Director, Total Rewards at Hecla Mining in Coeur d'Alene, ID

Job description

Position Title: Director, Total Rewards Location: Coeur d’Alene, ID - Corporate Office Purpose: The Director, Total Rewards leads the design, build, and governance of Hecla’s compensation, benefits and payroll programs across the United States and Canada. The incumbent will assess and establish the frameworks, systems, governance, and analytics that a growing, acquisitive mining company requires — moving Total Rewards from a largely administrative footing to a strategic, data-informed capability that supports Hecla’s growth strategy. Reporting directly to the CHRO, the Director serves as Hecla’s principal technical authority on benefits and compensation program design. Benefits — self-funded health and welfare, a closed defined benefit pension plan, 401(k) plans, and leave programs — represent the largest share of the role. The Director partners across Finance, Legal, Operations, and the broader HR team, builds the capability and bench strength of a small, developing team, and provides support to the CHRO on executive compensation, where the Company’s executive compensation consultant leads external assessment and design work. Reports To: VP, CHRO Essential Functions and Responsibilities: 1. Total Rewards Strategy, Governance & Foundational Build Develop and gain endorsement for a multi-year total rewards strategy and roadmap aligned to Hecla’s business strategy, growth objectives, talent priorities, and cost parameters. Establish the foundational architecture of the function: compensation and benefits philosophy, governance model, decision rights, approval thresholds, policy documentation, calendars, and standard operating procedures. Define and build the Total Rewards technology and data foundation including HRIS configuration, market data subscriptions, survey participation, job and pay data integrity, and reporting/analytics. Establish a total rewards metrics framework (competitiveness, cost trend, utilization, pay equity, incentive leverage) and report results to the CHRO and executive leadership. Monitor legislative, regulatory, and market developments across U.S. and Canadian jurisdictions and translate them into timely program and policy action. 2. Benefits Design, Health & Retirement Plan Management Self-funded health and welfare Own the design and financial management of Hecla’s self-funded medical, dental, vision, and welfare plans — plan design modeling, contribution and cost-share strategy, plan tiering, and network configuration. Manage the economics of self-funding: claims and utilization analysis, high-cost claimant trends, stop-loss placement and attachment point strategy, IBNR and reserve adequacy reviewed with Finance, and administrative fee negotiation. Lead the annual renewal, budget-setting, and open enrollment cycle end to end, including plan change modeling, employee cost impact analysis, communication strategy, and system configuration. Design and implement complementary programs — pharmacy strategy, HSA/FSA/HRA accounts, life and disability, EAP, telehealth, voluntary benefits, and wellbeing initiatives — with a clear view of value delivered per dollar spent. Evaluate emerging plan design and cost-containment strategies (network alternatives, direct contracting, condition management, transparency tools) and build the business case for what fits Hecla’s workforce and geography. Establish benefits governance: plan documents, summary plan descriptions, fiduciary committee structure and calendar, compliance filings, non-discrimination testing, and audit readiness. Retirement — closed DB pension and 401(k) Own governance and administration of the closed defined benefit pension plan: actuarial valuation coordination, assumption review, funding strategy input with Finance, participant data integrity, and required disclosures and filings. Assess and recommend pension de-risking alternatives including lump-sum windows, an