Director of Total Rewards

About the company:

Crete United is a national leader in HVAC, plumbing, and electrical services, pioneering energy-efficiency integration across the built environment. Headquartered in Charlotte, NC, we are a $1.2B company with more than 3,500 employees nationwide and a bold plan to triple our scale in the next two years. Our decentralized model leverages local leadership with the support of a strong national platform, driving growth, innovation, and impact in the communities where we live and work.

We are looking for a Benefits and Compensation Manager that will establish best practices, attract high-quality employees, and reduce turnover through planning and overseeing our company's compensation and benefits programs. You will be responsible for reviewing and modifying existing programs, ensuring these deliver best-in-class results for our team and comply with current legislation.

To be successful as a benefits and compensation manager, you will be able to develop competitive and cost-efficient programs that increase employee retention and attract top talent. A top-notch candidate should have extensive experience leading compensation and benefits programs, strong vendor management, and excellent decision-making skills.

Benefits and Compensation Manager responsibilities include researching employee motives, implementing appealing rewards and tailoring benefit programs based on staff needs. To be successful in this role, you should be familiar with organizational development and employee engagement and a hands-on manager of vendors and plan execution.

Ultimately, you will build fair and attractive benefits and compensation plans that help us improve employee satisfaction and create a highly productive workplace.

Position Summary

The Director, Total Rewards will design, implement, and manage Crete United’s total rewards programs — including compensation, incentive management, benefits, payroll, analytics, leave administration, tuition reimbursement, and mobility — to attract, retain, and engage top talent. This role will play a critical part in shaping the company’s people strategy during a period of significant growth, M&A activity, and transformation. The Director will lead a small but growing team (currently including a Payroll Supervisor) and will partner closely with HR and business leaders to ensure total rewards programs are competitive, compliant, and aligned with company strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Total Rewards Strategy: Develop and execute Crete United’s total rewards strategy, ensuring competitive and equitable compensation and benefits programs that align with business goals.
• Incentive Program Management: Design, implement, and oversee annual and long-term incentive programs, including sales incentives, performance bonuses, and retention plans.
• Benefits & Payroll Oversight: Lead the administration and continuous improvement of U.S. benefits programs and payroll operations, ensuring compliance, efficiency, and employee satisfaction.
• Leave of Absence Management: Oversee compliance, administration, and employee experience for all leaves of absence, including FMLA, disability, and other statutory or company-sponsored leave programs.
• Tuition Reimbursement & Mobility Programs: Manage tuition reimbursement programs and employee mobility/relocation policies, ensuring they support employee development and business growth.
• Analytics & Insights: Establish and maintain dashboards and reporting for total rewards; provide data-driven insights to guide executive decision-making.
• M&A Integration: Partner with HR M&A Lead, Finance, and business leaders to evaluate and integrate acquired companies’ payroll, benefits, compensation, and mobility programs into Crete United’s framework.
• Compliance & Governance: Ensure programs are administered in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, as well as internal policies and controls.
• Leadership & Collaboration: Lead and develop a growing team; collaborate across HR centers of excellence and with senior leadership to deliver seamless employee experiences.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, Finance, or related field; Relevant certification (e.g., CCP, CEBS, SHRM-SCP) preferred.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in total rewards, compensation, or benefits, with at least 3+ years in a leadership role.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. compensation and benefits regulations, payroll processes, and incentive plan design.
• Demonstrated ability to build total rewards programs in a fast-growth, decentralized, or PE-backed environment strongly preferred.
• Exceptional analytical skills with the ability to leverage data to tell a story and influence decisions.
• Proven track record of leading and developing teams.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and executive-level presentation skills.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to shape the future of total rewards at a high-growth, PE-backed company.
• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits.
• A culture built on transparency, accountability, collaboration, and relentless pursuit of excellence.
• Minimal travel with Charlotte-based leadership visibility.

 For immediate consideration please call Randy Gartz at 321.917.3655

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Crete United is an equal opportunity employer, considering all applicants for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by state of federal law.