Compensation Specialist

About the Role and Organization

The City of Guelph invites applications for the permanent, full-time position of Compensation Specialist in the Human Resources department. This role is integral to managing the City's compensation, job evaluation, pay equity efforts, and organizational design. As a respected municipality with over 2000 employees, Guelph is committed to fostering an inclusive, connected, and prosperous community guided by corporate values such as integrity, service, and wellness.

Compensation Programs and Responsibilities

• Develop and sustain the City's compensation programs, including conducting detailed compensation analyses and providing data-informed advice to senior leaders.
• Continuously assess compensation strategies, salary administration, and overall program effectiveness.
• Conduct market research and participate in compensation surveys to ensure competitive and equitable pay structures, with thorough analysis of HR data to reveal trends and risks.
• Manage special pay arrangements and exceptions, address salary compression and equity concerns, and offer recommendations accordingly.
• Establish strong partnerships with municipal and compensation networks for benchmarking and sharing best practices.
• Review benchmarking analysis for new or updated roles, verify data accuracy, and guide on complex cases.
• Stay abreast of compensation trends, legislative changes, and best practices.

Job Evaluation and Pay Equity

• Oversee job evaluation processes for both unionized and non-unionized staff, including facilitation of joint labour-management committees.
• Maintain thorough documentation and tools to comply with corporate and legal requirements.
• Advise on compensation-related decisions such as pay adjustments, salary progression, and policy interpretations.
• Provide training and support regarding job evaluation procedures and tools.
• Lead pay equity compliance activities including workforce analyses, classification comparisons, reporting, and ongoing maintenance.
• Consult with managers and HR personnel on job design and description to ensure structural alignment and policy compliance.
• Support organizational design, workforce planning, and restructuring initiatives through collaboration with HR Advisors.

Additional Duties

• Provide compensation data and cost analyses to assist collective bargaining, grievance handling, and arbitration.
• Ensure data accuracy within compensation and job evaluation systems.
• Lead projects focused on compensation review, pay equity initiatives, and process improvements.
• Perform other duties as assigned within the scope of the role.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in a related discipline with specialized training in compensation, job evaluation, and pay equity; equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.
• Extensive experience in compensation analysis, salary management, organizational design, and job evaluation.
• Proven skills in validating, analyzing, and reporting compensation data.
• Deep understanding of union and non-union compensation structures and salary administration.
• In-depth knowledge of employment laws such as the Employment Standards Act, Pay Equity Act, and Human Rights Code.
• Familiarity with job evaluation methodologies.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving capabilities, including experience with financial modeling and complex data interpretation.
• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft 365 tools including SharePoint, Teams, and Outlook to aid collaboration and workflow.
• Ability to identify and implement effective process improvements.
• Strong discretion and judgment when managing sensitive information.
• High attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy.
• Excellent communication skills for conveying complex compensation concepts clearly and tactfully.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) credential.
• Experience designing compensation programs and drafting policies.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel for data modeling and analysis; familiarity with data visualization and HR systems (e.g., JD Edwards, PeopleSoft, SAP, UKG).
• Experience within unionized or public sector settings.

Work Hours and Conditions

The standard workweek is 35 hours, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This role supports hybrid and flexible work options as per current corporate policy. The position is based at City Hall, 1 Carden Street, Guelph, Ontario.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this role is $97,148.69 to $121,435.86 annually. The City offers a defined benefit pension plan with OMERS including full employer matching, comprehensive health and dental coverage including a Health Care Spending Account, paid vacation and personal days, parental leave top-up, employee assistance programs, tuition support, and various employee recognition initiatives.

Inclusivity and Hiring Process

The City of Guelph is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and is dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for all staff. Accommodations are available upon request throughout the hiring process. Applicants will be notified of hiring decisions within 45 days of their interviews.