Application Guide

How to Apply for Director, Total Rewards and People Operations

at Tides

🏢 About Tides

Tides is a philanthropic accelerator and nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing social justice and equity. With a remote-first culture and a mission-driven team, Tides offers a unique opportunity to align your work with values of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) while impacting systemic change.

About This Role

This role leads the design and management of total rewards and people operations, ensuring compensation, benefits, and HRIS systems support Tides' mission and workforce. As a director, you'll shape the employee experience across Tides Networks and Tides Center, directly influencing retention, equity, and organizational effectiveness.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start with a team stand-up to discuss priorities, followed by analyzing compensation data for equity gaps or reviewing benefits renewal proposals. You might meet with the CFO to align rewards strategy with budget, then conduct a training session for managers on new compliance requirements, ending the day by updating HRIS reports for the executive team.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Tides Is Looking For

  • A seasoned total rewards professional with 8+ years of experience, including 4+ years in a supervisory role, who thrives in a remote, mission-driven environment.
  • Deep expertise in compensation structures, benefits administration, and compliance (ERISA, ACA, FMLA), with hands-on ADP Workforce Now HRIS experience.
  • A data-driven leader who uses workforce analytics to inform strategic decisions and can translate complex data into actionable insights for leadership.
  • A champion of JEDI principles, with a demonstrated commitment to embedding equity into rewards, people operations, and team culture.

📝 Tips for Applying to Tides

1

Highlight your experience with multi-state compliance and remote workforce management, as Tides operates across the US.

2

Showcase specific examples of how you've designed total rewards programs that advanced equity, such as pay equity analyses or inclusive benefits.

3

Emphasize your hands-on ADP Workforce Now skills; if you've used it for reporting or system optimization, detail that.

4

In your resume, quantify the impact of your work (e.g., 'Reduced turnover by 15% through revised compensation bands' or 'Managed benefits for 500+ employees across 10 states').

5

Tailor your cover letter to Tides' mission: connect your personal values to their JEDI commitment and mention any volunteer or board work in social justice.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your alignment with Tides' mission and your passion for social justice, demonstrated through specific experiences or volunteerism.", 'Proven success in leading total rewards and people operations in a remote or decentralized organization.', "Your approach to mentoring and developing a team, with examples of how you've fostered growth and accountability.", "How you've used data and analytics to drive equitable outcomes in compensation or benefits."]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review Tides' website for their JEDI statement and recent annual reports to understand their equity initiatives.
  • → Read about Tides Networks vs. Tides Center structure to grasp the complexity of supporting multiple entities.
  • → Look up Tides' recent news or blog posts about employee experience or compensation philosophy.
  • → Research the current total rewards landscape in the nonprofit sector, especially regarding remote work and equity.
Visit Tides's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through how you would redesign Tides' total rewards strategy to better align with JEDI principles.
2 Describe a time you implemented a new HRIS feature or improved data integrity. What was your process?
3 How do you ensure compliance across multiple states while maintaining a positive employee experience?
4 Tell us about a time you led a team through a significant change (e.g., benefits overhaul). How did you manage resistance?
5 What metrics do you use to measure the effectiveness of total rewards programs, and how do you present them to leadership?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don't overlook the supervisory aspect: failing to provide examples of team leadership and mentorship will hurt your application.
  • Avoid generic benefits talk; instead, connect your experience to Tides' mission and JEDI focus.
  • Don't ignore the HRIS requirement: if you lack ADP Workforce Now experience, be honest and emphasize your ability to learn quickly, but highlight other systems you've mastered.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Tides!

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