DIRECTOR OF COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Human Resources, the Director of Compensation & Benefits is a key member of the Human Resources leadership team and serves as the Universities of Wisconsin's lead strategist and subject matter expert for compensation, workforce analytics, classification structures, and total rewards administration.

Compensation Strategy, Classification & Workforce Analytics

• Lead the development, implementation, administration, and continuous improvement of compensation strategies, policies, and programs across the Universities of Wisconsin.
• Oversee the maintenance and administration of compensation structures, salary schedules, title frameworks, and classification systems to support institutional needs and workforce objectives.
• Direct compensation studies, market benchmarking initiatives, salary analyses, and labor market assessments to support recruitment, retention, and workforce competitiveness.
• Lead pay equity reviews and compensation analyses to identify trends, inform decision-making, and support equitable compensation practices.
• Partner with UW university leaders and human resources professionals to provide consultation and guidance on compensation, classification, organizational structure, and workforce planning matters.
• Develop and maintain workforce analytics, dashboards, reports, and metrics that provide meaningful insights for executive leadership and support data-driven decision-making.
• Analyze workforce trends related to recruitment, retention, turnover, compensation, and employee demographics and provide strategic recommendations based on findings.
• Monitor emerging compensation and workforce trends, best practices, and regulatory developments and recommend appropriate actions.

Leadership & External Relations

• Provide leadership, supervision, coaching, and professional development for staff responsible for compensation, analytics, benefits, and retirement administration.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and customer service excellence.
• Represent the Universities of Wisconsin in collaboration with the Wisconsin Department of Administration, Employee Trust Funds, and other state agencies on compensation, benefits, and workforce-related matters.
• Convene and participate in committees, workgroups, and strategic initiatives related to compensation, classification, benefits, retirement, and workforce planning.
• Provide strategic oversight and guidance on compensation and benefits matters related to collective bargaining agreements, ensuring compliance with negotiated contract provisions and applicable laws and policies.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with university leaders, human resources professionals, governance groups, and external stakeholders.

Benefits, Leave & Retirement Administration

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for benefits, retirement, leave, and well-being programs across the Universities of Wisconsin.
• Oversee the administration of insurance programs, retirement programs, and leave structures for employees across all employment categories.
• Lead the strategic oversight of the Universities of Wisconsin's centralized benefits counseling function to ensure exceptional customer service and support.
• Evaluate benefits administration processes and service delivery models and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, consistency, and employee experience.
• Oversee the development of resources, communication strategies, and educational programs that help employees understand and maximize the value of available benefits and retirement offerings.
• Partner with UW universities to support effective administration and communication of benefits and total rewards programs.

Universities of Wisconsin Administration Human Resources (UWSA HR) serves as a strategic partner to UW universities, providing leadership, consultation, and expertise across the employee lifecycle. UWSA HR supports talent acquisition, employee engagement, organizational effectiveness, learning and development, workforce planning, and total rewards programs (i.e., compensation, benefits, etc.) that advance the mission of the Universities of Wisconsin.

The Director of Compensation & Benefits (Official Title: HR Director (Inst)) is a full-time, salaried (exempt), limited appointee position.

Well-qualified candidates can expect a starting annual salary within a range of $130,000 - $150,000 commensurate with the candidate’s education, related experience, and qualifications.

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, public administration, finance, or a related field.

• Experience utilizing workforce data, analytics or reporting tools to support organizational decision-making and strategic planning.

• Demonstrated leadership experience in a complex organization, including responsibility for leading initiatives, influencing decision-making, building stakeholder relationships, and driving organizational outcomes

• Experience presenting recommendations to stakeholders and engaging conversations to build consensus.

• Master's degree in human resources, business administration, public administration, finance, or a related field.

• Experience in a higher education, public sector, healthcare, or other large, decentralized, and highly regulated environment.

• Experience developing workforce dashboards, executive reports, or other data visualization tools.

• Experience working with compensation structures, job architecture, title frameworks, or workforce planning initiatives.

• Demonstrated ability to navigate ambiguity and make sound, data-informed decision in a complex or evolving environment.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Strong knowledge of compensation strategy, i.e., salary administration, market benchmarking, classification systems, and pay equity principles.

• Demonstrated ability to navigate ambiguity and make sound, data-informed decisions in a complex environment.

• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to interpret complex workforce and compensation data and translate findings into actionable recommendations.

• Knowledge of workforce analytics, HR reporting methodologies, and HRIS systems.

• Knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations related to compensation, benefits, leave administration, and employment practices.

• Ability to communicate complex concepts clearly and effectively to a variety of audiences, including executive leadership.

• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships and influence stakeholders across a large and decentralized organization.

• Strong leadership, project management, and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and strategic initiatives.

• Commitment to continuous improvement, customer service excellence, and data-informed decision-making.

Work Location:

The office location is in Madison, WI. An in-office requirement is expected three days per week with the option to work the remaining two days off-site/remote. Telecommuting agreements are subject to change at any time.

How to Apply:

To ensure full consideration, please submit application materials as soon as possible. Applicant screening will begin immediately and be ongoing through 11:59 pm, July 23, 2026. However, applications may be accepted until the position has been filled.

To receive full consideration, interested applicants are required to apply online and provide:

• Resume (PDF Format)

• Cover letter addressing your experience and education as it applies to all minimum and preferred qualifications (PDF Format)

Failing to submit the required application documents may disqualify your application.

Questions may be addressed to: Sarah Haen, Human Resources, at [email protected].

If you need to request an accommodation because of a disability, you can find information about how to make a request by contacting [email protected]. 

This offer of employment is conditional pending the results of a criminal background check and a reference check process that includes questions regarding employee misconduct, sexual violence, and sexual harassment. If you have prior work history within the past 7 years with the Universities of Wisconsin, your personnel file will also be reviewed for employee misconduct. If the results are unacceptable, the offer will be withdrawn or, if you have started employment, your employment will be terminated.

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e., a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of employer sponsorship) on, before, or after the effective date of appointment.   

The Universities of Wisconsin will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. §. 19.36(7). 

Universities of Wisconsin employees receive an excellent benefits package. To learn more about the benefits package, review the Faculty, Academic Staff & Limited Appointees  or University Staff   Please see this link for total compensation information: Universities of Wisconsin Health & Retirement Contributions Estimator to provide you with total compensation information. 

The Universities of Wisconsin provides statistics on campus crime in its Annual Security Report.  For more information on university campus statistics see https://www.wisconsin.edu/compliance/clery/.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.