Strategic Compensation Leader (Interim, Hybrid)

The Recruitment Alliance by HRKS; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

HR Knowledge Source has been retained by a confidential higher education institution in the Washington, DC region to identify an experienced Total Rewards leader for a critical interim consulting engagement. The Director will lead a team that primarily supports staff, collaborating with other departments to meet compensation objectives.

The engagement requires expertise in salary structures, market pricing, merit planning, and executive compensation analysis, with a strong focus on regulatory

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR, business, finance or related field required.
• 8+ years of progressive compensation leadership experience or equivalent.
• Experience with Workday and advanced compensation preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of the compensation function and team.
• Lead a compensation team of 3 Analysts.
• Manage compensation consulting for executive leadership and department leaders.
• Design, administer, and evaluate compensation programs supporting recruitment and retention.
• Lead annual compensation initiatives including merit and market adjustments.
• Establish salary structures, job analyses, and market pricing methods.
• Conduct executive compensation benchmarking and higher education market analysis.
• Collaborate with HR, Finance, IT, and business leaders to administer programs.
• Advise on job architecture, workforce planning, and reorganizations.
• Ensure compliance with federal/state/local compensation laws.
• Develop and deliver compensation training for leaders and HR partners.
• Support labor relations and union negotiations when applicable.

Skills

Executive leadership

Excel

Financial analysis

Budgeting

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Workday

Payscale/MarketPay

JDXpert

Job description

HR Knowledge Source has been retained by a confidential higher education institution in the Washington, DC region to identify an experienced Total Rewards leader for a critical interim consulting engagement. The Director will lead a team that primarily supports staff, collaborating with other departments to meet compensation objectives.

The engagement requires expertise in salary structures, market pricing, merit planning, and executive compensation analysis, with a strong focus on regulatory