Analyst, Compensation

Harris County; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Harris County seeks a senior compensation expert to lead the full spectrum of compensation strategy, analysis, and administration across the organization. You will gather, validate, and analyze data; develop recommendations on policies, procedures, and pay practices; and serve as a resource for compensation inquiries and issue resolution.

This role partners with HR leadership on governance, job architecture, pay equity, market benchmarking, and system-wide pay initiatives, ensuring budgets align

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a directly related field with relevant experience.
• Three years of directly related work experience or Associates degree with five years.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with data-driven decision making.
• Proficiency with PeopleSoft and MS Office suite.

Responsibilities

• Leads development and governance of compensation policies and standards.
• Analyzes complex datasets to evaluate pay equity and market alignment.
• Performs market benchmarking and sets competitive salary ranges.
• Partners with HR leadership on job architecture and pay equity initiatives.
• Acts as trusted advisor on compensation strategy and classifications.
• Audits compensation data to ensure budget alignment and compliance.
• Collaborates across IT and business units on pay initiatives.
• Designs and administers compensation surveys with public-sector peers.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Independent judgment

Mathematical/statistical calculation

Interpersonal relations

PeopleSoft

Microsoft Office

Compensation & position control

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

Three years of related experience

Associates degree + five years experience

Tools

PeopleSoft

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

Position Overview:
Serves as the organization's compensation subject-matter expert, responsible for the full spectrum of compensation strategy, analysis, and administration. Performs a range of analytical and reporting functions in support of county-wide compensation programs, projects, and services. Gathers, consolidates, processes, and analyzes compensation-related data using automated systems to support informed decision-making. Utilizes data findings to develop recommendations related to compensation policies, procedures, and practices, and serves as a resource for compensation-related inquiries and issue resolution.Position Description:
Position Overview:
Serves as the organization's compensation subject-matter expert, responsible for the full spectrum of compensation strategy, analysis, and administration. Performs a range of analytical and reporting functions in support of county-wide compensation programs, projects, and services. Gathers, consolidates, processes, and analyzes compensation-related data using automated systems to support informed decision-making. Utilizes data findings to develop recommendations related to compensation policies, procedures, and practices, and serves as a resource for compensation-related inquiries and issue resolution.The incumbent is responsible for executing the duties and responsibilities listed below and other duties as assigned. Some positions may require working before, during, or after an emergency or disaster at the department's discretion.Duties and Responsibilities:

• Compensation Policy & Governance: Leads the development and ongoing maintenance of the Harris County Salary Administration Guide, establishing compensation policies, procedures, and governance standards to ensure equitable, consistent, and compliant pay practices across the organization.
• Strategic Compensation Analysis & Reporting: Extracts, validates, and analyzes complex compensation datasets to evaluate pay equity, market alignment, and classification accuracy; develops and maintains multiple complex reports and queries; applies advanced statistical and exploratory analysis techniques to identify trends, support strategic initiatives, and deliver actionable insights for leadership decision-making.
• Market Benchmarking & Competitive Positioning: Researches and analyzes internal and external salary survey data to determine market trends, validate job classifications, and recommend competitive salary ranges—applying geographic, industry, and skill-based differentials to maintain market competitiveness.
• Enterprise Compensation Initiatives: Partners with HR leadership to manage compensation frameworks, including job architecture implementation, career pathway development, and pay equity initiatives to support workforce planning, talent retention, and long-term organizational alignment.
• Consultative Business Partnership: Serves as subject-matter expert and trusted advisor to business units and leadership on compensation strategy, job evaluations, reclassifications, salary recommendations, and position control management—ensuring departmental structures align with organizational objectives and compensation parameters.
• Data Integrity, Budget Alignment & Compliance: Audits and validates compensation data to identify discrepancies and recommend corrective actions; ensures position salaries and budgets align with approved salary ranges and assigned budget amounts while maintaining audit readiness and regulatory compliance.
• Technology & Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partners with Universal Services and cross-functional stakeholders throughout the full IT project lifecycle—from initiation and planning through execution, testing, and closure to implement county wide Commissioners Court-approved pay initiatives (e.g., COLAs, law enforcement increases, targeted salary adjustments). Prepares, validates, and reconciles complex data files (e.g., salary administration grades/plans, step structures, job codes, position reclassifications, employee data, budget maximums) and conduct rigorous testing across multiple environments to ensure system accuracy and successful deployment. In addition, conducts biweekly position management uploads in collaboration with county business units.
• Survey Administration & Peer Benchmarking: Designs, administers, and participates in compensation surveys with public-sector peers and cross-industry organizations throughout the United States; consolidates complex survey data into actionable insights that inform compensation strategy and maintain competitive market positioning.

Other Duties:

• This Job Description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this position. Management may, at its discretion, assign, or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer:
https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx
If you need special services or accommodations, please call [phone] or email [e-mail]
Requirements:
Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in a directly related field from an accredited college or university and
• Three (3) years of directly related work experience.

OR:

• Associates degree in a directly related field from an accredited college or university and
• Five (5) years of directly related work experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and a strong attention to detail.
• Ability to organize, set priorities and exercise sound independent judgment within areas of responsibility.
• Ability to make mathematical and statistical calculations quickly and accurately.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships in a diverse environment.
• Proficiency with PeopleSoft.
• Proficient with Microsoft Suite which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other related softwares.
• Comprehensive knowledge of principles and practices of Compensation and position control management.

NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.
General Information:
Position Type and Typical Hours of Work:

• Regular Full-time
• Monday - Friday | 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
• Schedules may vary based on the needs of the department and must be approved.

Work Environment and Physical Demands:

• This job operates in a professional office environment and routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, etc.
• This is a largely sedentary role that may require sitting for long periods of time.

Salary:

• Depends on Qualifications
• Based on 26 Pay Periods
• Plus, benefits

Reporting Relationships:

• Reports To Position: Manager, Compensation and Position Control
• Supervises Positions: N/A

Employment is contingent upon passing a background check and drug screen. Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.