Compensation Analyst

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Position Title:

Compensation Analyst

Job Category:

Academic Staff

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Compensation Analyst II (Inst)

Job Duties:

Reporting to the Compensation Manager, this role is responsible for supporting compensation and classification activities through consultation, reporting, and analysis. The position reviews and approves compensation and classification requests; maintains classification policies, procedures, and programs; participates in compensation surveys and market-pricing activities; and leverages HR and compensation data to support decision-making, compliance activities, and alignment with divisional and institutional goals.

The role also serves as a resource for HR and workforce reporting, preparing recurring and ad hoc reports, metrics, and analyses for institutional and regulatory reporting needs.

Key Job Responsibilities:

Compensation Services & Support

• Conduct analysis and provide consultation regarding compensation issues and program direction, and ensure compensation policies and procedures are maintained and aligned with industry best practices and organizational vision.
• Participate in salary surveys and conduct classification and compensation studies of market data, review current practices, and recommend improvements to leadership to align with strategic initiatives and objectives.
• Create and revise standard job descriptions in alignment with the established organizational structure and approved methodology.
• Serve as a liaison to human resources staff providing organizational information, reviewing and analyzing data, and recommending solutions for routine pay scenarios in accordance with established policies, procedures, regulations, and applicable laws.
• Contribute to the planning, development, and implementation of strategic compensation and classification initiatives and objectives.
• Work on the regular maintenance of the compensation program, taking initiative to evaluate its effectiveness, achievement of goals, budgetary aspects, etc., and recommend improvements to leadership where necessary.

Reporting & Analysis         

• Maintain reports, dashboards, and other data visualization tools to disseminate Human Resources (HR), compensation, and compliance-related statistical reports and information.

• Utilize data reporting tools to retrieve,  analyze, and research institutional data according to established procedures and regulations.
• Analyze and interpret data to provide insights to support business decisions.
• Serve as liaison and contact for internal and external stakeholders for HR-related reporting and compliance, external surveys, and institutional statistics.
• Take initiative to audit data and propose solutions.

Membership Management & other duties as assigned

• Manage membership participation for UWSA and other institutions for organizations like MarketPay, CUPAHR, etc.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Department:

The Office of Human Resources provides leadership, policy development, guidance, and functional expertise to sustain and engage a talented, diverse workforce in one of the nation’s premier higher education systems. We are a trusted partner that values diversity, promotes equity, nurtures resilience, and considers the impact of decisions on our greatest resource: people. We model integrity and high ethical standards as we engage in strategic partnerships that advance the greater mission of the Universities of Wisconsin.

Compensation:

The Compensation Reporting Analyst (official title: Compensation Analyst) is a full-time, salaried (exempt), academic staff position.  

Well-qualified candidates can expect a starting annual salary within a range of  $63,000 - $75,000, commensurate with the candidate’s education, related experience, and qualifications.  

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree

• Two years of experience in compensation, HR analytics, human resources, or a closely related field
• Demonstrated ability to analyze, validate, and interpret HR or compensation-related data and present findings in a clear and actionable manner
• Experience working with HRIS or compensation systems

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience creating recurring reports, dashboards, and/or data visualizations to support HR, compensation, or compliance activities; experience using data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau or Power BI) is a plus
• Experience reviewing and validating large data sets for accuracy, consistency, and alignment with HR policies and business processes
• Experience supporting compensation and classification, including job evaluation, market pricing, salary administration, or compensation consultation
• Previous experience using MarketPay (or similar market-pricing platform) for job benchmarking and market pricing analysis

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

•  Strong interpersonal and customer service skills with the ability to interact with employees and leaders at all organizational levels
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including formulas, pivot tables, data validation, and data analysis techniques used to validate, interpret, and report HR and compensation data.
• Ability to work in a team environment
• Ability to provide compensation consultation, reporting, and analytical support to Universities of Wisconsin Administration and UW institutions
• Knowledge of compensation administration principles and procedures
• Knowledge of job analysis and job evaluation principles, methods, and procedures
• Knowledge of federal and state wage and salary laws and regulations
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to validate and interpret HR data, identify trends, and communicate findings to diverse audiences
• Ability to interpret and apply compensation and classification policies, procedures, and guidelines consistently
• Knowledge of Universities of Wisconsin employee classifications, compensation structures, and HR business processes

Work Location:

The business office is located at 780 Regent Street in Madison, WI.  Hybrid work options may be available, with an in-office requirement of 3 days per week. Telecommuting agreements are subject to change at any time.

How to Apply:

To ensure full consideration, please submit application materials as soon as possible. Applicant screening will begin immediately and be ongoing through 11:59 pm, October 18,2026. Applications may be accepted until the position has been filled. 

To receive full consideration, interested applicants are required to provide:  

• Resume (PDF Format)  

• Cover letter addressing your experience and education as it applies to all minimum and preferred qualifications (PDF Format) 

Failing to submit the required application documents may disqualify your application.

Contact Information:

Questions may be addressed to: Kristina Williston, HR Generalist, at [email protected].

Accommodation Request

If you need to request an accommodation because of a disability, you can find information about how to make a request by contacting [email protected]. 

Criminal Background Check and Reference Check Policy

This offer of employment is conditional pending the results of a criminal background check and a reference check process that includes questions regarding employee misconduct, sexual violence, and sexual harassment. If you have prior work history within the past 7 years with the Universities of Wisconsin, your personnel file will also be reviewed for employee misconduct. If the results are unacceptable, the offer will be withdrawn or, if you have started employment, your employment will be terminated.

Employment Authorization

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e., a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of employer sponsorship) on, before, or after the effective date of appointment.   

Confidentiality

The Universities of Wisconsin will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. §. 19.36(7). 

Benefits Information

Universities of Wisconsin employees receive an excellent benefits package. To learn more about the benefits package, review the Faculty, Academic Staff & Limited Appointees  or University Staff   Please see this link for total compensation information: Universities of Wisconsin Health & Retirement Contributions Estimator to provide you with total compensation information. 

Clery Act information 

The Universities of Wisconsin provides statistics on campus crime in its Annual Security Report.  For more information on university campus statistics see https://www.wisconsin.edu/compliance/clery/.

UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.