Compensation Specialist

Wayne State UniversityDetroit, MI
$60,000 - $70,000Hybrid

About The Position

Wayne State University is searching for an experienced Compensation Specialist at its Detroit campus location. Wayne State is a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan where students from all backgrounds are offered a rich, high-quality education. Our deep-rooted commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, diversity and inclusion creates exceptional educational opportunities which prepare students for success in a global society. The Compensation Specialist will assist in the development, administration, analysis, and maintenance of compensation programs that support organizational goals, promote internal equity, and ensure market competitiveness. This position supports compensation studies, job evaluations, salary analyses, and classification reviews while ensuring compliance with applicable federal, state, and organizational policies. The Compensation Specialist partners with leadership, Human Resources, and department managers to provide guidance on compensation practices, position management, and workforce planning initiatives. This position reports to the Senior Director, Total Rewards.

Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in business administration, human resources, or related field. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted.
  • 1-2 years of relevant compensation work or internship experience. Work experience in Human Resources may be considered in lieu of compensation experience. Additional HR or analysis experience with relevant compensation exposure may be considered.
  • Knowledge of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Equal Pay Act, and related employment regulations preferred.
  • Ability to articulate core areas of compensation administration, knowledge of laws and regulations at a level consistent with 1 to 2 years of compensation and/or HR experience in a medium to large organization.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a focus on interpreting information into sound recommendations.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage successful completion of moderately complex compensation projects.
  • Effective communication and relationship management skills, with the ability to prioritize assignments.
  • Proficiency in using MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Visio with the ability to create dynamic tools and models to interpret and analyze. Advanced knowledge a plus.

Nice To Haves

  • Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) certification preferred.
  • HR generalist experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

  • Supports the survey resources, completes compensation surveys, manages survey schedules, and contacts. Research and propose new survey resources.
  • Provides compensation metrics, reports, and tools to inform compensation program decisions.
  • Ensures compensation practices comply with federal, state, and local laws, and helps communicate pay policies to staff.
  • Research emerging compensation trends, best practices, and legislative changes affecting compensation administration.
  • Conduct job analyses and evaluations to determine appropriate job classifications, salary grades, and Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) status.
  • Review and evaluate position descriptions to ensure consistency, accuracy, and alignment with organizational standards.
  • Consults with compensation team on the appropriate classification of positions, determination of compensation level, FLSA status and salary ranges, etc.
  • Maintains compensation systems, tables and databases.
  • Provides research and assists in the application and interpretation of human resources policies, legal and union contract compliance and market data.
  • Maintain confidentiality of sensitive employee, organizational, and compensation information.
  • Assist in the administration of the annual pay programs.
  • Provides analytical support for ad hoc research and compensation initiatives.
  • Perform other duties as required.
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