People Operations: Compensation and Benefits Manager

Clay Lacy Aviation

8d • $143,700 - $160,000 • Onsite

About The Position

At Clay Lacy Aviation, we’ve built a legacy of excellence by combining innovation, safety, and exceptional service. We’re looking for people who share our passion for aviation and our commitment to doing the right thing. Here, curiosity and continuous learning are valued, and teamwork is essential. If you’re ready to contribute your skills in a supportive, high-performing environment where every detail matters, you’ll find opportunities to grow your career and be part of shaping the future of private aviation. Position Summary The Manager, Compensation and Benefits is responsible for the design, execution, and continuous improvement of Clay Lacy Aviation’s compensation and benefits programs. This role ensures that programs are competitive, equitable, compliant, and aligned with the company’s business strategy and growth objectives. This position serves as a key partner to leadership, Finance, and external vendors, including benefits brokers and compensation data providers, to deliver a best-in-class employee experience. The role requires both strategic capability and operational excellence, with a strong emphasis on data integrity, analytics, and process execution within Workday and related systems. Location: Van Nuys, CA Compensation: $143,700.00 - $160,000.00 In addition to competitive compensation, this role is eligible for a comprehensive Clay Lacy Aviation benefits package designed to support overall employee well-being.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field
• 5–8+ years of progressive experience in compensation and benefits
• Equivalent combination of education and experience is considered.
• Strong experience managing compensation cycles and benchmarking programs
• Demonstrated experience working with benefits brokers and administering open enrollment
• Advanced proficiency in compensation tools such as CompAnalyst or similar platforms
• Strong analytical and data interpretation skills
• Experience working in HRIS systems (Workday strongly preferred)
• Deep understanding of compensation principles, pay equity, and market pricing
• Knowledge of benefits regulations and compliance requirements

Nice To Haves

• CCP, CBP, PHR, SPHR, or SHRM-CP/SCP certification
• Experience in aviation, transportation, or multi-entity operational environments
• Experience supporting a distributed or hourly workforce population

Responsibilities

• Compensation Strategy and Administration Serve as the company’s compensation subject matter expert, advising senior leadership on pay decisions, market competitiveness, and alignment with Clay Lacy Aviation’s compensation philosophy
• Lead the design, execution, and continuous improvement of the annual compensation cycle, including merit increases, promotions, and discretionary bonus programs, ensuring alignment with performance, internal equity, and budget parameters
• Own and maintain the company’s job architecture, salary structures, and pay ranges, ensuring consistency, scalability, and alignment across all business units
• Conduct and oversee ongoing market benchmarking and compensation analysis using CompAnalyst, NBAA surveys, and other relevant data sources, ensuring roles are accurately priced and remain competitive
• Proactively evaluate and update benchmark data as roles evolve, organizational structures shift, and market conditions change
• Develop and deliver compensation modeling, analytics, and reporting to support strategic workforce planning, budgeting, and executive decision-making
• Partner closely with Finance to ensure compensation programs are aligned with financial goals, forecasts, and long-term sustainability
• Ensure internal equity and pay consistency, identifying and addressing gaps through data-driven analysis and recommendations
• Provide guidance and education to leaders and managers on compensation practices, pay decisions, and communication strategies
• Support executive and leadership compensation analysis, including scenario modeling and confidential reporting as needed
• Benefits Strategy and Administration Serve as the company’s subject matter expert and primary point of contact for all benefits-related matters, providing guidance and resolving complex employee and leadership inquiries with a high level of responsiveness and accuracy
• Own the strategic relationship with the company’s benefits broker, driving plan design, renewal strategy, cost management, and continuous program optimization
• Lead the end-to-end Open Enrollment process, including strategy, system configuration (Workday), vendor coordination, employee communications, and education to ensure a seamless and high-quality employee experience
• Oversee the full lifecycle of all benefits programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and voluntary benefits, ensuring competitiveness and alignment with company objectives
• Maintain full accountability for all benefits billing, including auditing, reconciliation, vendor invoice validation, and ensuring accuracy and timeliness of payments in partnership with Finance
• Ensure accuracy of eligibility, enrollments, and payroll deductions through strong partnership with Payroll and proactive system audits
• Monitor market trends, regulatory changes, and emerging best practices to proactively recommend enhancements and maintain a competitive total rewards offering
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including ACA requirements, nondiscrimination testing, and annual filings (e.g., 5500s)
• Drive continuous improvement in benefits administration processes, leveraging technology and vendor partnerships to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and employee experience
• Employee Experience and Wellness Design and execute the annual company Health Fair, including vendor coordination, logistics, and employee engagement strategy
• Oversee and enhance company-wide wellness programs, aligning initiatives with employee needs and organizational priorities
• Partner with the Experience team to integrate benefits and wellness offerings into broader employee engagement and culture strategies
• Systems, Data and Compliance Ensure integrity of compensation and benefits data within Workday, including audits, reporting, and troubleshooting
• Partner with internal stakeholders and external consultants to improve system efficiencies and reporting capabilities
• Develop dashboards and reporting to track compensation trends, benefits utilization, and program effectiveness
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations related to compensation and benefits, including California-specific requirements
• Support audits, filings, and regulatory reporting requirements
• Cross-Functional Partnership Collaborate closely with Finance on budgeting, forecasting, and benefits cost management
• Partner with People Operations Generalists and HRBPs to support employee inquiries, escalations, and education
• Support communication strategies that clearly articulate total rewards and reinforce the company’s employee value proposition

Benefits

• Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage; a 401(k) retirement plan; paid time off and paid holidays; loss of license insurance; pet insurance options; and additional wellness resources.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees