Compensation Lead

StartupNWA; Fayetteville, Northern (AR, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Arkansas Fayetteville seeks a Compensation Lead to lead the compensation team and provide subject matter expertise in compensation. You will guide complex transactions, benchmarking, and market analyses, ensuring adherence to policies and regulatory requirements.

You will coordinate annual surveys, salary administration, and recommendations on competitiveness and internal equity, while mentoring analysts and supporting HR initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, finance, or a related field
• At least three years of progressively responsible professional experience in a compensation role
• CCP or other compensation certification (preferred)
• Higher education or public-sector HR experience (preferred)
• Experience with Workday and Payfactors (preferred)

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and day-to-day supervision for compensation functions
• Serve as SME for compensation and ensure alignment with guidelines
• Conduct workforce and market analyses and ensure policy compliance
• Lead benchmarking, annual surveys, and reporting requirements
• Support special projects and mentor compensation analysts
• Maintain strong attendace and collaborative relationships across teams

Skills

Compensation analysis

Salary administration

Market pricing

Internal equity

Staff supervision

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR/Business/Finance

CCP certification (preferred)

Tools

Workday

Payfactors

Power BI

Excel

Job description

Current University of Arkansas System employees, including student employees and graduate assistants, need to log in to Workday via MyApps.Microsoft.com, then access Find Jobs from the Workday search bar to view and apply for open positions.

Students at all University of Arkansas institutions will view open positions and apply within Workday by searching for “Find Jobs for Students”.

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville students will view open positions and apply within Workday by searching for “Find Student Jobs at UAF”.

All Job Postings will close at 12:01 a.m. CT on the specified Closing Date (if designated).

If you close the browser or exit your application prior to submitting, the application process will be saved as a draft. You will be able to access and complete the application through “My Draft Applications” located on your Candidate Home page.

Closing Date: 10/16/2026

Type of Position:

Workstudy Position: No

Job Type:

Regular

Sponsorship Available:

No

Institution Name:

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas is a land grant institution, classified by the Carnegie Foundation among the nation’s top 2 percent of universities with the highest level of research activity. The University of Arkansas works to advance the state and build a better world through education, research, and outreach by providing transformational opportunities and skills, fostering a welcoming climate, and nurturing creativity, discovery, and the spread of new ideas and innovations.

The University of Arkansas campus is located in Fayetteville, a welcoming community ranked as one of the best places to live in the U.S. The growing region surrounding Fayetteville is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies and one of the nation’s strongest economies. Northwest Arkansas is also quickly gaining a national reputation for its focus on the arts and overall quality of life.

As an employer, the University of Arkansas offers a vibrant work environment and a workplace culture that promotes a healthy work-life balance. The benefits package includes university contributions to health, dental, life and disability insurance, tuition waivers for employees and their families, 12 official holidays, immediate leave accrual, and a choice of retirement programs with university contributions ranging from 5 to 10% of employee salary.

Below you will find the details for the position including any supplementary documentation and questions, you should review before applying for the opening.

If you have a disability and need assistance with the hiring process, please submit a request via the Disability Accommodations | OEOC | University of Arkansas (uark.edu) : Request an Accommodation. Applicants are required to submit a request for each position of which they have applied.

For general application assistance or if you have questions about a job posting, please contact Human Resources at 479.575.5351.

Department:

Compensation

Department's Website: hr.uark.edu

Summary of Job Duties:

The University of Arkansas Fayetteville is seeking a Compensation Lead to join the Human Resources team. The Compensation Lead provides leadership and day-to-day supervision for the University’s compensation functions. This position serves as a subject matter expert for compensation and provides guidance and expertise for the University. The Compensation Lead oversees complex compensation requests and initiatives, supports colleges and departments, and helps ensure compensation practices are applied consistently and aligned with established guidelines. This position also conducts workforce and market analyses and ensures consistent application of University policies and applicable regulatory requirements.

The Compensation Lead reviews and approves complex classification and compensation transactions, employment offers, salary adjustments, and other compensation actions. This position leads compensation benchmarking and workforce analytics, coordinates annual compensation surveys and reporting requirements, and provides recommendations related to market competitiveness, internal equity, salary administration, and classification matters. In addition to providing day-to-day compensation expertise, the Compensation Lead contributes to special projects that support the goals of the Division of Human Resources and the University and leads compensation analysts in supporting the work of the assigned area.

Regular, reliable, and non-disruptive attendance is an essential job duty, and the ability to create and maintain collegial, harmonious working relationships with others.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, finance, or a related field
• At least three years of progressively responsible professional experience in a compensation role

Preferred Qualifications:

• At least five years of experience in a compensation role
• CCP (Certified Compensation Professional) or other compensation certification
• Higher education or public-sector Human Resources experience
• Experience working with Workday and Payfactors

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Knowledge of compensation analysis, salary administration, market pricing, benchmarking, and internal equity principles
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local legislation applicable to compensation and HR practices
• Ability to supervise, develop, train, and provide direction to professional staff
• Ability to analyze compensation, workforce, and market data and prepare reports and recommendations
• Ability to communicate with a diverse group of employees, managers, Human Resources professionals, and University leadership
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, projects, and recurring annual processes while meeting established deadlines
• Ability to work in a technological environment demonstrating proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Work, Outlook, PowerPoint, Power BI)

Additional Information:

Salary Information: Commensurate with education and experience

Required Documents to Apply: Cover Letter/Letter of Application, List of three Professional References (name, email, business title), Resume

Optional Documents: Proof of Veteran Status

Recruitment Contact Information: Crystal Ellis, Strategic Talent Acquisition Specialist, [e-mail]

All application materials must be uploaded to the University of Arkansas System Career Site https://uasys.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/UASYS

Please do not send to listed recruitment contact.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Pre-employment Screening Requirements: Criminal Background Check, Sex Offender Registry

The University of Arkansas is committed to providing a safe campus community. We conduct background checks for applicants being considered for employment. Background checks include a criminal background check and a sex offender registry check. For certain positions, there may also be a financial (credit) background check, a Motor Vehicle Registry (MVR) check, and/or drug screening. Required checks are identified in the position listing. A criminal conviction or arrest pending adjudication or adverse financial history information alone shall not disqualify an applicant in the absence of a relationship to the requirements of the position. Background check information will be used in a confidential, non-discriminatory manner consistent with state and federal law.

The University of Arkansas seeks to attract, develop and retain high quality faculty, staff and administrators that consistently display practices and behaviors to advance a culture that embeds equal opportunity, educational excellence and unparalleled access for all.

The University of Arkansas is an equal opportunity institution. The University does not discriminate in its education programs or activities (including in admission and employment) on the basis of any category or status protected by law, including age, race, color, national origin, disability, religion, protected veteran status, military service, genetic information, sex, sexual preference, or pregnancy. Questions or concerns about the application of Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, may be sent to the University’s Title IX Coordinator and to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.

Persons must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment.

All Application information is subject to public disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.

Constant Physical Activity:

Talking

Frequent Physical Activity:

N/A

Occasional Physical Activity:

N/A

Benefits Eligible:

Yes