Compensation Associate, Human Resources

HarbourVest Partners•Boston, MA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

HarbourVest Partners is seeking a Compensation Associate to support the administration and continuous improvement of global compensation programs and the Firm's global job architecture. This role assists with compensation benchmarking, incentive plan administration, global pay practice compliance, annual compensation cycles, Workday-enabled compensation processes, and related analytics and reporting. The goal is to increase global process efficiencies and use compensation insights to support global business decisions and reward performance outcomes. The ideal candidate is diligent, analytical, a self-starter, adaptable, passionate about HR technology and data analytics, adept at managing multiple priorities, collaborative, and possesses strong interpersonal communication skills, with a drive for data integrity.

Requirements

Strong analytical, critical thinking, and mathematical skills
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including the ability to analyze large data sets using pivot tables, lookups, if-statements, formulas, charts, and graphs
Outstanding attention to detail with a zero-defect approach
Strong organizational and time management skills
Proven interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
Self-motivated with the ability to work independently and collaboratively
High degree of discretion, trustworthiness, and integrity
Ability to apply compensation insights to support business decisions and reward outcomes aligned with performance and firm priorities.
Experience with sensitive employee, compensation, or financial data
Interest in scalable reporting solutions and process improvement

Nice To Haves

Workday and Power BI experience ideal
Knowledge of compensation terms, standard calculations, foreign exchange currency conversion, and compensation-related laws and regulations (across the Americas, EMEA, and Asia Pacific preferred)
Bachelor of Arts (B.A) or Bachelor of Science (B.S) degree or comparable experience
2-4 Years of experience in a compensation, recruiting, finance and/or HR analytics role preferred (Associate level)

Responsibilities

Assist with all aspects of the compensation survey process, including matching routines and submissions with McLagan Partners/AON and ongoing configuration and maintenance within Workday.
Contribute to improvements in compensation analysis routines, including market assessment, pay equity reviews, and related reporting.
Identify opportunities to leverage HR technology, automation, and AI-enabled tools to improve compensation reporting, data validation, process efficiency, and scalability.
Support the planning, administration, and execution of annual compensation cycles, including salary review, bonus planning, and Workday Advanced Compensation processes.
Ensure accuracy and completeness of compensation data via auditing and adherence to data integrity standards.
Maintain and improve compensation data, structures, reporting, process administration, and related program documentation.
Assist with administration of long-term incentive programs, including participant and award data maintenance, calculations, reporting, and coordination with Finance, Legal, Payroll, and HR partners.
Partner with global HR and Finance teams to ensure consistent execution of compensation programs and data processes.
Partner with Recruiting, Finance and Managers to support market pricing, job offers, buyouts, and compensation analysis for new headcount requests throughout the year.
Monitor and ensure compliance with changing compensation-related laws and regulations across all jurisdictions.
Handle administration, centralized updates, and maintenance of the Job Family and Leveling framework—including job codes, job families, market benchmark alignment, and downstream Workday impacts—while ensuring its continued effectiveness as a foundational component of the firm’s HR infrastructure and Workday HCM platform.