Strategic Classification & Compensation Partner

Central Washington University; Ellensburg (WA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 92,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Life and disability insurance

Retirement and savings plans

Tuition assistance

Discounts across town

Employee assistance program

Wellness incentive program

Job summary

Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA seeks a Classification & Compensation Specialist to join the Human Resources team on campus. This role analyzes jobs, places salary, and ensures equitable, compliant compensation practices across the university.

You will advise leaders, develop descriptions, benchmark against market data, and support recruitment, retention, and workforce planning with data-driven decisions.

Qualifications

• Three years of experience in Human Resources with one year of experience in classification and compensation.
• Experience applying employment-related HR laws and rules.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Organizational and time-management skills which allow the incumbent to prioritize conflicting and demanding deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability and/or experience working collaboratively with students and/or colleagues to foster a supportive and effective learning and work environment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic consultant and advisor to executive leadership, supervisors, and HR colleagues on classification, compensation, organizational design, workforce planning, and position management matters.
• Provide guidance, consultation, and technical expertise to campus stakeholders and HR colleagues regarding position design, allocation decisions, classification structures, compensation administration, and related employment practices.
• Conduct comprehensive job analyses to evaluate positions and determine appropriate classification, salary placement, exemption status, and organizational alignment in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and collective bargaining agreements.
• Review and assess classification and compensation requests, including new positions, position reallocations, organizational changes, and salary actions; provide recommendations and communicate outcomes to campus stakeholders.
• Conduct market pricing, benchmarking, salary surveys, compensation studies, and internal equity analyses to identify compensation trends, evaluate salary competitiveness, recommend salary range adjustments, and support compensation program administration.
• Develop, update, and maintain employee position descriptions, classification specifications, salary structures, and related documentation.
• Monitor and promote internal equity and consistency in compensation and classification decisions across departments while supporting recruitment, retention, and workforce planning objectives.
• Interpret and apply university policies, classification and compensation procedures, state and federal regulations, collective bargaining agreements, RCWs, WACs, and other governing requirements; provide clear guidance and training to stakeholders.
• Prepare reports, analyses, recommendations, and presentations related to classification and compensation matters to support decision-making by university leadership.

Skills

HR laws & rules

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Team collaboration

Time management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources

Tools

PeopleSoft HRIS

Job description

Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA seeks a Classification & Compensation Specialist to join the Human Resources team on campus. This role analyzes jobs, places salary, and ensures equitable, compliant compensation practices across the university.

You will advise leaders, develop descriptions, benchmark against market data, and support recruitment, retention, and workforce planning with data-driven decisions.