Compensation Manager
Role Mission:
IDEA’s Compensation Manager is responsible for evaluating and maintaining IDEA's compensation functions. Under management and support of the Director of Compensation, the Compensation Manager collaborates with department and organizational leadership by leveraging expertise and knowledge of compensation best practices, and will ensure that our compensation approach is set to be fair, competitive, and support our goals to attract and retain IDEA Public Schools staff.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
Direct management of at least one individual contributor
Location:
This is a full-time remote position based in (Texas/Louisiana/Florida/Arkansas/Ohio) with preference given to candidates who live in Austin, El Paso, Houston, Permian Basin (Midland/Odessa), Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, and Tarrant County (Fort Worth), or who are willing to relocate.
Travel Expectations: Ability to travel 3-5 times a year
What You’ll Do – Accountabilities
Essential Duties:
- Designing Base Pay Strategies: Leveraging both external and internal data sources, you will analyze relevant data and identify and address issues to recommend adjustments to our pay structures and processes to ensure a competitive and equitable program for IDEA staff.
- Implementing Base Pay Program: You will maintain clear salary structures and create clear guidelines, training, and tools to support implementation of our compensation setting policy with fidelity.
- Employee Commitment Programs: Create and manage employee recognition programs to promote engagement and retention; Develop innovative approaches to celebrate employee milestones; Evaluate the impact of commitment recognition programs on employee morale and productivity.
- Provide Strong Customer Service: You will support leaders, partners, and staff in understanding our compensation program through providing proactive resources and responsive communication.
- Manage team to results: Establish aligned individual goals for direct report that contributes to team goals; Clarify work expectations; Develop competencies and skill sets; Ensure strong evaluations of customer service and integrity from key stakeholders; Deliver timely feedback and coaching through the Staff Development Cycle for continuous growth and improvement; Instill strong work ethic with personal drive for success.
Additional Duties and Responsibilities:
- Position analysis and classification
- Additional duties as assigned
Knowledge and Skills - Competencies
- Make Strategic Decisions: This team member fosters an inclusive decision-making environment by encouraging diverse perspectives, managing disagreements constructively, and creating space for all voices to be heard. They clearly communicate final decisions, providing context and anticipated impact—even when choices are difficult or unpopular.
- Manage Work and Teams: This team member builds and maintains systems to track progress toward team goals, ensuring clarity through defined roles and responsibilities. They implement structured processes that support smooth team operations and strategically allocate time and resources to drive goal achievement.
- Grow Self and Others: This team member regularly offers affirming and adjusting feedback, maintaining a positive balance that reinforces growth and motivation. They provide transparent, candid performance insights and offer consistent coaching and development aligned with individual goals, supporting both direct reports and cross-functional partners.
- Build a Culture of Trust: This team member fosters a team culture where individuals genuinely care for one another both personally and professionally. They lead with transparency, encourage open communication, including healthy conflict—and promote reliability and consistency, while regularly seeking and responding to team feedback to enhance the collective experience.
- Communicate Deliberately: This team member leads inclusive discussions that surface obstacles and drive actionable solutions, ensuring all voices are heard. They communicate key information clearly across multiple channels and establish feedback loops that promote open dialogue, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Additional Skills:
- Strong attention to detail
- Excellent customer service skills, both written and oral, and maintain confidentiality in all matters.
- Excellent business partnership, viewing every opportunity as a chance to meaningfully partner with leaders and staff to achieve outcomes
- Strong technical proficiency with Excel and HRIS software.
- Proficiency or ability to stay up-to-date with automation tools to improve accuracy and speed in our processes.
Required Education and Experience:
- Experience: Minimum of 5 years of experience, including 3 years in Compensation administration.
Preferred Education and Experience:
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in related field preferred. Relevant certification such as CCP or significant equivalent combination of education and experience is also acceptable.
- Experience: High preference with those who have worked in school systems and/or are familiar with common education sector compensation practices. At least one-year management experience of one or more team members preferred.
Physical Requirements:
- Keyboarding: Entering text or data using a traditional keyboard.
- Alternate Sitting or Standing at Will: Flexibility to choose between sitting and standing as needed.
- Gross Manipulation: Compensation team members use their hands for tasks like typing and handling paperwork.
What We Offer:
Compensation & Benefits:
Salaries for people entering this role typically fall between $89,600 and $105,300, commensurate with relevant experience and qualifications and in alignment with internal equity. This role is also eligible for performance pay based on organizational performance and goal attainment.
Additionally, we offer medical, dental, and vision plans, disability, life insurance, parenting benefits, flexible spending account options, generous vacation time, referral bonuses, professional development, and a 403(b) plan. You can find more information about our benefits at https://ideapublicschools.org/careers/benefits/.
* IDEA may offer a relocation stipend to defray the cost of moving for this role, if applicable.
Application process:
Submit your application online through Jobvite. Please note that applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.
Learn more about IDEA
At IDEA the Staff Experience Team uses our Core Values to promote human connection and a culture of integrity, respect, and belonging for all Team and Family members. Learn more about our Commitment to Core Values here: https://ideapublicschools.org/our-story/#core-values
Skills Required
- Minimum of 5 years of professional experience
- At least 3 years of compensation administration experience
- Strong attention to detail
- Excellent written and oral customer service skills
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
- Strong business partnership skills
- Strong proficiency with Excel and HRIS software
- Ability to stay current with automation tools
- Bachelor's degree in a related field
- Relevant CCP certification or equivalent education and experience
- Experience working in school systems or familiarity with education-sector compensation practices
- At least one year of management experience
- Ability to travel 3 to 5 times per year
What We Do
IDEA Public Schools is a tuition-free, K–12 public charter-school network serving students across the United States. Founded from a small 150-student school, it aims to transform education by preparing graduates for college and life. The organization provides college-preparatory academics, personalized learning, and whole-child support, with a vision of becoming the nation’s leader in preparing students for success in college and beyond.
