Total Rewards Specialist (Compensation, Benefits And Perks)

About SNDL

SNDL is the largest private sector liquor and cannabis retailer in Canada with retail banners that include Ace Liquor, Wine and Beyond, Liquor Depot, Value Buds, and Spiritleaf. As a licensed cannabis producer, SNDL also has indoor state-of-the-art grow-op facilities to supply wholesale and retail customers under a cannabis brand portfolio that includes Top Leaf, Sundial, Palmetto, Spiritleaf Selects, and Grasslands. SNDL's investment portfolio seeks to deploy strategic capital through direct and indirect investments and partnerships throughout the global cannabis industry.

About the Role

Reporting to the HR Manager, Specialized Functions, we are looking for an ambitious and seasoned Senior Total Rewards Specialist to lead and oversee the development, project management, administration and maintenance of a Total Rewards program. SNDL has grown through a series of recent business acquisitions, and accordingly we have inherited several compensation philosophies, programs, and needs. This opportunity will allow the right candidate to apply their experience and passion for total rewards to heavily influence an aligned, comprehensive, and sustainable program from the ground up!

SNDL is committed the development of a total rewards program and has a well-established benefits plan, Short-Term Incentive Plan (STIP) and Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP), however, there is a desire to revamp the programs including the build out of a compensation philosophy and design, along with KPI’s for LTIP, STIP design and benchmarking, overall salary benchmarking, job evaluation and overall compensation maintenance. Our goal is to develop a holistic overview of comparable pay for comparable work/value-add (as it relates to roles, professional requirements, responsibilities, team scope, gender equality, geographical location, tenure, etc.).

The ideal candidate will be highly professional, collaborative, detailed oriented, and organized to aid their success in project managing and developing programs that improve help performance, engagement and the overall employee value proposition. The goal is to attract, retain and motivate high quality employees while reducing turnover and enhancing our company’s profile as a preferred employer. Our HR team thrives on a commitment to shared learning, feedback, peer support, flexibility, adaptability, and a good ole’ sense of humor - a positive attitude, dedication, and growth mindset is a must!

Role and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Collaborate with legal to ensure compliance with Canadian and U.S. federal laws and regulations related to compensation, equity, and incentives.
• Ensuring total rewards process administration, changes, and approval steps are compliant with SNDL’s SOX audit requirements.
• Collaborate with HR and finance teams to manage the administration of LTIP and STIP. This includes tracking performance metrics, calculating payouts, obtaining approvals, and ensuring communicative, timely and accurate distribution of awards.
• Support the HR Business Partners on semi-annual benefits audits, to ensure appropriate classification and enrolment of employees based on defined eligibility criteria.
• Collect and assess total HR metrics to understand measures of success and demonstrate the effectiveness of these programs in attracting and retaining talent, educating employees on optimization of their total rewards, and working towards our goal of an enhanced employee value proposition.
• Participate in special compensation projects and initiatives as needed, such as change management support for acquisitions and/or organization redesign.
• Oversee the Shareworks platform, including the administration of equity compensation programs, stock options, and other equity-based awards. Ensure accuracy and compliance with Board approved program parameters and regulatory requirements, in partnership with Legal and Finance teams.
• Engage with SNDL’s Benefits Broker to review quarterly benefits dashboard, while ensuring all key initiatives remain on track.
• Conduct market research, benchmarking and industry surveys, including but not limited to Mercer, Cannabis at Work and Willis Towers Watson, to stay up to date with industry trends and best practices in compensation and incentive programs. Demonstrate the ability to understand and utilize data and compile high quality recommendation presentations to help senior leaders make well-informed decisions.
• Evaluate all total reward programs including base pay, LTIP, STIP, benefit plans and perks across corporate, warehouse/manufacturing, and retail audiences, and provide recommendations to ensure competitiveness and alignment with company goals.
• Communicate employees and managers on total rewards programs, including STIP, LTIP and benefits details. Build material and facilitate educational sessions to enhance employee understanding and awareness of the programs for optimization of the employee value proposition.
• Influence others as a subject matter expert by coaching and training on total rewards best practice, creating user friendly process documentation for cross-training on key total rewards administration needs, and identifying opportunities for efficiency and process transparency.
• Regular review and oversight of compensation processes and procedures to increase efficiency, accuracy, coordination with stakeholders, and employee satisfaction, while recommending cost-effective changes consistent with compensation trends and the organization’s objectives.
• Oversight of necessary document and records management on total rewards program materials in an organized manner.
• Provide technical expertise and guidance to the HR department and leaders on day-to-day compensation issues, policy interpretation, and providing creative problem resolution.
• Work with third party compensation consultants and internal stakeholders to maintain the current compensation frameworks, while simultaneously working towards revamping the total rewards program.
• Ensure data accuracy and integrity within the HRIS and equity management systems (Workday and Shareworks).

Experience and Qualifications

• Experience in designing, implementing, and administering incentive and benefit programs, with a track record of ensuring alignment with company objectives and industry best practices.
• Experience conducting data analysis, interpreting findings, and presenting on recommendations to senior leaders.
• The ability to effectively communicate complex compensation information to various stakeholders, including senior management, employees, and HR partners.
• 5-7 years’ experience in a compensation-focused role, with exposure to LTIP, STIP, equity compensation, and benefits administration is required.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel and/or data analytics platforms.
• Hands on experience with quantitative and qualitative research.
• Proficiency using Workday is preferred.
• Bachelor's Degree in HR, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field.
• Understanding of relevant labor laws, tax implications, and regulatory requirements related to compensation and equity plans in Canada and the U.S.
• Experience remodeling compensation philosophy and structure is preferred.
• Proficiency using Shareworks or a similar equity management software, is preferred.

Although not required, the following are considered to be an asset:

• Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) designation
• Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation

Personal Characteristics and Requirements

• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation, however the requirement for business travel in this role is minimal (less than 10% of the time).
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build and maintain rapport with others.
• The ideal candidate will possess highly tuned analytical and organizational skills with the ability to exercise sound judgement in handling confidential and sensitive information.
• Uphold confidentiality, ethics, and exercise professional discretion at all times.
• Able to gather input, obtain buy-in, and work through new challenges effectively.
• Excellent research, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Proactive recognition and action on opportunities for improvement.
• Strong business acumen and strategic thinker.
• Able to be flexible, collaborative, deal with a level of ambiguity and embrace continuous learning.
• Exceptional project management skills with proactive updates and follow-through on tasks.
• Driven by the challenge of taking conceptual ideas and executing research, analysis, and modeling in order to identify and present suitable options to the business.
• Resourceful, determined and a self-starter.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to work with a high level of accuracy.
• Cognizant and respectful of differing perspectives, rationale, and needs.
• Has an ownership mentality, understands their responsibility to meet deliverables.
• Aware and respectful of the history and unique challenges of the business, derived from years of several mergers, acquisitions, and sales of business units. An understanding that our business is comprised of employee groups who once identified as separate companies and are currently experiencing the effects of integration efforts to become one united group under SNDL.
• Responds to constructive, respectful feedback with professionalism and an open mind.
• Able to produce high-quality results independently, with limited oversight.
• Able to help navigate large-scale and fast-paced business changes positively, proactively, effectively, and with diplomacy.
• Organized and able to manage competing priorities in a high energy and evolving environment.

Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:

We are committed to building a welcoming, inclusive, diverse and safe workplace where all of our team members have equal opportunity to succeed. SNDL encourages applications from individuals of all backgrounds, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, ages and abilities.