SENIOR DIRECTOR OF TOTAL REWARDS CONSULTANT
Independent Contractor (1099) • 4–6
Month Contract • Washington, DC Region • Hybrid (3 Days On-Site)
Headquartered in the US
Southeast region, HR Knowledge Source (HRKS) is a woman-owned, minority-owned
business consulting firm specializing in delivering quality Human Resources
(HR) solutions. With over three decades of HR talent management and inclusive
workplace culture experience across multiple industries, we are committed to
helping our clients design, establish, and deliver premiere HR functions within
their own organizations. We offer dedicated support and guidance in every HR
functional area.
HR Knowledge Source has been
retained by a confidential higher education institution in the Washington, DC
region to identify an experienced Total Rewards leader for a critical interim
consulting engagement. The client serves approximately 1,700 full-time staff
and 2,900 faculty, staff, and retirees, and requires an execution-ready
consultant to provide immediate leadership of its comprehensive compensation
and benefits function. The client’s identity will be disclosed to qualified
candidates.
• Oversee and manage competitive compensation structures,
salary bands, incentive programs, and pay policies that support fair pay
practices and legal compliance
• Assess market data regularly and recommend adjustments
to address market trends, employee satisfaction, and budget considerations
• Support the rollout of a new step-based compensation
structure currently in union bargaining, including employee communications and
Workday implementation
• Help establish consistent policies around interim role
compensation, which are currently ad hoc
• Oversee and maintain the job architecture framework,
including job families, levels, and career paths
• Provide overall leadership and oversight for all
benefits planning and administration for faculty, staff, and retirees;
recommend policy and manage programs and initiatives
• Serve as liaison between insurance carriers, mutual
fund companies, consulting firms, and university procurement and finance
offices; prepare and present benefits research and trend analyses
• Ensure programs remain in compliance with federal and
state laws and university policy; oversee initiatives to enhance offerings,
promote equity, and manage costs
• The current retirement plan (403(b)) offers a
two-to-one employer match with a one-year waiting period; support ongoing
evaluation of the plan structure due to financial constraints and manage any
change rollout and employee communications if modifications are approved
• Manage, coach, and develop direct and indirect reports;
set clear performance expectations and measurable work plans; identify and
support staff development opportunities
• Serve as a thought partner to two directors
(Compensation and Benefits), helping them anticipate gaps, stay ahead of
compliance requirements, and develop professionally
• Provide support and active participation in union
negotiations related to compensation and benefits
• Serve as a member of the HR leadership team; provide
strategic direction and mentorship to compensation and benefits staff
• Partner with Finance, IT, and Legal to support
effective program implementation, compliance, and communication of total
rewards programs across the organization
Requirements
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent; master’s degree or
SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or CEBS certification preferred
• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible
experience in compensation and benefits
• Background in higher education, government,
quasi-government, or large non-profit organizations
• Experience working in or alongside a unionized
environment
• Prior consulting or interim placement experience
• Deep, hands-on expertise in 403(b) retirement plans —
compliance, plan structure, and employee communications (primary differentiator
for this role); executive comp and step program experience required
• High proficiency in financial analysis, modeling,
budgeting, and data analytics (including Excel)
• Knowledge of federal and state employment laws
governing compensation and benefits
• Strong consultation, communication, collaboration, and
people management skills; committed to inclusive excellence
• Workday proficiency strongly preferred
• Retirement plan expertise with the ability to translate
regulatory complexity into clear, actionable guidance
• Execution ownership — rolls up sleeves, gets into the
details, and drives deliverables without waiting to be directed
• Thought partnership — helps directors and leadership
anticipate gaps and compliance requirements before they become problems
• Change management steadiness — employees are operating
at high capacity and need a calm, stabilizing presence
• Compliance discipline — understands that mandatory
notices and benefit communications cannot be missed, even when the team is
stretched
Engagement: Independent Contractor (1099)
Duration: 4–6 months
Location: Washington, DC region — Hybrid (3 days
on-site; Tuesday is a core in-office day)
Hours: Standard 9:00 AM
– 5:00 PM (occasional 8 am meetings)
Reports To: Associate Vice President of Financial
Operations (solid line) and incoming Interim HR Executive Consultant (dotted
line)
Client: Confidential higher education
institution, Washington, DC region (disclosed to qualified candidates)
Offers must be contingent on the successful completion
of professional reference and background checks.
Confidentiality is strictly maintained.
HR Knowledge Source (HRKS) is an equal
opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration
without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or
any other protected characteristic.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent
- Master's degree
- SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or CEBS certification
- Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible experience in compensation and benefits
- Experience in higher education, government, quasi-government, or large nonprofit organizations
- Experience working in or alongside a unionized environment
- Prior consulting or interim placement experience
- Hands-on expertise with 403(b) retirement plan compliance, plan structure, and employee communications
- Experience with executive compensation and step-based compensation programs
- High proficiency in financial analysis, modeling, budgeting, and data analytics, including Excel
- Knowledge of federal and state employment laws governing compensation and benefits
- Strong consultation, communication, collaboration, and people management skills
- Workday proficiency
What We Do
HR Knowledge Source (HRKS) is a forward thinking, full-service human resources consulting firm. We specialize in supporting companies on both a retained consultancy and project basis. We are committed to helping our Clients design and establish their human resources management function. We also provide ongoing guidance as needed. Our Consultants possess over 50 years of leadership experience in a variety of industries, including non-profit organizations. We provide: • Creative solutions that are tailored to meet our Client’s unique requirements; • Senior level HR expertise who do not require a lot of ramp time; • An exceptional price point for our services, as compared to larger consulting firms. As a leading human resources consulting firm we specialize in supporting emerging and existing Clients as they navigate the complex terrain of people management. Our Client Pledge is to consistently: • Define and determine meaningful solutions that fit our Client’s unique environment; • Design robust and sustainable platforms upon which future solutions can be built; and • Deliver the highest quality for our Client’s human resources investment.
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