Compensation Analyst Lead

City-of-Boise,-Id; Boise (ID); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work eligible

Job summary

The City of Boise is seeking a senior compensation expert to lead complex compensation and classification work, including market pricing, job evaluation, salary structure development, and internal alignment analysis. You will translate data into clear findings for HR staff, departments, and City leadership, and guide key projects with coaching and mentorship.

Working independently with limited supervision, you will own the City’s compensation programs and partner with the Total Rewards Senior

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business, finance, economics, statistics, public administration, or related field.
• Four years progressively responsible compensation, classification, HR analytics, or related experience.
• Experience with market pricing, job evaluation, salary structures, classification work, data analysis, and complex compensation problem-solving.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, documentation, implementation, and refinement of compensation methodology.
• Conduct market-pricing and compensation analyses, evaluate competitiveness and internal alignment.
• Lead classification studies and job evaluations; maintain job descriptions and career paths.
• Design, analyze, and maintain salary structures and pay ranges.
• Provide senior technical leadership and coaching across HR teams.
• Support annual compensation processes, including reviews and planning activities.
• Translate data and analyses into clear recommendations for executives and departments.

Skills

Market pricing

Job evaluation

Salary structures

Classification work

Data analysis

Compensation problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR/Business/Finance/etc

Master’s degree (preferred)

Job description

Join the City of Boise’s Human Resources team as a senior technical expert supporting competitive, equitable, and sustainable compensation practices. In this role, you will lead complex compensation and classification work, including market analysis, job evaluation, salary structure development, classification studies, and internal alignment analysis.

You will serve as a trusted resource to HR staff, departments, and City leadership, translating complex compensation data into clear findings and actionable recommendations. This position also leads key compensation projects and provides technical guidance, coaching, and mentoring to team members. Working independently with limited supervision, you will have meaningful ownership of the City’s compensation and classification programs while partnering with the Total Rewards Senior Manager on the most complex and strategically significant matters.

Required Knowledge, Experience, And Training

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business, finance, economics, statistics, public administration, or related field.
• Four years progressively responsible compensation, classification, HR analytics, or related experience.
• Demonstrated experience with market pricing, job evaluation, salary structures, classification work, data analysis, and complex compensation problem-solving.

Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business, finance, economics, statistics, public administration, or related field, and four years progressively responsible compensation, classification, HR analytics, or related experience and demonstrated experience with market pricing, job evaluation, salary structures, classification work, data analysis, and complex compensation problem-solving or an equivalent combination of experience and education.

Knowledge of: relevant municipal, state, and federal laws and regulations (e.g., ADA, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, FMLA); compensation best practices, including salary survey methodologies, market analysis, and pay structure development; principles and practices of human resources and employee relations, including classification, job analysis, recruitment, compensation administration, and performance management; fundamentals of public administration, recordkeeping, and reporting; training and development strategies; and modern computer applications, databases, and web-based systems.

Ability to: research, analyze and interpret data; draw sound conclusions, make recommendations, and implement solutions; interpret and apply laws, policies, and regulations; supervise and train employees; prepare and present information in a clear and concise manner; plan, coordinate and implement special projects; respond to strategic and organizational issues, concerns, and needs; provide training and guidance regarding human resource programs, employee regulations, and organizational initiatives to a broad array of audiences; maintain strict confidentiality; exercise tact and diplomacy when dealing with sensitive, complex, and confidential information; demonstrate skill in building consensus and problem solving; communicate effectively in the English language at a level necessary for efficient job performance; perform all essential and marginal functions as assigned by an authorized employee, supervisor and/or manager with or without reasonable accommodation.

Why the City of Boise?

The benefits are real and among the best in the Treasure Valley:

• 100% Employer paid medical coverage for you and your family.
• PERSI retirement (11.96% Employer Contribution) plus employer-matched 401(k)/457b
• 10 hours vacation/month (grows with tenure), 12 paid holidays, and 8 hours sick leave/month
• 10 weeks paid parental leave
• $500 annual wellbeing incentive
• Tuition reimbursement and free local bus pass
• Basic life and long-term disability insurance at no cost

Compensation Methodology and Market Analysis

Leads the development, documentation, implementation, and ongoing refinement of the City’s compensation methodology. Conducts complex market-pricing and compensation analyses, evaluating competitive positioning, internal relationships, pay compression, and cost implications. Analyzes compensation surveys, identifies appropriate labor-market comparisons, and ensures market-pricing practices are consistently and equitably applied. Develops data-informed recommendations supported by quantitative and qualitative analysis.

Classification and Job Evaluation

Leads classification studies and job evaluations using the City’s established classification methodology. Analyzes job responsibilities, organizational relationships, required knowledge and skills, decision-making authority, and other relevant factors. Develops and maintains job descriptions, job families, career paths, and levels. Partners with departments and HR Business Partners to validate job content while preserving the integrity and consistent citywide application of the classification framework.

Salary Structures and Compensation Programs

Leads the design, analysis, implementation, and ongoing maintenance of salary structures, pay ranges, and compensation programs. Evaluates proposed changes for market competitiveness, internal alignment, compression, fiscal impact, and consistency with the City’s compensation philosophy and methodology. Documents standards and processes to support transparent, sustainable, and consistent compensation practices.

Technical Leadership and Work Coordination

Provides senior technical leadership for compensation and classification work. Coordinates work assignments and deliverables; provides coaching, technical guidance, and quality review; and promotes consistent application of established standards and methodologies. Serves as a technical resource to other team members and promotes collaboration across HR teams and organizational stakeholders. May coordinate and provide technical direction to the work of others but does not have primary responsibility for hiring, performance management, discipline, or other formal supervisory functions.

Annual Compensation Processes

Provides technical leadership and analytical support for annual compensation processes, including market reviews, salary structure updates, pay-range adjustments, and other compensation planning activities. Develops timelines, tools, analyses, and recommendations; coordinates activities across stakeholders; and reviews outcomes to support accuracy and consistent implementation.

Consultation and Decision Support

Serves as a senior technical resource to HR professionals, managers, and department leadership on compensation and classification matters. Translates complex data and analysis into clear recommendations, options, risks, and tradeoffs. Prepares executive-level presentations, reports, decision materials, and educational resources. Identifies and escalates matters requiring broader strategic, policy, legal, or organizational direction.

Project Leadership and Quality Assurance

Leads compensation and classification projects involving multiple stakeholders and significant organizational impact. Establishes scope, work plans, milestones, roles, and deliverables; identifies risks and dependencies; monitors progress; and drives work through completion. Establishes quality-control practices and reviews complex analyses and recommendations to support accuracy, consistency, and adherence to City compensation and classification methodology.

Performs other duties as assigned. Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this position at any time.

Preferred Knowledge, Experience, And Training

Master’s degree in human resources, business, finance, economics, statistics, public administration, or related field, and six years of progressively responsible experience in compensation, classification, HR analytics, or related experience and demonstrated experience with market pricing, job evaluation, salary structures, classification work, data analysis, and complex compensation problem-solving or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience.

Certified Compensation Professional or Senior Human Resources certification.

Special Requirements

• Applicants must be able to pass City of Boise background check processes which includes a criminal history check and reference checks in accordance with the City of Boise Hiring Process Regulation
• Criminal Justice Information System background check (CJIS)
• Hybrid Work Eligible
• The physical effort characteristics and working environment described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Efforts

While performing the duties of this job the employee is rarely lifting/carrying up to 10 pounds. Also, the employee is rarely pushing/pulling up to 10 pounds. Work includes sensory ability to talk, hear and touch. Work in this position also includes close vision. Employees will sit. Position requires hand/finger dexterity.

Working Environment

The work environment will include inside conditions.