HR Team Lead - Total Compensation

The City of Red Deer•Red Deer, AB

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The City of Red Deer is currently recruiting for an HR Team Lead – Total Compensation to fill a permanent full-time position. The Total Compensation Team Lead is responsible for leading and delivering comprehensive compensation and benefits services within a municipal, unionized environment. This role ensures that compensation programs support the Municipality’s strategic priorities while maintaining internal equity, external competitiveness, fiscal accountability, and compliance with collective agreements and legislation. The Team Lead provides expert advice on job evaluation, pay structures, benefits, pensions, and compensation governance. The role works closely with Labour Relations, Payroll, Finance, and departmental leadership, and plays a key support role in collective bargaining and broader public‑sector accountability requirements.

Requirements

University degree in Human Resources or a related field
Minimum 7–10 years progressive experience in compensation or total rewards
Demonstrated experience in a municipal or broader public sector unionized environment
Experience supporting collective bargaining and job evaluation programs
Proven people‑leadership or team‑lead experience
Excellent written and oral skills
Demonstrated commitment to the RISE values held by The City of Red Deer
In‑depth knowledge of compensation principles in a municipal or public‑sector context
Strong understanding of collective agreements and labour relations practices
Advanced analytical, costing, and reporting skills
Ability to navigate complex governance, policy, and political environments
Strong communication and relationship‑building skills with diverse stakeholders
High level of discretion, professionalism, and commitment to equity and fairness

Nice To Haves

Professional designation such as CPHR/CHRL, CCP, or equivalent is strongly preferred

Responsibilities

Lead, supervise, and develop the Total Compensation team to deliver accurate, consistent, and timely services while meeting service levels, quality standards, and client expectations.
Assign work, set priorities, balance workloads, and adjust timelines to respond to operational demands, risks, and changing business needs.
Lead municipal job evaluation and classification programs using approved methodologies; ensure internal equity, consistency, defensibility, and compliance across departments and bargaining units.
Conduct and oversee market surveys, benchmarking, and labour market adjustments to support competitive, equitable, and Council‑approved compensation structures.
Oversee benefit and pension administration and ensure accurate interpretation, implementation, and integration of negotiated and legislated changes in collaboration with Payroll and Finance.
Act as a subject‑matter expert, providing guidance and recommendations on complex compensation, classification, benefit, pension, and payroll issues to HR leadership, management, and labour relations.
Interpret and apply municipal bylaws, Council directives, collective agreements, and applicable legislation while maintaining transparency, equity, and public‑sector accountability.
Oversee compensation data integrity, forecasting, variance analysis, and scenario modeling to support corporate Salary and Benefits Pools, departmental budgets, bargaining, and long‑term planning.
Provide analysis and recommendations to support the HR Department business plan, operating budgets, and assigned program budgets, ensuring fiscal control and sustainability.
Lead special projects, process improvements, system enhancements, and service integration initiatives to improve efficiency, mitigate risk, and enhance employee and organizational outcomes.