Strategic Total Rewards & Compensation Lead

Essential Utilities; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Essential Utilities, Inc. is seeking a Lead Total Rewards Analyst to join the HR team.

The role focuses on compensation strategy, analysis, and program administration, with opportunities to expand into health & welfare benefits, retirement plan administration, and advanced HR analytics. Collaboration with HR Business Partners, Finance, and leaders ensures Total Rewards programs remain competitive, equitable, and compliant.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, HR, Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field.
• 5–7+ years of experience in benefits with significant, hands‑on compensation experience.
• HR Certification Preferred
• Strong analytical, quantitative, and critical‑thinking skills.
• High attention to detail with the ability to manage confidential and sensitive information.
• Effective communicator who can explain complex compensation concepts to non‑HR audiences.
• Comfortable working both independently and collaboratively within a small, high‑impact HR team.
• Interest in expanding subject‑matter expertise in benefits and broader Total Rewards.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, evaluation, and administration of base pay, incentive, and other compensation programs.
• Conduct market pricing analyses, develop salary recommendations, and maintain internal job evaluation methodology.
• Support the annual merit, bonus, and compensation planning cycles; manage systems, data, analytics, and leader support.
• Maintain and update salary structures, pay grades, and job architecture.
• Provide compensation consultation to HRBPs and leaders to ensure internal equity and pay transparency.
• Support compensation governance, audits, reporting, and compliance.
• Assist with benefits administration activities, including health & welfare, retirement plans, vendor coordination, and compliance tasks.
• Support the development of benefits communications and employee education tools.
• Contribute to Total Rewards projects such as plan reviews, program evaluations, and benchmarking.
• Produce insights through compensation and benefits analytics, dashboards, and reporting.
• Utilize data to support decision‑making, identify trends, and drive Total Rewards strategy.
• Partner with HRIS and Finance teams to ensure accurate and consistent data management.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business/HR/Finance

Tools

HRIS

Job description

Essential Utilities, Inc. is seeking a Lead Total Rewards Analyst to join the HR team.

The role focuses on compensation strategy, analysis, and program administration, with opportunities to expand into health & welfare benefits, retirement plan administration, and advanced HR analytics. Collaboration with HR Business Partners, Finance, and leaders ensures Total Rewards programs remain competitive, equitable, and compliant.