Compensation Business Partner

MRA-The Management Association; Golden Valley (MN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Part time

Job summary

MRA - The Management Association in Minnesota seeks an experienced Compensation Business Partner to support member organizations with compensation programs, market pricing, job evaluations, and total rewards strategies.

This on-demand, non-full-time role delivers strategic guidance, conducts analyses, designs salary structures, educates members on compliance, and collaborates with internal teams to ensure timely, high-quality outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in HR, business, finance, economics, or related field.
• 4+ years of progressive compensation/total rewards experience.
• Experience with market pricing, benchmarking, and job evaluation.
• Knowledge of wage and hour laws and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Advise members on compensation strategy, program design, and market competitiveness.
• Conduct market pricing analyses using surveys to assess external equity.
• Perform job evaluations and determine classifications and career levels.
• Design salary structures, pay practices, and incentive programs.
• Educate members on compensation best practices and regulatory changes.
• Develop presentations, training, and materials for member education.
• Manage multiple compensation projects with timelines and budgets.
• Collaborate with internal teams to support member engagement.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Project management

Independent work

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Excel

HRIS systems

Compensation tools

Compensation survey platforms

Job description

Be the next FACE of MRA!

Friendly. Accountable. Centered on Members. Engaged.

That's the FACE Culture - and what we live and breathe here at MRA.

MRA - The Management Association is seeking an experienced Compensation Business Partner to join our team. At MRA, we deliver best-in-class HR Services customized to meet the business needs of over 5,000 member companies throughout the US.

The Compensation Business Partner provides strategic compensation expertise, analytical support, and practical recommendations to MRA members and prospective members regarding compensation programs, market competitiveness, salary structures, job evaluations, incentive plans, and total rewards strategies. This role helps organizations develop compensation solutions that support business objectives, attract and retain talent, and maintain competitive pay practices.

Compensation Business Partners work directly with members on a variety of compensation projects, requiring expertise in compensation analysis, market pricing, pay program design, and regulatory considerations. In addition to member-facing responsibilities, the role may involve developing and delivering training programs, supporting compensation survey initiatives, and contributing to process improvements and operational efficiencies.

We are currently seeking to fill an On-Demand Compensation Business Partner role. In our On-Demand role, you would be a key player supporting our Members on an as-needed basis, depending on your qualifications and areas of expertise. The work schedule and number of hours will vary based on specific Member assignments, making this ideal for someone who enjoys a flexible work schedule. This is not a full-time position. MRA's business and office hours are 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, though there will be some variations based on member and MRA assignments, projects, responsibilities, and department expectations.

What You'll Do

• Partner with members to assess compensation needs and provide guidance on compensation strategy, program design, and market competitiveness.
• Conduct market pricing analyses utilizing salary survey sources and compensation databases to evaluate external competitiveness and internal equity.
• Perform job evaluations and position analyses to determine appropriate classification, exemption status, career levels, and compensation recommendations.
• Design, develop, and support salary structures, compensation frameworks, pay practices, and incentive compensation programs.
• Facilitate compensation-related discussions and recommendations with organizational leaders and stakeholders.
• Analyze compensation data and prepare reports, presentations, recommendations, and project deliverables for members.
• Support the development and implementation of compensation philosophies, compensation plans, salary administration programs, and total rewards strategies.
• Research compensation trends, labor market developments, and regulatory changes impacting compensation practices.
• Educate members on compensation best practices, compliance requirements, and emerging trends within the compensation field.
• Develop and deliver compensation-related presentations, training programs, workshops, and educational materials.
• Ensure compensation recommendations align with applicable federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
• Manage multiple compensation projects simultaneously while maintaining quality, timelines, budgets, and member expectations.
• Build and maintain strong member relationships through exceptional customer service, responsiveness, and compensation expertise.
• Collaborate with internal teams to support member engagement, compensation initiatives, and business development efforts.
• Assist with compensation survey design, implementation, data validation, analysis, and reporting.
• Identify opportunities to improve departmental processes, workflows, tools, and operational efficiencies.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Organizational Development, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Four or more years of progressive experience in compensation, total rewards, human resources, or a related field.
• Experience conducting market pricing, benchmarking, compensation analysis, and job evaluation activities.
• Knowledge of compensation program design, salary structures, incentive plans, and pay administration practices.
• Understanding of federal and state wage and hour laws and employment regulations.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and develop meaningful recommendations.
• Excellent verbal, written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
• Experience working with HRIS systems, compensation tools, or compensation survey platforms.
• Strong relationship-building and customer service skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with internal and external stakeholders.

Preferred

• Five or more years of progressive compensation or total rewards experience.
• Certified Compensation Professional (CCP), PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP certification.
• Experience designing salary structures, pay ranges, incentive compensation programs, and compensation strategies.
• Experience supporting multiple organizations or industries.
• Experience working with manufacturing, sales, nonprofit, public sector, education, or professional services organizations.
• Experience utilizing compensation survey platforms, CRM systems, and workforce analytics tools.
• Experience developing and delivering compensation training programs, workshops, and presentations.
• Advanced knowledge of compensation regulations, compliance requirements, and industry best practices.

Why MRA

MRA has built a reputation for delivering high-quality, member-first HR services to more than 5,000 member companies across the United States. As part of our Compensation team, you'll have the opportunity to apply your expertise across a variety of organizations and industries while helping members develop competitive and effective compensation programs.

If you're an experienced compensation professional who enjoys solving complex challenges, values strong member relationships, and is looking for flexible, meaningful project-based work, we'd love to connect with you.