City of Portland - Benefits and Compensation Manager

Start Date: October 21, 2024 | End Date: April 19, 2025
County: Cumberland County
Job Type: Human Resources

The City of Portland is seeking a kind, compassionate, experienced and strategic Benefits & Compensation Manager to join our Human Resources team. This role is crucial for ensuring that our compensation structure and benefits programs are competitive, sustainable, and aligned with our overall goals. The Benefits & Compensation Manager will lead the development, implementation, administration, communication, and ongoing evaluation of the City’s compensation structure and benefits programs.

This role serves as a resource for the City’s HR professionals, departments, union representatives, employees, and job applicants. Additionally, the Manager may support the collective bargaining process in the areas of compensation and benefits as needed. The expertise required for this role will ensure that the City remains a competitive employer, attracts top talent, and fosters an engaged workforce where employees feel valued and rewarded through effective benefits and compensation practices and programs. To learn more about our benefits programs, click here

Duties & Responsibilities:

Compensation:
• Overseeing and supporting compensation studies, including wages and benefits.
• Analyzing the results of such studies, making recommendations to the Director of Human Resources, and implementing agreed upon changes.
• Creating and implementing best practices, policies, and guidelines surrounding compensation and bonuses; advises on the appropriate application of such practices, policies, and guidelines.
• Monitoring the effectiveness of existing compensation practices and recommending changes that are cost-effective and consistent with compensation trends and municipal objectives.
• Ensuring the City’s compliance with all compensation related federal, state, and local laws.
• Overseeing non-union job descriptions, job analyses, and classifications.
• Maintaining awareness of prevailing pay rates and benefit plans.

Benefits:
• Conducting studies of fringe benefits, and analyzing the results of such studies, making recommendations to the Director of Human Resources, and implementing agreed upon changes.
• Overseeing City benefit vendors to ensure compliance with City agreements, excellent support for employees, and effectiveness.
• Ensuring compliance with state and federal laws and regulations.
• Evaluating the individual programs and total benefits package against best practices and the market and making recommendations for changes; implements agreed-upon changes.
• Managing the City’s wellness program and incentives and charitable giving program.
• Monitoring the effectiveness of existing compensation practices and recommends changes that are cost-effective and consistent with compensation trends and corporate objectives.
• Ensuring the City’s compliance with all benefits related federal, state, and local laws, including ACA compliance and reporting.
• Supervises a Benefits Specialist and other employees as assigned. May also supervise temporary HR staff and/or interns as needed.

Required Skills & Experience:

• Graduation from a four-year college or university with specialization in public administration, business, labor relations, or human resource management, plus responsible work experience in personnel or labor relations, preferably in the public sector; or any equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Strong understanding of the principles of public sector benefits and compensation, including health, pension, income protection, etc.
• Strong understanding of finance and budgeting, and the ability to accurately manage a $25+ million budget.
• Thorough knowledge of state, federal, and local laws governing compensation and fringe benefits programs.
• Thorough knowledge of the principles and best practices of employee benefits and compensation program management.
• Knowledge of the principles and best practices of public human resources administration and techniques, including recruitment, retention, and engagement.
• Meticulous attention to detail.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and listening skills in dealing with all levels of employee and partners.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret and communicate data.
• Excellent technology skills and the commitment to using technology to simplify and streamline processes.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Ability to maintain objectivity and confidentiality in the performance of duties.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, union representatives, consultants, service providers, managers, superiors and subordinates.
• Ability to analyze problems and recommend workable solutions.

Applications accepted until filled with the first review of resume to begin on 11/15/2024

Offers of employment are contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory criminal background check.

Salary & Benefits:

This is a non-union position (Grade D62) - Starting salary range: $93,421.00 to $108,301.00/year.

The City of Portland prides itself on its outstanding benefits and collegial and mission-driven work environment. City benefits include:

• Free employee health insurance with the completion of wellness incentives
• Thirteen paid holidays
• Sick, vacation, and personal leave
• Life, dental, vision and income protection insurances
• Choice of retirement plans, including a pension plan
• Use of City recreation facilities
• Discount on professional development programs through USM and Thomas College

If you have questions or need assistance with the application, please contact Shae Gonzalez (City of Portland Recruiter) at sgonzalez@portlandmaine.gov or 207-653-3615 (call or text)

The City of Portland believes that to do our best work, our employees need to reflect the diverse, vibrant community we serve. We are an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and are committed to celebrating all dimensions of diversity in the workplace. Applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other applicable legally protected characteristics. If you need to request a reasonable accommodation, please call 207-874-8624 or email hrinfo@portlandmaine.gov

To apply, visit https://apptrkr.com/5736487