Senior Public Sector Compensation & Classification Consultant

Role Description

We are seeking a Senior Public Sector Compensation & Classification Consultant to lead and support compensation, classification, and pay-plan studies for municipal, county, utility, and other public-sector clients. This consultant will provide technical leadership on projects involving:

• Job classification
• Market compensation analysis
• Internal equity
• FLSA compliance
• Salary structures and implementation recommendations

The ideal candidate has directly completed compensation and classification studies for cities, counties, public utilities, or comparable government agencies. This role will support current and future public-sector engagements, including county and municipal compensation studies.

• Lead comprehensive compensation and classification studies for public-sector organizations.
• Review job descriptions, organizational structures, reporting relationships, and employee questionnaires.
• Conduct employee and management interviews to understand job duties and organizational needs.
• Evaluate positions using established classification methodologies.
• Develop appropriate job families, classifications, grades, and career-progressive structures.
• Conduct public-sector compensation market surveys and identify appropriate peer organizations.
• Analyze external competitiveness, internal equity, salary compression, and pay relationships.
• Develop salary schedules, pay grades, ranges, and implementation options.
• Review positions for compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act and recommend exempt or nonexempt classifications.
• Prepare fiscal-impact models and phased implementation scenarios.
• Present findings and recommendations to executive leadership, elected officials, boards, and employees.
• Contribute technical content to government proposals, scopes of work, and project work plans.
• Ensure methodologies, findings, and recommendations are clearly documented and defensible.

Qualifications

• Seven or more years of compensation, classification, or human resources consulting experience.
• Direct experience completing compensation and classification studies for municipalities, counties, public utilities, or other government entities.
• Demonstrated experience developing public-sector pay plans and salary structures.
• Strong knowledge of FLSA classification requirements.
• Experience conducting job analysis, market surveys, internal-equity reviews, and salary-compression analysis.
• Ability to interpret complex compensation data and translate findings into practical recommendations.
• Strong report-writing, presentation, and stakeholder-facilitation skills.
• Advanced proficiency with Excel or comparable analytical tools.

Requirements

• Ten or more years of relevant experience.
• Experience presenting findings at public meetings or to elected officials.
• Experience with utility, water district, regional authority, or special-district compensation studies.
• Certified Compensation Professional, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or similar credential.
• Experience supporting government proposal development.
• Familiarity with public-sector collective bargaining environments.