Director, Compensation

Company Description

Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing public charter schools dedicated to providing an exceptional K-12 education in economically disadvantaged communities. Operating in Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, and Rochester, we are committed to closing the college completion gap and preparing every student for college and beyond. Our students consistently exceed national benchmarks , reflecting our dedication to their success. We invest deeply in our educators , offering weekly coaching, feedback, and professional development to ensure excellence in teaching and leadership. Join us to work hard, do good, and make a lasting difference!

Job Description

Are you ready to use your compensation expertise to help shape the experience of educators and staff who serve thousands of students each day? As Director, Compensation on our Total Rewards team, you'll drive the analysis, execution, and communication behind how Uncommon Schools rewards the people who power our mission. You'll partner across schools, regional teams, and our Home Office to inform pay structures that are market competitive, equitable, and financially responsible, directly supporting our ability to attract and retain the talent our students deserve. This is a role for someone who enjoys turning complex data into clear decisions and meaningful action.

Responsibilities

Lead Compensation Analysis and Market Studies

• Run 2 to 3 regional and Home Office compensation studies each year to help ensure pay structures remain market competitive, equitable, and aligned with our talent goals
• Provide regular workforce analyses to assess the quality of compensation plans and programs, generating reports, analyzing data, and presenting findings to leaders
• Conduct frequent audits of staff compensation to ensure salary offers comply with internal policies and federal and state requirements, including FLSA

Manage Annual Compensation Processes and Projects

• Oversee project management of large, high-stakes initiatives, including annual compensation review processes for schools, Home Office, and regional teams
• Manage all recurring annual compensation communications to school leaders and managers, ensuring they have the resources they need to act on key responsibilities throughout the school year
• Manage compensation-related policies, including those covering tuition reimbursement, relocation, and certification

Build Knowledge and Serve as a Subject Matter Expert

• Create, manage, and facilitate compensation and annual increase learning experiences for team leaders, managers, and staff across schools, the Home Office, and regional teams
• Serve as the first point of contact for hiring managers and staff questions related to salaries and compensation policies, particularly in nuanced situations
• Train and support staff across functions so they are informed about compensation plans, processes, and compliance requirements

Partner Across Teams

• Serve as a liaison for compensation matters with Recruitment, HR, Payroll, Accounting, Operations, and other partners
• Build strong working relationships across the organization to support smooth, well-informed compensation decisions

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree required

Experience

• 7 to 9 years of combined directly relevant and relevant experience
• Directly relevant experience includes managing compensation or benefits programs, regional or organization-wide financial modeling and analysis, or serving as a Director of Operations at Uncommon Schools or a similar organization
• Relevant experience includes general HR or recruitment roles, school or department-level financial reporting, or roles centered on report writing and data analysis

Skills and Knowledge

• Experience working in or with K-12 schools
• Strong analytical skills, with significant experience gathering and working with data to perform quantitative and qualitative analyses, especially in Microsoft Excel
• Direct experience with project management, ideally including process improvement work
• Familiarity with HRIS systems (Workday preferred) or compensation systems
• Clear, thoughtful communicator who can translate complex compensation concepts into accessible guidance for a range of audiences

Not sure you meet every qualification? We encourage you to apply. We're excited to learn what you bring.

Additional Information

Our people are what make us Uncommon. We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits that support the personal health, wellness, and finances of our staff and their families. Our compensation philosophy values equity & fairness and attracting & retaining top talent. 

Compensation: The full compensation range for this role is $116,800 to $146,000. Typically, new hires who fully meet all qualifications listed in the job description will start at $124,100. Starting compensation below this reflects candidates with less experience or qualifications. Offers near the top end of the range are reserved for candidates who significantly exceed the qualifications, bringing extensive experience and specialized expertise beyond what is listed.

Compensation determinations consider relevant professional experience and tenure with Uncommon Schools. Additionally, because we value internal growth and tenure, current staff members are not subject to salary caps within this range.

Work Environment: Uncommon is an in-person organization, with a commitment of at least three days each week at our Central Office in downtown Manhattan (100 Church Street). This role includes minimal travel, such as quarterly school visits, routine local travel within a region, and occasional travel to regions for compensation study roll-outs and new teacher onboarding.

Benefits

• Regional staff will have the same holidays and sustainability days as school-based staff in their region, and flexible summer PTO
• Extensive, best-in-class training and development
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans + pre-tax flexible spending (FSA), dependent care (DCFSA), and health saving accounts (HSA)
• Financial Planning
  • 403(b) retirement savings program + employer match
• Paid leave of absence options (parental, medical, disability, etc.)
• Mental health and counseling support + wellness benefits

*A detailed list of all benefits is located  HERE . 

At Uncommon, we believe that a supportive and welcoming environment helps our students, staff, and community thrive. We are dedicated to building a team that brings a wide range of perspectives and experiences, reflective of the communities we serve---with over 70% of our staff identifying as people of color. Our organization values respect and open dialogue on important topics that shape our school culture.

As an equal opportunity employer, Uncommon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We also ensure that individuals with disabilities receive all privileges and benefits associated with employment and are provided reasonable accommodations for the interview process and to perform core job functions. If you would like to request an accommodation, please email View email address on click.appcast.io.