Director of Compensation

The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) seeks a Director of Compensation.  This position is responsible for creating a comprehensive compensation philosophy and strategy for the University of Illinois at Chicago designed to attract and retain top talent.  The Director will lead a group of compensation professionals in the development, implementation and maintenance of the compensation/classification functions for Academic Professional and Civil Service employees campus-wide.  The Director of Compensation provides direction, guidance, and interpretation of policies to the UIC community on all compensation related matters ensuring that programs are compliant with system-wide policies and procedures & collective bargaining agreements, internally equitable, externally competitive, and fiscally responsible.  The incumbent will work with a high degree of independence under the general direction of the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Human Resources.

About the University of Illinois at Chicago

UIC is among the nation’s preeminent urban public research universities, a Carnegie RU/VH research institution, and the largest university in Chicago. UIC serves over 33,000 students, comprising one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation and is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPSI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI).  Through its 16 colleges, UIC produces nationally and internationally recognized multidisciplinary academic programs in concert with civic, corporate and community partners worldwide, including a full complement of health sciences colleges. In fall 2019, UIC added its newest college Chicago’s John Marshall Law School becoming part of UIC. By emphasizing cutting-edge and transformational research along with a commitment to the success of all students, UIC embodies the dynamic, vibrant and engaged urban university. The university is in the midst of a $750 million campaign and recently released a campus master plan that will reimagine UIC’s campus.  Recent “Best Colleges” rankings published by U.S. News & World Report, found UIC climbed up in its rankings among top public schools in the nation and among all national universities. UIC has nearly 260,000 alumni, and is one of the largest employers in the city of Chicago.

Position Responsibilities:

• Establish strategic direction, set goals and manage projects for the compensation and classification unit.
• Provide leadership to a team of professionals conducting studies and projects relating to classification and compensation initiatives.
• Lead, oversee and perform classification/compensation studies and job analysis for individual, new, and existing positions campus wide.
• Recommend, update and implement compensation/classification policies.
• Coach, counsel and assist campus leadership in understanding compensation theory and practice, applying both theory and practice in recommending courses of action.
• Provide training to supervisors, managers and leadership.
• Design and develop tools to assist managers in making compensation related decisions.
• Collaborate with university staff to perform costing analysis of union and University economic proposals, develop funding models, implement wage rates, and assist with classification maintenance.
• Reviews business processes to identify and address opportunities for improvement.
• Anticipates future needs, challenges, and opportunities and collaborates with HR colleagues on long range planning.
• Assist in the development of collective bargaining strategies for compensation, performing job pricing, and making recommendations for appropriate course of action.
• Oversee, manage and evaluate classification requests.
• Identify and recommend improvements to program operations and policies regarding the University of Illinois-Chicago classification/compensation system.
• Provide oversight and leadership to the job analysis project team to ensure positions are appropriately classified as an Academic Professional or Civil Service employee and compensated based on the corresponding requirements.
• Drive consistent classification allocations across the University.
• Develop and maintain job families and corresponding pay structures updating as necessary.
• Ensure appropriate auditing measures are in place for long term, consistent use of positions, in compliance with Civil Service requirements.
• Consult with management on reorganizations, classification, and compensation matters.
• Research, identify and implement best in practice trends in public sector compensation and classification systems into the University of Illinois-Chicago classification program.
• Evaluate and modify existing compensation practices to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Assist, as needed, with the State Universities Civil Service System bi-annual audit preparations, data collection and compliance activities.
• Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.

Why Work at UIC?

UIC offers an exciting place to work.  Our excellent benefits package inclusive of health including vision coverage, dental and life insurance and participation in the State Universities Retirement System (SURS).  Benefits also include paid holidays, generous vacation and sick time, as well as many optional benefits. The salary range for this position is $110,000-$120,000.

For fullest consideration, please submit an online application that includes an uploaded cover letter and resume as well as the names and contact information of three references by April 21, 2021, via the university online application system.

The University of Illinois at Chicago is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer, dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and pluralistic faculty and staff committed to teaching and working in a multicultural environment.  We strongly encourage applications from women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and covered veterans.

The University of Illinois at Chicago may conduct background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer.  Background checks will be performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting.

The University of Illinois System requires candidates selected for hire to disclose any documented finding of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment and to authorize inquiries to current and former employers regarding findings of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment. For more information, visit https://www.hr.uillinois.edu/cms/One.aspx?portalId=4292&pageId=1411899.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, human resources, social sciences, public administration or related field; a Master’s degree is preferred.
• Seven plus years of supervisory/management experience including five years of significant professional compensation experience.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively using sound judgment and decision-making.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional in Human Resources (PHR) or Certified Compensation Professional (CCP)
• Excellent management and interpersonal skills, including tact, discretion, and high ethical standards in dealing with confidential information. Ability to work collaboratively with all levels of the organization, and to navigate through conflict effectively.
• Excellent communications including verbal, written, and presentation skills.
• Ability to effectively use standard office suite applications, specifically database application such as Excel.
• Thorough knowledge of mathematical and statistical principals and their applications relative to compensation analysis.
• Cultural competence to effectively interact with a diverse employee population.
• Demonstrated leadership and mentoring of staff.
• Experience with successfully navigating change in a complex organization.
• Commanding knowledge of FLSA and applicable guidelines covering overtime.