Senior Compensation Partner

USC'sHuman Resources Compensation departmentis seeking an experiencedSenior Compensation Partner to join their team. The Senior Compensation Partner administers staff compensation programs while independently advising HR partners and departments on a wide range of complex compensation matters. The Senior Compensation Partner leads classification and pay analyses, including equity adjustments and reorganizations, conducts internal audits, and supports market benchmarking and survey activities. The Senior Compensation Partner Ensures all compensation decisions align with institutional policy, equity standards, and applicable laws, and serves as a trusted resource for compensation guidance and strategic decision-making.

Responsibilities:

• Administers compensation programs and partners with HR and departments to support operational needs. Provides guidance on compensation topics such as reclassifications, pay equity, benchmarking, and pay adjustments, and manages moderately complex requests. Independently resolves compensation matters while ensuring alignment with university policies, wage guidelines, and compliance requirements.

• Leads compensation reviews and job evaluations for moderately complex requests, including reclassifications, internal promotions, and organizational changes. Independently determines classifications and pay actions using documentation and data analysis. Works with stakeholders to confirm accurate inputs, and clearly documents and communicates decisions across units.

• Supports external market surveys by identifying benchmark roles and validating data accuracy. Conducts internal equity and compensation analyses to evaluate market competitiveness and internal consistency. Researches peer institution practices and summarizes findings to inform compensation strategy and recommendations. Prepares clear, actionable summaries for HR and leadership based on internal and external data.

• Oversees the creation and revision of job descriptions to ensure accurate classification language, compliance, and consistency. Maintains data integrity across HR systems by keeping job profiles current. Partners with departments and HR to ensure job profiles are used appropriately for recruitment, compensation, and internal alignment.

• Reviews and approves compensation changes to ensure compliance with internal policies, pay structures, and applicable laws. Conducts internal audits to evaluate equity, pay compression, and classification consistency, and recommends corrective actions. Monitors employment law and regulatory changes and advises HR partners on updates to compensation practices.

• Ensures compensation practices are compliant with university policies, federal and state regulations, and industry standards. Encourages a workplace culture where all employees are valued, value others and have the opportunity to contribute through their ideas, words and actions, in accordance with the USC Code of Ethics.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration or in related field(s)

• 8 years of job-related experience or transferable skills

• Experience providing guidance and direction to compensation analysts.

• Certified Compensation Professional - CCP (WorldatWork)

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree

• 6 years of job-related experience or transferable skills

• Solid compensation skills and experience as an analyst in a corporate or university environment.

• Thorough knowledge of compensation best practices, principles, methodologies and wage and hour regulations, skilled in analyzing and evaluating job content.

• Ability to identify and solve problems creatively.

• Knowledge of compensation market data benchmarking and analysis for providing guidance to business partners on pay recommendations.

• Excellent analytical, customer service and critical thinking skills.

• Demonstrated strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to interface and communicate with all levels of employees.

• Ability to work effectively in a team environment.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Ability to multi-task and set priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Detail oriented.

Required Documents and Additional Information

Resume and cover letter required (may be uploaded as one file). Please do not submit your application without these documents.

The budgeted salary range for this position is $116,400 - $120,000. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer alignment, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

To support faculty and staff well-being, USC provides benefits-eligible employees with a broad range of benefits and perks to help protect their and their dependents' health, wealth, and future. These benefits are available as part of the overall compensation and total rewards package. You can learn more about USC's comprehensive benefits here.