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Unitek Learning

Runs colleges for nursing and healthcare careers

Total Rewards Director

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/23/2026
No salary listed
Expert
Bachelor's, Master's
Tempe, AZ, USA
HybridHybrid schedule: 3 days per week in the office.
People & HRCompensation & Benefits

About the job

Requirements
  • A bachelor's degree in human resources, business, finance, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • At least 8 years of progressive experience leading compensation and benefits, with strategic involvement in both areas and demonstrated ownership of total rewards programs at an enterprise or multi-site organization.
  • Demonstrated experience designing and administering base pay structures, incentive plans, and job-leveling frameworks.
  • Strong working knowledge of benefits plan design and administration and applicable regulations, including ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, and FLSA.
  • Experience managing broker and vendor relationships and leading RFP or renewal processes.
  • Advanced Excel and analytical skills, with experience in HRIS, compensation, and benefits systems such as Dayforce, UKG, ADP, or similar.
  • Ability to operate at both strategic and execution levels, setting direction and working through details.
  • Strong communication skills and ability to explain complex pay and benefits concepts clearly to employees and leadership.
  • Experience supporting a multi-site, blended hourly and salaried workforce across multiple states.
  • Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) or Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) certification.
  • SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification.
  • A master's degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field.
  • Prior experience building or formalizing a total rewards function.
  • Experience supporting executive compensation or board compensation committee reporting.
Responsibilities
  • Lead compensation and benefits for corporate, salaried, and hourly employees across business units.
  • Architect and own job architecture, salary structures, and pay bands across employee populations; ensure structures remain market-competitive, internally equitable, and aligned with business strategy.
  • Evaluate new and existing roles for appropriate leveling and FLSA classification; partner with HR Business Partners and hiring managers on offer construction and internal equity reviews.
  • Lead compensation survey participation and market analysis; develop pay positioning recommendations, geographic differentials, and targeted adjustments to address pay equity and competitiveness.
  • Design, budget, and administer the annual merit increase cycle and short-term incentive, bonus, and plant-level incentive plans; partner with Finance on cost modeling and scenario planning.
  • Own the total rewards budget, including benefits spending and merit and incentive funding; develop annual cost projections, model plan changes, and present financial performance and recommendations to the CPO and Finance.
  • Own the benefits portfolio—including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), leave, wellness, and relocation—from strategic plan design and renewal through administration.
  • Lead annual open enrollment, including plan updates, employee communications, education sessions across corporate and plant locations, and system configuration.
  • Lead broker and vendor strategy, manage relationships with brokers, carriers, and third-party administrators, drive RFPs and renewals, negotiate rates and plan terms, and resolve escalated employee issues.
  • Ensure compensation and benefits programs comply with ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, FLSA, and applicable state pay transparency and equal pay laws; own required filings with Legal and Finance.
  • Own compensation and benefits configuration within the HRIS; maintain data integrity and build analytics and reporting for executive decisions on pay, workforce costs, and program performance.
  • Develop total rewards statements, manager toolkits, and employee communications that explain the value of compensation and benefits programs.
  • Partner with HR and business leadership to assess total rewards implications of mergers, acquisitions, and organizational restructuring; lead harmonization of compensation and benefits programs for acquired or integrated employees.
  • Partner strategically with HR Business Partners, Finance, Legal, and business leaders to ensure total rewards and payroll programs are consistently designed, compliantly administered, and effectively communicated company-wide.
Desired Qualifications
  • Manufacturing or distribution experience is strongly preferred.

About the company

Unitek Learning operates career-focused colleges for students entering nursing, allied health and emergency medical professions, as well as clinicians continuing their education. Its family of schools includes Unitek College of Nursing, Brookline College, Eagle Gate College and Provo College, with diploma, undergraduate and graduate programs that include accredited bachelor's degrees in nursing. Students combine online or classroom study with practical skills training and clinical experience; the group earns revenue from tuition and workforce education agreements with healthcare employers. Founded in 1992, Unitek Learning is headquartered in Newport Beach, California.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Newport Beach, CA

Founded

1992

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Faculty study while continuing to teach: Unitek's education pathways combine degree progression with tuition forgiveness.
  • Teaching scope expands into advanced emergency care: Unitek announced its paramedic program in July 2026.
  • Staff development includes practical projects: Unitek's Caritas coaching trains faculty and staff to run workshops and implement workplace projects.

What critics are saying

  • Education benefits require service: Unitek's tuition forgiveness carries postgraduation employment obligations, while employees pay for books.
  • Remote work has schedule constraints: Unitek's October 2026 educational-technologist posting requires evenings and weekends.
  • Employees pay at least half for dependents' health coverage: Unitek caps the company's premium contribution at 50%.

What makes Unitek Learning unique

  • Ownership has private-equity backing: Unitek belongs to Vistria's portfolio of companies.
  • Training comes to the employer: Unitek's School in a Box combines online theory with practical instruction in hospital-supplied space.
  • School operations are regionally concentrated: Unitek advertises 19 schools across six states on its careers board.

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