Total Rewards & Compensation Analyst

City of Meridian; Meridian (ID); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Meridian seeks a Total Rewards & Compensation Analyst to lead the administration and evaluation of compensation, classification, and total rewards programs. You will perform advanced analysis to support equity, market competitiveness, and compliance with laws, serving as a technical resource to the HR Director.

You will develop reports in HRIS (Workday) and Excel, benchmark against public sector data, prepare presentations for leadership and City Council, and support benefit plan

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor's degree in related field.
• Five years of compensation analysis experience.
• Three years in benefit plan administration.
• Public sector experience preferred.
• Knowledge of compensation theory, job evaluation, and pay structures.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills.

Responsibilities

• Provides reports, analysis, and recommendations to leadership in compensation and total rewards.
• Maintains accuracy of compensation data within HRIS systems (Workday).
• Supports market benchmarking using salary surveys and public sector data.
• Prepares presentations for executive leadership and City Council.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Quantitative analysis

Discretion and judgment

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/Business/Public Administration/Finance

Tools

Excel

Workday

Job description

Job Summary:

The Total Rewards & Compensation Analyst supports the administration and evaluation of the City of Meridian’s compensation, classification, and total rewards programs. This position performs advanced analytical work to support internal equity, market competitiveness, fiscal responsibility, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

The position serves as a technical resource on compensation and classification matters and provides data-driven analysis and recommendations to the Human Resources Director. The role also provides limited analytical support related to employee benefit programs through review of vendor-provided data and reporting.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Provides reports, analysis, and recommendations to the Human Resources Director, Compensation Team, and leadership;

Provides exceptional customer service when responding to internal and external customers;

Keeps the Human Resources Director informed of work progress, issues, and recommendations;

Supports HR projects and initiatives related to compensation, classification, and total rewards;

Performs other duties as assigned

Compensation & Classification Focus

• Supports the administration and maintenance of the City’s compensation and classification programs, including salary structures, step plans, and job classifications, and provides related recommendations;

• Conducts job evaluations and classification reviews to support appropriate classification and alignment with assigned duties;

• Maintains and updates job descriptions and classification documentation;

• Monitors internal equity, pay compression, and compensation trends and provides recommendations for leadership consideration;

• Performs market benchmarking using salary surveys and comparable public sector data;

• Evaluates the effectiveness of compensation structures and provides recommendations based on market trends, internal equity, and organizational needs;

• Reviews Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) exemption status and provides recommendations consistent with federal and state law;

Total Rewards & Benefits Analysis

• Supports the evaluation of employee benefit programs through analysis of vendor-provided reports and data;

• Reviews benefit utilization and cost trend information to support program evaluation and planning;

• Assists with benefits-related analysis during renewal and planning processes;

• Provides analytical support to leadership to inform total rewards decisions;

• Supports City's benefit plans and employees to include QLE's, Open Enrollment, New Hires, etc.

Strategic & Labor Support

• Prepares compensation and benefits data to support collective bargaining and labor agreement analysis;

• Develops cost projections and scenario modeling related to compensation adjustments and labor proposals;

• Supports workforce planning initiatives through compensation and workforce analytics

Data, Reporting & Systems

• Develops and maintains reports and analytical tools to monitor workforce trends, compensation metrics, and HR data;

• Ensures accuracy and integrity of compensation data within HRIS systems, including Workday;

• Collaborates with Finance and Payroll to validate workforce and compensation data;

• Prepares reports and presentations for executive leadership, the Compensation Team, and City Council;

Organizational Support

• Provides technical guidance to Human Resources staff and department leadership regarding compensation, classification and benefits matters;

• Supports the Human Resources Director and Compensation Team in evaluating compensation policies, pay structures, and total rewards strategies;

• Supports the Benefits Committee and City of Meridian Employee Benefit Plan Trust;

Job Specifications:

• Requires a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, or a related field; Equivalent combinations of education and directly related experience may be considered;

• Requires five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in compensation analysis, classification, or total rewards administration;

• Requires three (3) years experience in benefit plan administration;

• Public sector experience preferred;

• Equivalent combinations of education and directly related experience may be considered;

• Knowledge of compensation theory, job evaluation methodologies, and public sector pay structures;

• Knowledge of federal and state employment laws and regulations, including FLSA;

• Strong analytical and quantitative skills with the ability to interpret complex data;

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, and HRIS reporting tools;

• Ability to prepare clear reports and presentations for leadership;

• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment.