Director of Payroll, Total Rewards, and HRIS

Join Lunds & Byerlys as a Full Time Director of Payroll, Total Rewards, and HRIS and take the next exciting step in your career! 

In this new role the Director will lead Payroll, Total Rewards, and HRIS, with an early focus on Total Rewards and HRIS while partnering closely with our current Payroll Manager to build deep expertise across all three areas. In this role you will drive efficiencies, strengthen compliance, and modernize how we administer benefits, including automatization efforts. In addition to continuous improvement efforts the Director will have a unique opportunity to build and develop a multi-functional team. As the team develops, you'll take on higher-level strategic work, including partnering with our executive team on compensation analysis and planning. 

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $116,00-$168,000 with a short-term incentive compensation target of up to 16% of base salary. 

Our Commitment to You

Lunds & Byerlys is committed to taking care of the employees who take care of our customers. We are committed to creating work environments centered around the values of hospitality, teamwork, and opportunity. Lunds & Byerlys is committed to providing equal opportunities to all interested and qualified candidates. Our culture is based in teamwork, innovation, and respect. These words are not just tossed around. They are at the core of who we are as a Star Tribune Top Workplace 2019-2026. 

This position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the physical, mental, and financial well-being of our team members. Our benefits include competitive medical, dental, and vision coverage, along with various health spending and savings accounts. We provide supplemental free on-demand healthcare and generous paid time off. Additionally, team members can take advantage of 401(k) matching and other value-added benefits focused on overall health and wellness.

JOB SUMMARY

The Director of Payroll, Total Rewards, and HRIS provides strategic leadership and unified oversight of the Total Rewards, Payroll, and HR Information Systems (HRIS) functions within the Employee Experience (EX) department. This position is accountable for the design, integration, and continuous improvement of compensation, benefits, payroll operations, and HR technology so that they operate as a single, cohesive rewards and data ecosystem in support of LFHI's business strategy. The Director sets the strategic direction and long-range roadmap for the combined functions and builds, leads, and develops a team of specialists responsible for the day-to-day administration of pay, benefit, and technology programs across all three disciplines.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The following description of work to be performed by this individual is not intended to be all-inclusive. Rather, it focuses on the major tasks that must be accomplished. There are many necessary activities to satisfy any of the following performance guidelines.

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and own the integrated strategy for Total Rewards, Payroll, and HRIS, ensuring alignment with LFHI's overall business strategy, EX vision, and workforce needs.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the Vice President of Employee Experience and other executive leaders on compensation philosophy, benefits strategy, payroll operations, and HR technology direction.
• Anticipate emerging trends, legislation, and technology developments across compensation, benefits, payroll, and HR systems, translating them into proactive recommendations for the organization.

People Leadership

• Build and lead a team of Payroll, Total Rewards, and HRIS specialists who are directly responsible for the day-to-day administration of pay, benefit, and HR technology programs, setting clear goals, accountability standards, and development plans.
• Build organizational capability across the combined function through hiring, training, succession planning, and performance management of all direct reports.
• Foster a unified, collaborative culture across Payroll, Total Rewards, and HRIS so the three disciplines operate as an integrated service to the business rather than siloed functions.
• Serve as the escalation point and final decision-maker for daily administration issues across pay, benefits, and HR technology that require Director-level judgment or cross-functional coordination.
• Model the Lunds & Byerlys customer service standards at all times and ensure that the team members are doing the same

Total Rewards & Compensation

• Own the design, governance, and continuous improvement of the organization's total rewards philosophy, including base pay, incentive, and recognition programs.
• Direct salary benchmarking, pay structure design, position leveling, and annual compensation planning processes, ensuring market competitiveness and internal equity.
• Oversee benefits strategy and vendor management, including plan design, cost negotiation, vendor evaluation, and transitions, in partnership with Finance and outside consultants.
• Guide the organization's response to pay equity, FLSA, ERISA, and other compensation- and benefits-related legislative and regulatory requirements.

Payroll Operations

• Own end-to-end payroll strategy and operations for a multi-entity, multi-state workforce operating under multiple union contracts, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance.
• Ensure sound internal controls, quarter- and year-end tax reporting, W-2 processing, and general ledger/account reconciliation practices are in place and continuously improved.
• Maintain organizational expertise on payroll tax law, wage and hour requirements, and union contract provisions, ensuring the organization remains audit-ready and compliant.
• Direct payroll and benefits budgeting and forecasting, and ensure leadership receives clear, actionable variance analysis.

HRIS & People Analytics

• Establish data governance standards, including data integrity, access, and security controls, so stakeholders across the organization can rely on accurate, well-governed data.
• Direct the design of executive-level reporting that give business and EX leaders real-time insight into workforce, compensation, and payroll performance.
• Own relationships with third-party HRIS, payroll, and compensation/benefits technology and consulting vendors, negotiating contracts and holding partners accountable to service levels.

Governance, Compliance & Risk

• Ensure adequate controls, compliance reviews, and audits are in place and completed successfully across payroll, compensation, benefits, and HR systems.
• Partner cross-functionally to mitigate risk and maintain compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including ERISA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, HIPAA, and DOL requirements.
• Prepare reports for the Board of Directors, Company Officers, and Executive Team on total rewards, payroll, and HRIS performance.

OTHER JOB DUTIES (Not considered essential to the job)

1. Perform all other related assignments (including special projects) as required in a professional and cooperative manner.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

1. Education
   1. Required: Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance, Accounting, Information Systems, or a related field.
2. Licensing
   1. Required: CCP, CEBS, CPP, or HRIP certification (or equivalent within relevant discipline).
3. Experience
   1. Seven or more years of progressive experience across Total Rewards, Payroll, and/or HRIS, including compensation, benefits, payroll operations, and HR technology.
   2. Seven or more years of people leadership experience, including building and leading teams responsible for the daily administration of pay, benefits, and/or HR systems across multiple functions.
   3. Preferred: Experience operating in a multi-entity, multi-state environment with union and non-union populations.
   4. Demonstrated experience leading HCM, payroll, or compensation technology selection and implementation;
   5. Preferred: Ceridian/Dayforce experience.
4. LFHI Competencies expected of all employees include: Action Oriented, Customer Focus, Instills Trust, Communicates Effectively, Ensure Accountability, and Values Differences 
5. Other required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
   1. Demonstrated ability to translate business strategy into an integrated Total Rewards, Payroll, and HRIS roadmap.
   2. Strong presence with the ability to advise, influence, and present to senior leadership.
   3. Comprehensive knowledge of federal and state wage and hour, tax, and benefits law (including FLSA, ERISA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, HIPAA).
   4. Proven ability to lead through others, building capability and accountability across a team of specialists and cross-functional partners.
   5. Advanced reporting skills with the ability to turn complex compensation, payroll, and workforce data into actionable insight for decision-makers.
   6. Strong vendor management, negotiation, and contract oversight skills across HR technology, payroll, and benefits providers.
   7. Sound judgment and decision-making ability in complex, fast-paced, and highly confidential environments.
   8. Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Word) and enterprise HCM/payroll platforms.
   9. Ability to read, write, speak, and comprehend English.
   10. Service oriented with high energy and a friendly demeanor

Compensation Disclaimer

The actual rate of pay offered within the range may depend on several factors such as skills, knowledge, expertise, and experience. Our organization also considers internal equity when making job offers. Hiring at the maximum of the range is not typical.

About Lunds & Byerlys

Family-owned for over 80 years, Lunds & Byerlys is a grocery retailer rooted in the family tradition of quality, value, and service. Not only do we offer convenient, healthy, and contemporary delectables, we believe in giving our grocery customers the same personal attention and exceptional value we would expect for our own family. Our employees are chosen for their expertise and dedication in giving our grocery customers the best shopping experience possible. Which is why we offer competitive wages, great benefits and perks, and an amazing company culture.

Get started with our team!

If you have these qualities and meet the basic job requirements, we'd love to have you on our team. Apply now using our online application!