Senior Compensation & Benefits Analyst, Human Resources

Wake Forest University Pre-College Programs; United States; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Wake Forest University is seeking a Senior Compensation & Benefits Analyst to support the Executive Director in designing, administering and analyzing compensation programs. This role conducts market research, benchmarking, and financial modeling to ensure pay and benefits practices are competitive, equitable, aligned with institutional goals, and compliant with applicable laws and governance standards.

The position partners with Human Resources leadership, Legal Counsel, Finance, and external

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 7+ years of progressive experience in compensation management, financial analysis or human resources.
• Knowledge of federal regulations regarding employment.
• Proven ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive HR information.
• Ability to analyze complex information and report data for executive audiences.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and time management skills.

Responsibilities

• Total Rewards Reporting and Data Management: analyze compensation and benefits data; develop reports and dashboards; ensure data integrity.
• Total Rewards Program Administration: support employment agreements, compensation adjustments, and benefits; manage incentive programs.
• Executive Compensation Analysis: conduct market analyses and benchmark executive compensation; prepare recommendations for senior leadership.
• Total Rewards Strategic & Project Management Support: research trends and support workforce planning efforts.
• Governance and Compliance: monitor compliance with federal/state requirements affecting compensation and benefits.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Multitasking

Project management

Decision making

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Workday

Microsoft Excel

HRIS

Job description

Job Description Summary

The Senior Compensation & Benefits Analyst is responsible for supporting the Executive Director in the design, administration and analysis of compensation programs. This position also provides the Compensation and Benefits teams with strategic analytical and project support. This position conducts market research, compensation benchmarking, and financial modeling to ensure pay and benefits practices are competitive, equitable, aligned with institutional goals, and compliant with applicable laws and governance standards. The role partners closely with Human Resources leadership, Legal Counsel, Finance, and External Consultants.

Time Type Requirement Full time

Job Description Essential Functions:

Total Rewards Reporting and Data Management (25%)

• Collect, analyze, and interpret compensation, benefits and workforce data from internal and external sources.
• Develop reports, dashboards, and presentations for compensation and benefits.
• Ensure the accuracy, integrity, and confidentiality of compensation and benefits data.
• Participate in annual compensation planning, budgeting, and forecasting activities.

Total Rewards Program Administration (25%)

• Support the administration of employment agreements, compensation adjustments, retention programs, and benefits.
• Manage and develop short and long term incentive programs.
• Coordinate compensation-related activities with HR, Payroll, Finance, and external consultants.
• Assist in the evaluation and implementation of compensation policies and programs.
• Identify opportunities to improve compensation and benefits processes and reporting methodologies.

Executive Compensation Analysis (20%)

• In partnership with the Executive Director, conduct comprehensive market analyses and benchmark executive compensation against peer institutions, higher education associations, and relevant labor markets.
• Manage executive compensation timelines, calendars and transactions.
• Assist Executive Director in evaluating compensation program elements to include base salary, incentive compensation, deferred compensation, supplemental retirement plans, and executive benefits programs.
• Prepare compensation recommendations and supporting analyses for senior leadership review.
• Develop compensation models and scenario analyses to support strategic decision-making.
• Assist in evaluating and monitoring performance of the external consulting partner.

Total Rewards Strategic & Project Management Support (15%)

• Research emerging trends in compensation and benefits.
• Provide analytical support for a variety of organizational needs and projects.
• Contribute to compensation philosophy development and long-term workforce planning efforts.
• Provide functional area project management support for total rewards initiatives.

Governance and Compliance (15%)

• Monitor compliance with federal, state, and regulatory requirements affecting executive compensation and benefits, including IRS regulations applicable to nonprofit organizations and higher education institutions.
• Support annual executive compensation reviews and documentation processes.
• Assist in preparing materials for a variety of compensation and benefit-related meetings.
• Maintain records and documentation supporting compensation decisions and governance requirements.

Required Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Bachelor's degree and 7+ years of progressive experience in compensation management, financial analysis or human resources.
• Knowledge and understanding of federal regulations regarding employment.
• Proven ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive HR information.
• Ability to analyze complex information, and to define and solve problems; properly collect, analyze, and report data for executive audiences
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate in a courteous and professional manner.
• High degree of attention to detail.
• Efficient and effective decision maker.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (i.e., Word and Excel), HRIS, internet research, and other relevant software.
• Ability to present and display professional demeanor at all times.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and time management skills.
• Ability to organize workflow and coordinate activities.
• Ability to maintain effective customer relations.
• Ability to multitask and prioritize daily assignments and activities with minimal direction.
• Strong critical thinking skills, decisive judgment, and the ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to interpret and advise on the application of governmental and University policies and procedures.
• Ability to work effectively with a broad range of constituencies in a diverse and inclusive community.

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Experience in a higher education environment is preferred.
• Experience analyzing base compensation data, performing market analysis, and related research.
• Prior experience using Workday.

Accountabilities

Responsible for own work.

Physical Requirements

• Sedentary work.
• Talking, hearing, and repetitive motions.
• Ability to lift up to 20 pounds.
• Close visual acuity.

Environmental Conditions

• Subject to inside environmental conditions.
• Not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified candidates to apply without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, disability and military or veteran status.

Accommodations for Applicants

If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact [e-mail] or [phone].

About WFU

Wake Forest University, formed in 1834, has experienced decades of growth and innovation. WFU is a distinctive university that combines a liberal arts core with graduate and professional schools and innovative research programs. The University embraces the teacher-scholar ideal, which prizes the personal interaction between students and faculty. It is a place where exceptional teaching, fundamental research and discovery, and the engagement of faculty and students in the classroom and the laboratory are paramount. Wake Forest University is a community that seeks the enlightenment and freedom which come through diligent study and learning. Its higher goal, however, is to give life to the University motto "Pro Humanitate," as members translate a passion for knowledge into compassionate service.

The community shares a tradition that embraces freedom and integrity and acknowledges the worth of the individual. The heritage, established by the school’s founders and nurtured by succeeding generations, promotes a democratic spirit arising from open-mindness and discourse. Wake Forest fosters compassion and caring for others. Its collective strength and character are derived from the values and distinctive experiences of each individual; therefore, it affirms the richness of human intellect and culture and its contribution to knowledge, faith, reason, and dialogue. Furthermore, it strives toward a society in which good will, respect, and equality prevail. To that end, Wake Forest University rejects hatred and bigotry in any form and promotes justice, honor, and mutual trust. The University is comprised of: the undergraduate college, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, School of Divinity, School of Law, and School of Medicine (located on the Bowman Gray campus with Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center) and today enrolls about 4,846 undergraduates and 2,823 students in graduate programs at its principal location, the Reynolda campus. Students at Wake Forest University enjoy a great deal of access to and interaction with world‑class faculty both in and out of the classroom setting with a student‑faculty ratio of 11:1. Wake Forest employs approximately 2,772 full and part‑time faculty and staff. Wake Forest is a collegiate university offering a vibrant, intellectual community with a rich cultural life, an impressive array of facilities, and a strong athletics program competing in the fifteen‑team Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Since its founding, the university has adopted the motto “pro humanitate,” which is exemplified by a deep institutional commitment to public service and engagement with the world. Wake Forest has a strong commitment to holistic, eight‑dimensional well‑being for students, faculty and staff as evidenced in the Thrive initiative.

Location

Winston‑Salem, North Carolina

Wake Forest is located in Winston‑Salem, North Carolina, a beautiful, mid‑sized city centrally located in the Piedmont‑Triad region of North Carolina. Winston‑Salem is a family‑friendly city with high quality schools, numerous outdoor recreational activities and events, and is known for its vibrant and thriving arts scene. Winston‑Salem residents enjoy close proximity to the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains (1.5 hours) and Atlantic beaches (4 hours), a moderate climate with four distinct seasons, a very reasonable cost of living, and an eclectic variety of restaurants, wine bars, and breweries for dining with friends and family. Winston‑Salem offers many of the amenities of a large city but with the sense of community and quality of life of a smaller town.