Assistant Department Director - Total Rewards

City of Durham; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 142,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Durham is seeking an experienced HR leader for the role of Assistant Department Director – Total Rewards. The role leads the Benefits and Compensation & Classification functions for ~2,800 employees across 26 departments, directing a team of 6–8, negotiating vendor contracts, and driving the City’s total rewards strategy.

You will work with executive leadership to shape compensation philosophy, ensure pay equity, and maintain compliance while partnering with Oracle HCM Cloud for data

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Public Administration, Business Administration, Finance, or a closely related field.
• At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in compensation, benefits, or total rewards administration.
• At least three years of supervisory or management experience.
• Experience with Oracle HCM Cloud or a comparable enterprise HRIS/ERP platform.
• Experience with self-funded medical plans and vendor negotiations.
• Knowledge of North Carolina LGERS or a similar public retirement system.
• Municipal or public-sector HR experience preferred.
• Master’s degree in HR / Public Administration / Business or related field and certifications such as SPHR, SHRM‑SCP, CCP, or CEBS preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and day‑to‑day oversight of the Benefits and Compensation & Classification functions.
• Lead a team of direct reports and oversee benefits open enrollment, plan design, and vendor negotiations.
• Oversee compensation structure, open‑range and step plans for sworn public safety positions, and salary surveys.
• Lead classification studies, position reclassifications, and market salary analyses.
• Advise department leaders on compensation philosophy, pay equity, benefits, and policy interpretation.
• Manage benefits and compensation vendors, contracts, RFPs, actuaries, consultants, and third‑party administrators.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local requirements; partner with HRIS to maintain Oracle HCM Cloud data.
• Prepare financial analyses, cost projections, and compensation recommendations for senior leadership.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Team leadership

Vendor negotiations

Collaboration

Budgeting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR / Public Administration / Business / Finance

Master’s degree in HR / Public Administration / Business / related field

Certifications such as SPHR, SHRM-SCP, CCP, CEBS preferred

Tools

Oracle HCM Cloud

Job description

Help shape the future of a high-performing municipal workforce.

The City of Durham, NC, is seeking a strategic, detail-oriented, and collaborative human resources leader to serve as its next Assistant Department Director – Total Rewards.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead the City’s Total Rewards Division, overseeing compensation, classification, employee benefits, and wellness programs serving approximately 2,800 employees across 26 departments.

Reporting to the Chief Human Resources Officer, the Assistant Department Director will be a key member of the City's HR leadership team and will partner closely with Budget Management Services, Finance, department leaders, vendors, and other stakeholders to ensure the City’s total rewards strategy attracts, retains, and motivates a high-performing workforce.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Assistant Department Director will provide strategic leadership and day-to-day oversight of the City’s Benefits and Compensation & Classification functions, including:

• Leading and developing a team of 6–8 direct reports
• Directing employee benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement, deferred compensation, flexible spending, and wellness programs
• Leading annual benefits open enrollment, vendor negotiations, plan design, and employee communications
• Overseeing the City's compensation structure, including open-range plans and step plans for sworn public safety positions
• Leading classification studies, position reclassifications, and market salary surveys
• Advising department leaders on compensation philosophy, pay equity, benefits, and policy interpretation
• Managing benefits and compensation vendors, contracts, RFPs, actuaries, consultants, and third-party administrators
• Ensuring compliance with applicable federal, state, and local requirements
• Partnering with HRIS to ensure accurate benefits and compensation data within Oracle HCM Cloud
• Preparing financial analyses, cost projections, and compensation recommendations for senior City leadership and elected officials

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

The successful candidate will bring:

• A bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Public Administration, Business Administration, Finance, or a closely related field
• At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in compensation, benefits, or total rewards administration
• At least three years of supervisory or management experience
• Experience administering compensation and benefits programs for a workforce of 2,000+ employees
• Experience with Oracle HCM Cloud or a comparable enterprise HRIS/ERP platform
• Experience with self-funded medical plans and vendor negotiations
• Knowledge of North Carolina LGERS or a similar public retirement system
• Municipal or public-sector HR experience is strongly preferred
• A master’s degree in HR, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field and certifications such as SPHR, SHRM-SCP, CCP, or CEBS are preferred.

Compensation

Salary midpoint: $150,366 annually

The selected candidate's starting salary will be determined based on qualifications and experience. The City also offers a competitive compensation and benefits package.