Senior Compensation and Classification Analyst

Overview Wesleyan University is a highly selective, independent liberal arts institution recognized for its commitment to innovative teaching, interdisciplinary scholarship, and an engaged campus community. The Office of Human Resources partners with campus leaders to support the university’s workforce through equitable practices, strategic talent management, and data-informed decision-making that advance Wesleyan’s mission. Reporting to the Director for Talent Acquisition and Employment, the Senior Compensation and Classification Analyst supports the university’s compensation, classification, job architecture, and organizational design initiatives through analysis, research, and technical expertise. Working closely with the Director, the position develops recommendations and supports compensation, classification, workforce planning, and organizational effectiveness initiatives. This inaugural four-year term-limited role plays a key role in the implementation, documentation, and long-term sustainability of the university’s staff job architecture, compensation structures, classification standards, and related governance practices. Over the course of the four-year term, the role will support the implementation and documentation of Wesleyan’s staff job architecture and compensation framework, establishing the processes and standards needed for consistent long-term administration by the Human Resources team. The position conducts compensation benchmarking, evaluates and classifies positions, and collaborates with academic and administrative leaders and department heads to provide consultation, analysis, and recommendations on compensation, classification, job design, organizational structure, workforce planning, and job architecture initiatives. Responsibilities Compensation and Classification Governance: Support the administration and continuous improvement of the staff job classification framework, ensuring consistency in job families, titles, grading structures, and classification standards across the university. Evaluate and classify staff positions including determination of job families, salary grades, and FLSA exemption status in accordance with federal and state wage and hour regulations. Review and analyze FLSA classification requests related to new positions, position revisions, or reclassification requests and maintain supporting documentation for classification determinations. Maintain documentation supporting classification and FLSA determinations to ensure consistency and defensibility. Provide recommendations regarding job classification, compensation levels, and titling practices. Conduct compensation analysis and parsonage allowance determinations for eligible roles in accordance with applicable tax regulations and university policy. Market Data and Compensation Analytics: Administer and maintain the MarketPay compensation platform, including loading survey data, managing benchmark job matches, and conducting benchmarking analysis. Prepare and submit institutional compensation data for participation in external compensation surveys and analyze survey results to inform benchmarking. Conduct compensation benchmarking using multiple compensation surveys and labor market data sources. Develop blended market comparisons when roles do not align with a single survey benchmark. Prepare reports on compensation trends, internal equity, and market competitiveness. Develop and maintain benchmark matching methodologies and documentation standards to support consistent compensation analyses. Union Position Classification and Negotiation Support: Conduct classification analyses for unionized staff positions in alignment with collective bargaining agreements and institutional classification frameworks. Maintain documentation of union job classifications and assist with classification reviews or disputes. Prepare compensation analyses and workforce reports to support collective bargaining negotiations. Job Architecture and Position Descriptions: Review and standardize staff job titles across the university and align titles with established job architecture. Audit and update position descriptions to ensure consistency, clarity, and alignment with job classification standards. Support the implementation and maintenance of job families, career ladders, and titling conventions across the institution. Organizational Design and Analysis: Analyze organizational structures, spans of control, and reporting layers to identify inefficiencies or title inflation and provide recommendations that support sustainable organizational design. Provide analysis and recommendations regarding organizational structure, reporting relationships, workforce alignment, and position design decisions across the university. Support departmental organizational reviews and restructuring initiatives. Worker Classification and Compliance: Review independent contractor and temporary worker classification requests to ensure compliance with employment regulations and university policy. Partner with HR leadership, Payroll, and HRIS on worker classification and position management processes. Evaluate and designate essential employee status for positions in collaboration with institutional leadership. Training and Consultation: Provide consultation, analytical support, and subject matter expertise to HR staff, department leaders, and senior administrators regarding compensation, classification, job design, organizational structure, and workforce planning matters. Present compensation analyses, classification recommendations, organizational design findings, and workforce data to support HR and institutional decision-making. Evaluate promotion and reclassification requests to ensure alignment with institutional classification frameworks and internal equity. Documentation and Program Support: Maintain documentation of the university’s job architecture, classification standards, and compensation frameworks. Develop procedures, reference materials, and implementation guidance to support ongoing administration of compensation and classification programs. Develop recommendations and supporting documentation related to position reclassification and promotion guidelines. Additional Duties: Perform other duties as assigned. This position is designated as hybrid; however, it requires a significant on-campus presence to support departmental operations, collaboration, and stakeholder engagement, with remote work available as appropriate to meet business needs. Remote work is only considered for residents of Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island, or New York. Relocation assistance to Connecticut is available for candidates who qualify. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Economics, Public Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field, and at least five years of progressively responsible experience in compensation, classification, job architecture, HR analytics, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. Demonstrated experience evaluating and classifying positions including determining job levels, salary grades, and job family placement. Demonstrated knowledge of FLSA exemption standards and wage and hour regulations. Experience conducting compensation benchmarking and salary analysis using compensation survey data or labor market data. Demonstrated experience preparing, analyzing, or participating in compensation surveys or labor market benchmarking processes. Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with the ability to interpret compensation data and identify internal equity or compression issues. Demonstrated ability to analyze organizational structures, reporting relationships, or workforce data to support classification and compensation decisions. Experience working with HRIS systems and workforce data, including job catalog structures (job profiles, job families, and position management frameworks), to support job classification, compensation programs, and data-driven analysis of compensation trends. Demonstrated experience evaluating position scope or reviewing promotion, reclassification, or job design requests within a structured classification framework. Demonstrated ability to communicate compensation and classification concepts clearly to a variety of audiences. Demonstrated ability to consult with managers and HR colleagues regarding compensation and classification decisions. Demonstrated ability to exercise sound professional judgment and maintain confidentiality when working with sensitive compensation data. Demonstrated ability to independently manage complex projects and priorities while collaborating effectively with leaders across multiple organizational levels. Preferred Qualifications Experience conducting compensation benchmarking using multiple compensation surveys. Experience supporting compensation analysis in unionized environments or collective bargaining negotiations. Experience using benchmarking compensation platforms such as MarketPay or similar tools. Experience with enterprise HRIS systems such as Workday. Experience conducting pay equity analysis, organizational structure reviews, or job architecture development. Experience presenting analytical findings and recommendations to senior leaders or executive stakeholders. Professional certification such as Certified Compensation Professional (CCP), SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP, or PHR or SPHR. Position is open until filled. For full consideration please apply by July 31st when first review of applications will begin. Compensation: $92,700-$111,300 Work Location: On Campus All offers to external applicants are contingent on the candidate’s completion of a pre-employment background check screening to the satisfaction of Wesleyan University. Wesleyan University, located in Middletown, Connecticut, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, age, gender, gender identity or expression, national origin, marital status, ancestry, present or past history of mental disorder, learning disability or physical disability, political belief, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or non-position-related criminal record. We welcome applications from women and historically underrepresented minority groups. Inquiries regarding Title IX, Section 504 or any other non-discrimination policies should be directed to Vice President for Equity and Inclusion, Title IX and ADA/504 Coordinator. Wesleyan University complies with the Clery Act and maintains records of campus crime statistics and security policies. Copies of Wesleyan University’s Clery Act Report are available on request and online at Experience is taken into consideration in the determination of salary offers. For more information visit Wesleyan offers a broad range of employee benefits and development opportunities, including comprehensive group insurance plans, wellness programs and incentives, generous paid time off and retirement plans, flexible work schedules, employee and dependent tuition programs for those who qualify. Detailed information on the benefits of working at Wesleyan is located at: #J-18808-Ljbffr Wesleyan University