Assistant Total Rewards Director - Strategic Public HR

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

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