Director of Compensation

Director of Compensation

The Director of Compensation serves as the senior leader for the University’s compensation function, overseeing a team consisting of a Compensation Manager and several Compensation Analysts with varying levels of expertise and specialization. This role is responsible for the strategic design, implementation, governance, and continuous improvement of Pitt’s compensation programs in a diverse and unionized environment.

The Director focuses on strategic direction, advanced consultation, and high-impact decision-making in partnership with senior leadership, Responsibility Center (RC) leaders, Department Administrators, and HR partners. While the team handles most day-to-day tactical work — including job evaluations, market pricing, and routine pay actions — the Director ensures these activities are executed within a consistent, compliant, and strategically aligned framework.

Given the University’s complex shared governance structure and the unique financial realities of higher education, the Director must be adept at building consensus across diverse academic and administrative stakeholders, balancing market competitiveness with institutional priorities, and designing solutions that work within budgetary and operational constraints.

This position also serves as a key leader in the University’s Total Rewards strategy, ensuring that compensation programs are integrated with benefits, recognition, and other reward programs to attract, retain, and engage top talent while aligning with The Plan for Pitt strategic framework.

Key responsibilities will include:

Strategic Leadership & Oversight

Compensation Technology & Systems Integration

Pay Equity Analysis

Analytics, Dashboards & Decision Support

Organizational Change Management & Stakeholder Engagement

Program Design, Market Positioning & Governance

Union & Collective Bargaining Support

Executive and Faculty Compensation

Annual Compensation Management Process

Career Path Framework Development

Policy, Process Optimization & Compliance

Oversees daily operations of the compensation department and supervises staff. Serves as an advisor to University leadership; assists executive leadership in initiative development. Designs new policies and monitors programs.

• Oversees direct daily operations of the compensation department and supervises staff, which includes hiring, performance reviews, and documenting disciplinary actions and other human resource administration. Manages work schedules and approves timecards. Provides professional development opportunities. Distributes and reviews work.
• Serves as advisor and primary liaison to University leadership and departmental administration regarding compensation and human resources.
• Develops short and long-term initiatives in conjunction with the Vice Chancellor for Human Resources and Assistant Vice Chancellor; ensures goals and objectives align with those of the Office of Human Resources.
• Designs and implements new policies, procedures, and practices that support a collaborative environment and ensure effective operations.
• Monitors programs, identifies inefficiencies, and seeks opportunities to implement solutions for optimized effectiveness.
• Gathers data, analyzes trends, and develops and presents reports regarding compensation deliverables. Deploys analytics to assist the University in making informed decisions. Handles high-profile compensation actions upon request.

Little physical effort required. Duties are primarily sedentary. May be required to move objects up to 25 pounds occasionally.