Compensation Director

MRA-The Management Association; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Part time

Job summary

MRA-The Management Association in Cincinnati, OH seeks an experienced Compensation Director to lead strategic compensation initiatives for member organizations.

You will advise on salary structures, market pricing, benchmarking, and total rewards programs, while managing high‑impact projects and delivering training.

This on‑demand, non‑full‑time role offers flexible assignments aligned with member needs, while our office hours run 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent military experience.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in compensation, human resources, leadership, or related fields.
• Strong expertise in compensation program design, salary administration, market pricing, benchmarking, and salary structures.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and member relationships simultaneously.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret compensation data and provide actionable business recommendations.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills with the ability to work effectively with organizational leaders and key stakeholders.
• Experience delivering training, facilitating discussions, and presenting complex information to diverse audiences.
• Strong business acumen and experience with compensation programs, including salary structures, job evaluations, and incentive design.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-level consultative guidance on compensation programs, salary structures, market pricing, and benefits benchmarking to members.
• Collaborate with senior stakeholders to develop customized compensation solutions that align with business needs and market trends.
• Lead and manage compensation‑related projects, ensuring timely delivery of key initiatives.
• Oversee project planning, resource allocation, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver high-quality outputs.
• Cultivate strong, long-term relationships with MRA members, serving as a trusted advisor on compensation matters.
• Demonstrate strong analytical skills to interpret complex compensation data and provide actionable insights.

Skills

Compensation design

Salary administration

Market pricing

Benchmarking

Project management

Analytical skills

Communication

Stakeholder management

Training delivery

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent military experience

Tools

Salesforce

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 Director 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 Director is a strategic advisor, providing expert consulting, analysis, and best practice recommendations to MRA members and prospective members on total rewards strategies and compensation programs. This role ensures alignment between members' human resources objectives and broader business goals to attract, retain, and motivate top talent.

Compensation Directors work directly with members on high-impact and often complex projects, requiring deep expertise in compensation theory, market practices, and regulatory considerations. In addition to client-facing responsibilities, the role may involve developing and delivering training sessions, as well as contributing to internal process improvements and operational efficiencies.

We are currently seeking to fill an On-Demand Compensation Director. 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 the 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

• Compensation Strategy & Advising: Provide high-level consultative guidance on compensation programs, salary structures, market pricing, and benefits benchmarking to members. Collaborate with senior stakeholders to develop customized compensation solutions that align with business needs and market trends.
• Project Management & Execution: Lead and manage compensation-related projects, ensuring the timely delivery of key initiatives. Oversee project planning, resource allocation, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver high-quality outputs, including compensation analyses, reports, and presentations.
• Member Relationship Management: Cultivate strong, long-term relationships with MRA members, serving as a trusted advisor on compensation-related matters. Provide exceptional customer service and ensure that compensation solutions are aligned with members' strategic objectives.
• Analytical & Data-Driven Decision Making: Demonstrate strong analytical skills to interpret complex compensation data, identify trends, and provide actionable insights. Use data to guide recommendations for competitive salary structures and compensation strategies.
• Deliverables Management: Oversee the preparation of compensation analyses, reports, presentations, and training materials for MRA members. Ensure that all deliverables meet the highest quality standards and effectively address member needs.
• Training & Development: Develop and deliver training on compensation best practices, salary structure development, and benefits benchmarking for MRA members. Build internal capabilities and knowledge sharing within the team and across the broader organization.
• Operational Efficiency & Process Improvement: Drive continuous improvement in compensation-related processes and internal operations. Work with internal Compensation Team Members and other stakeholders to identify inefficiencies and implement solutions that improve overall effectiveness and service delivery.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent military experience.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in compensation, human resources, leadership, or related fields.
• Strong expertise in compensation program design, salary administration, market pricing, benchmarking, and salary structures.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and member relationships simultaneously.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret compensation data and provide actionable business recommendations.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills with the ability to work effectively with organizational leaders and key stakeholders.
• Experience delivering training, facilitating discussions, and presenting complex information to diverse audiences.
• Strong business acumen and experience with compensation programs, including salary structures, job evaluations, and incentive design.

Preferred

• 10+ years of compensation and/or human resources experience.
• Certified Compensation Professional (CCP), PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, or related professional certification.
• Experience supporting organizations in industries such as manufacturing, sales, public sector, nonprofit, and/or education.
• Experience using Salesforce or other CRM platforms.
• Advanced proficiency with compensation analysis tools, software, and systems.
• Experience leading compensation-related process improvement initiatives and projects.

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.