
- Advanced experience managing, configuring, or optimizing enterprise-grade human resources information systems, specifically UKG (Ultimate Kronos Group) modules.
- Demonstrated ability to lead and develop a high-performing team in a complex, collaborative organization.
- Comprehensive understanding of ERISA fiduciary duties, nondiscrimination testing, retirement plan audits, Form 5500 reporting, and retirement plan compliance, including work with plan recordkeepers, trustees, and investment advisors across 401(k) and 403(b) plans.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including using data to drive decisions, auditing complex datasets, and resolving data discrepancies, process gaps, control gaps, and legacy system issues.
- Strong understanding of compensation practices, including salary bands, market pricing, pay equity, incentive programs, and compensation governance.
- Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, including the ability to advise senior leadership and negotiate with insurance and benefits vendors.
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience.
- Drive the strategic transformation of Total Rewards and HRIS functions by establishing scalable operating models, modern digital workflows, and progressive employee programs.
- Partner with the SVP of People, HR People Partners, Finance, and leadership to align total rewards and systems strategy with business goals and facilitate organizational change.
- Lead the overall benefits strategy using data-driven recommendations to implement program changes and improvements.
- Provide strategic direction and oversight for benefits offerings, leave programs, and retirement plans, including compliance testing, plan document accuracy, and audits.
- Oversee relationships with health and benefits providers, third-party benefits advisors, and brokers, and direct benefits enrollment and leave-program administration.
- Identify, troubleshoot, and resolve complex benefits and retirement-plan administration issues, including legacy errors, vendor data discrepancies, process-control gaps, and systems-configuration concerns.
- Develop and drive a unified compensation strategy using analytics and modeling to evaluate market conditions, manage pay-equity frameworks, and guide salary decisions.
- Direct the annual compensation planning process and own fiscal responsibilities for Total Rewards and systems budgets in partnership with Finance.
- Lead compensation and benefits projects from concept through design, modeling, and organization-wide implementation.
- Partner with People leadership and stakeholders to integrate total rewards programs into broader HR and organizational strategies.
- Author communication materials and deliver structured training to leaders and staff on NPR's total rewards philosophy.
- Ensure compliance with legal requirements and governance related to compensation and benefits programs.
- Direct the HRIS/People Systems team and establish the enterprise roadmap for UKG and integrated HR tools.
- Ensure total rewards programs are accurately configured, administered, reported, and maintained within UKG.
- Collaborate on system configuration, eligibility rules, and code setup to identify inaccuracies and improve data controls.
- Develop standard operating procedures, data-validation routines, and process audit trails for legacy total rewards processes.
- Lead benefits, compensation, and systems compliance activities, including compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations such as the Affordable Care Act, Form 5500, and ERISA reporting.
- Ensure total rewards data and reporting are accurate, timely, and useful for leadership decisions, employee communications, and audit inquiries.
- Direct, mentor, and coach the internal Total Rewards teams while establishing accountability, accuracy, professional growth, and proactive customer service.
- Active professional designations such as Certified Compensation Professional, Compensation Management Specialist, Senior Professional in Human Resources, Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional, or Certified Employee Benefit Specialist.
- Experience developing and administering benefits and compensation programs in a unionized environment.
- Experience supporting retirement plan audits, plan corrections, compliance testing, and plan governance.
NPR provides trusted, in-depth news and cultural storytelling to a national audience through radio, online content, and live events. It publishes reports from a nationwide network of award-winning journalists and 17 international bureaus, collaborating with member stations to reach listeners wherever they are. NPR’s products include radio broadcasts, online articles and multimedia stories, and podcasts, which are produced by reporters, editors, and producers and distributed through member stations, NPR.org, and its apps. Unlike many other media outlets, NPR emphasizes independent, fact-based reporting and a broad range of perspectives across ideas, cultures, and arts. The company’s goal is to help the public stay informed and engaged—cultivating understanding and thoughtful dialogue about current events and society.
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
Grant
Total Funding
$22M
Headquarters
null
Founded
1970
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- The March 2026 court injunction blocked Trump’s funding order and protected editorial independence.
- NPR secured $113 million in donations, funding technology upgrades and distribution improvements.
- State of the World’s August 2026 feed shows continued podcast expansion beyond broadcast radio.
What critics are saying
- Congress stripped public media funding in 2025, forcing NPR’s $15 million fee decline.
- May 2026 restructuring cut 28 jobs, merged desks, and signaled persistent cost pressure.
- If donor momentum fades, NPR’s newsroom shrinkage becomes a slow-motion relevance and independence crisis.
What makes NPR unique
- NPR runs PRSS interconnection, the backbone for public radio distribution since 1985.
- NPR’s 17 international bureaus and member-station network create unmatched national-local coverage depth.
- Nadine Zylstra’s June 2026 hire strengthens NPR’s digital audience strategy across podcasts and music.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
Disability Insurance
Unlimited Paid Time Off
Paid Vacation
Paid Sick Leave
Remote Work Options
Hybrid Work Options
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 6%1 year growth
↑ 6%2 year growth
↑ 6%NPR is folding its stand-alone climate desk into a larger national desk as part of a newsroom restructuring that reduced staff by 28 positions and consolidated departments from 11 to eight. Two climate journalists departed, whilst eight will continue reporting on climate within the national desk. The restructuring comes as NPR faces financial pressures from the withdrawal of $500 million in annual federal funding. Although recent donations totalled $113 million, revenue from member stations is expected to drop by $15 million under a new fee system. Editor-in-Chief Thomas Evans said climate coverage will not diminish and may increase as more reporters on the national desk contribute climate stories. Climate Solutions Week and coordination with member stations will continue, with senior supervising editor Sadie Babits leading the climate team.
NPR has hired Nadine Zylstra as chief content officer, a role vacant for nearly a year. She will start in July, tasked with expanding audiences for NPR's news, entertainment and music content across digital platforms. Zylstra joins from Pinterest, where she served as global programming chief. She previously led YouTube Originals and was a top programming executive at Sesame Workshop. NPR President Katherine Maher praised her experience in mission-driven media and understanding of audience engagement. The appointment comes as NPR faces challenges including declining broadcast audiences and recent federal funding cuts. The network recently cut 30 newsroom positions but secured over $113 million in gifts to improve technology and distribution. Zylstra will oversee NPR's newsroom, music, podcasts and related departments, though editorial decisions will remain with Editor-in-Chief Tommy Evans.
NPR is offering buyouts to approximately 300 employees, mostly journalists, as it restructures its newsroom to address an $8 million budget gap. The shortfall stems from reduced corporate sponsorship and the elimination of federal subsidies for public media stations, which pay NPR programming fees. Editor-in-Chief Thomas Evans says the network plans to consolidate several news desks, merging coverage areas including culture, education and sports into a society-and-culture desk, whilst combining science and climate reporting. The Washington desk will expand to cover power and policy developments. If 30 staff members don't accept voluntary buyouts by 26th May, targeted layoffs will follow. The cuts come despite NPR receiving $113 million in recent donations, though most funds are earmarked for technology infrastructure. The network is also negotiating to require journalists to work in-office at least three times weekly from autumn.
A US federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump's executive order to cut federal funding to National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service, citing First Amendment violations. Judge Randolph Moss ruled the order constitutes viewpoint discrimination and retaliation. Moss wrote that the order punishes NPR and PBS for "past expression" and seeks to silence viewpoints Trump dislikes. He noted Trump had previously stated he would "love" to defund the organisations due to perceived liberal bias. NPR and PBS welcomed the ruling as a victory for press freedom. However, significant damage has already occurred, as Congress separately eliminated general federal appropriations, forcing the closure of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The ruling's operational impact remains unclear pending likely appeals.
Court settlement calls for NPR to get $36M in government funds to operate US public radio system. National Public Radio will receive approximately $36 million in government funding to operate the nation's public radio interconnection system under the terms of a court settl By * Associated Press * Michael KunzelmanNovember 18, 2025 National Public Radio will receive approximately $36 million in grant money to operate the nation's public radio interconnection system under the terms of a court settlement with the federal government's steward of funding for public broadcasting stations. The settlement, announced late Monday, partially resolves a legal dispute in which NPR accused the Corporation for Public Broadcasting of bowing to pressure from President Donald Trump to cut off its funding. On March 25, Trump said at a news conference that he would "love to" defund NPR and PBS because he believes they are biased in favor of Democrats. NPR accused the CPB of violating its First Amendment free speech rights when it moved to cut off its access to grant money appropriated by Congress. NPR also claims Trump, a Republican, wants to punish it for the content of its journalism. On April 2, the CPB's board initially approved a three-year, roughly $36 million extension of a grant for NPR to operate the "interconnection" satellite system for public radio. NPR has been operating and managing the Public Radio Satellite System since 1985. But the CPB reversed course under mounting pressure from the Trump administration, according to NPR. The agency redirected federal interconnection funds away from NPR to an entity that didn't exist and wasn't statutorily authorized to receive it, NPR says. The Senate Appropriations Committee failed to include future funding in the latest budget pass. WHYY says its future remains though other area stations face challenges. CPB attorneys denied that the agency retaliated against NPR to appease Trump. They had argued that NPR's claims are factually and legally meritless. On May 1, Trump issued an executive order that called for federal agencies to stop funding for NPR and PBS. The settlement doesn't end a lawsuit in which NPR seeks to block any implementation or enforcement of Trump's executive order. U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss is scheduled to preside over another hearing for the case on Dec. 4. The settlement says NPR and CPB agree that the executive order is unconstitutional and that CPB won't enforce it unless a court orders it to do so. Katherine Maher, NPR's president and CEO, said the settlement is "a victory for editorial independence and a step toward upholding the First Amendment rights of NPR and the public media system." Patricia Harrison, the corporation's CEO, said in a statement that the settlement marks "an important moment for public media." Play, pause, and rewind the live radio stream, access on-demand audio features, and dive into podcasts from both local and national sources. WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, WHYY, Inc rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today. The lawsuits were filed on similar grounds, saying Trump's complaint that public media is biased against conservatives represents viewpoint discrimination. The suit came after a Disney World oversight board appointed by DeSantis voted to void a deal that placed theme park design and construction decisions in the company's hands.