Demo

Director Of Compensation

Inside Higher Ed
Lexington, VA Full Time
POSTED ON 1/5/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 2/3/2026
Job Description:

The Department of Human Resources at Washington and Lee University seeks a Director of Compensation. Reporting to the Executive Director of Human Resources, the Director provides strategic leadership for all aspects of compensation administration, including market analysis, compensation determination, position classification, and organizational development. The Director serves as a trusted partner and advisor to university leaders and employees, offering guidance that aligns compensation strategies with institutional goals and operational needs. By applying data-driven analysis, market insight, and technical expertise in enterprise HR systems, the Director develops and implements equitable and competitive compensation programs that support the university's ability to attract, reward, and retain exceptional employees.

Human Resources engages with the W&L community in a welcoming and professional manner offering people-focused consultation, programming, and resources to recruit, welcome, develop, and support our faculty and staff. The Director of Compensation plays a key role in balancing data driven insight with collaborative partnership across the university.

Washington and Lee University actively promotes a dynamic and welcoming environment that allows students and employees of multiple backgrounds and perspectives to learn, work, and thrive together. Successful candidates will contribute to that environment and exhibit potential for excellence in their areas of expertise.

Learn more about what makes Washington and Lee University a great place to work and live at jobs.wlu.edu.

Essential Functions

  • Designs, analyzes, and maintains the University's compensation and classification systems in accordance with institutional goals and market objectives. Monitors the effectiveness of compensation policies and practices and recommends data-informed solutions that strengthen internal equity and external competitiveness.
  • Oversees position development and maintenance within Workday, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and compliance with FLSA and University standards. Conducts detailed job analyses to determine classifications and reclassifications, and partners with managers to create, review, and update job descriptions that attract deep candidate pools.
  • Leads the University's market pricing strategy through participation in national and specialized salary surveys (e.g., CUPA-HR, AAUP, Mercer) and applies advanced analysis to assess competitiveness and develop pay ranges. Maintains Job Family and Job Profile catalogs in accordance with market pricing structure in Workday. Recommends employee pay adjustments based on market movement, budget parameters, and internal equity considerations to maintain the University's desired market position.
  • Determines appropriate salary offers and internal promotions using a data-driven approach that incorporates market analysis, internal equity, and candidate qualifications. Designs competitive offer packages that align with University policy and support successful recruitment and retention efforts.
  • Directs the university-wide salary increase process within established budget parameters. Develops analytical frameworks to support equitable, performance and market-based salary adjustments to effectively recognize employee contributions. Consults with managers and leadership on distribution objectives and process support. Ensures accuracy through validation, testing and process optimization in Workday and the distribution of annual increase decisions.
  • Collaborates directly with managers and employees on compensation-related employee relations matters, reviewing and responding to questions and providing guidance on pay decisions, job classifications, market data interpretation, and the equitable application of compensation policies.
  • Serves as the subject matter expert for compensation data and reporting structures in Workday. Configures and maintains templates, workflows, and generates employment documents, ensuring data integrity and system accuracy. Develops automated processes and reporting tools to streamline compensation administration and enhance transparency.
  • Oversees position management data within Workday, tracks changes, and develops detailed reports to ensure position budget accuracy and reporting. Partners with Finance and HR leadership to align position budgets with institutional priorities.
  • Conducts statistical analyses of staff compensation, staffing levels, and position budgets to identify trends, forecast needs, and support data-driven decision-making. Develops and maintains longitudinal data and dashboards to monitor equity, competitiveness, and budget.
  • Oversees the organizational hierarchy in Workday, consulting with department heads and academic leaders on structure, staffing, and reorganization strategies to ensure alignment and accuracy. Provides consultation regarding the university's organizational development structure, position development, and compensation structure/philosophy for leadership, managers, and employees.
  • Additional related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in human resources, business, finance, data analytics, or a related field; advanced degree or professional certification (e.g., CCP, SHRM-SCP) preferred, or a combination of education and experience providing a similar skillset. Must be willing to obtain CCP certification.
  • Advanced proficiency in enterprise systems (Workday preferred), Excel, and reporting tools, with the ability to configure, maintain, and optimize system-driven processes.
  • Exceptional communication, consultation, and relationship-building skills, with a strong commitment to confidentiality.

Application Instructions

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Required materials include:

  • Cover letter
  • Resume
  • Names and contact information for three professional references

Application instructions for internal and external candidates can be found at https://www.wlu.edu/employment-opportunities/jobs-at-w-l.

Campus Safety And Welfare Responsibilities

  • This position is designated as a Campus Security Authority (CSA) in accordance with the Clery Act. This position is required to report Clery qualifying crimes to the Department of Public Safety and complete annual training about your reporting responsibilities under the law.

Position Type

Exempt, Full Time, Benefit Eligible

Minimum Pay

$96,398.00 - Pay Commensurate with Experience

Washington and Lee is an Equal Opportunity Employer seeking candidates committed to high standards of scholarship, performance, professionalism, and to a welcoming campus community. Job description requirements are representative, but not all‐inclusive of the knowledge, skill, and abilities needed to successfully perform this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

To apply, visit: https://wlu.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/WLUCareers/job/Lexington-VA/Director-of-Compensation_R1356

Copyright ©2025 Jobelephant.com Inc. All rights reserved.

Posted by the FREE value-added recruitment advertising agency

jeid-daff024af59cc049b942508ce150c292

Salary : $96,398

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution. Compensation Planning
Enhance your organization's compensation strategy with salary data sets that HR and team managers can use to pay your staff right. Surveys & Data Sets

What is the career path for a Director Of Compensation?

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs on the Director Of Compensation career path by checking the boxes next to the positions that interest you.
Income Estimation: 
$210,054 - $287,901
Income Estimation: 
$247,481 - $355,929
Income Estimation: 
$210,054 - $287,901
Income Estimation: 
$247,481 - $355,929
Income Estimation: 
$180,612 - $237,324
Income Estimation: 
$210,054 - $287,901
Income Estimation: 
$135,846 - $180,127
Income Estimation: 
$180,612 - $237,324
Income Estimation: 
$188,987 - $257,160
View Core, Job Family, and Industry Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles Skills Library

Job openings at Inside Higher Ed

  • Inside Higher Ed Gainesville, FL
  • Job No: 536581 Work Type: Full Time Location: Main Campus (Gainesville, FL) Categories: Biology/Life Science Department: 16060100 - LS-ASTRONOMY-GENERAL Jo... more
  • 13 Days Ago

  • Inside Higher Ed Gainesville, FL
  • Job No: 536782 Work Type: Full Time Location: Main Campus (Gainesville, FL) Categories: Social/Behavioral Science, Humanities Department: 16280000 - LS-HIS... more
  • 13 Days Ago

  • Inside Higher Ed Beebe, AR
  • Position Type Adjunct Job Title Part-Time Math Instructor Classification Title Part-Time Faculty Campus Location: ASU Beebe Job Description ASU-Beebe, a tw... more
  • 13 Days Ago

  • Inside Higher Ed Lawrence, KS
  • Position OverviewThis position plays a vital role in supporting the University’s critical education mission by providing consistent, high-quality instructi... more
  • 13 Days Ago


Not the job you're looking for? Here are some other Director Of Compensation jobs in the Lexington, VA area that may be a better fit.

  • Washington and Lee University Lexington, VA
  • Job Description: The Department of Human Resources at Washington and Lee University seeks a Director of Compensation. Reporting to the Executive Director o... more
  • 2 Months Ago

  • Lynchburg City Schools Lynchburg, VA
  • Human Resources Generalist - Compensation GENERAL INFORMATION Title: Human Resources Generalist - Compensation Department: Human Resources Salary Grade: Fu... more
  • 16 Days Ago

AI Assistant is available now!

Feel free to start your new journey!