Director of Total Rewards

Charter Manufacturing is a fourth-generation family-owned business where our will to grow drives us to do it better.  Join the team and become part of our family!

Charter is seeking a strategic and forward-looking Director of Total Rewards to lead the evolution of our compensation, benefits, and rewards programs. This leader will shape a Total Rewards strategy that helps attract, retain, and engage our people while ensuring programs are competitive, financially sound, and aligned with our culture and business priorities.

Working closely with HR, Finance, and executive leadership, the Director will play a key role in building scalable, data-driven programs that support growth and operational excellence. This role is also central to reimagining how Total Rewards work gets done through process simplification, shared services, automation, and AI-enabled solutions.

Position Specifics

• This role sits onsite at our corporate HQ location in Mequon, IL 3 days a week.
• We are open to relocation for the right candidate

What You’ll Do

• Lead the strategy and ongoing evolution of Charter’s Total Rewards philosophy, programs, and practices.
• Develop and coach a high-performing team, providing clear direction, support, and accountability.
• In partnership with Benefits Program Manager, develop and oversee execution of benefits strategies and programs that effectively balance quality, cost and employee experience in a rapidly changing benefits landscape.
• Oversee compensation strategy and execution, including salary structures, job architecture, market pricing, incentive design, and annual merit and bonus planning.
• Partner with Finance and business leaders to model costs, inform investment decisions, and ensure long-term sustainability of Total Rewards programs.
• Support executive compensation work, including materials and insights for senior leadership and the Board of Directors.
• Lead vendor, broker, and consultant relationships to drive service quality, program competitiveness, and cost effectiveness.
• Ensure strong governance and compliance across compensation, benefits, and retirement programs.
• Use data, dashboards, and analytics to inform decisions on workforce costs, pay equity, retention, and program effectiveness.
• Drive continuous improvement by simplifying processes, reducing administrative work, and partnering across HR Services and Technology to improve how work gets done.
• Champion automation, digital tools, and AI to strengthen modeling, reporting, administration, and the overall employee and manager experience.

What You’ll Need

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field; advanced degree or relevant certification preferred.
• 8–12+ years of progressive Total Rewards, compensation, and/or benefits experience.
• Experience leading broad-based Total Rewards programs and developing strong teams.
• Strong business acumen, analytical capability, and financial modeling skills
• Proven ability to influence senior leaders and translate complex topics into practical decisions.
• Knowledge of applicable compensation and benefits regulations, including ERISA, ACA, FLSA, COBRA, and HIPAA.
• Experience leading vendor relationships and complex program or process improvements.
• Manufacturing or industrial experience preferred.

Why This Role Matters

This is an opportunity to shape how Charter rewards and supports its people while modernizing the way Total Rewards operates. The right leader will bring strategic insight, strong judgment, and a passion for building programs and processes that are both people-centered and business-driven.

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We offer comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits, along with a 401(k) plan that includes employer matching and profit sharing. Additionally, we offer company-paid life insurance, disability coverage, and paid time off (PTO).