Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences · 1 day ago
Senior Director, Total Rewards and Workplace Strategy
Yakima,WA,US
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$103K/yr - $175K/yr
7+ years expPacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (PNWU) is a non-profit medical institution focused on increasing access to healthcare in underserved areas. They are seeking a Senior Director of Total Rewards and Workplace Strategy to lead the design and implementation of equitable compensation and benefits programs while fostering a healthy workplace culture aligned with the university's mission.
EducationNon ProfitUniversities
No H1B
Responsibilities
Provide leadership for the design, implementation, and ongoing refinement of PNWU’s total rewards strategy, including compensation, benefits, and non-monetary rewards, ensuring programs are equitable, competitive, fiscally responsible, and aligned with the University’s mission and long-term sustainability
Design, steward, and continuously improve job architecture, classification frameworks, and salary structures for staff and administrators, ensuring clarity, internal equity, and alignment with organizational needs
Partner with Academic Affairs to support faculty compensation models, analyses, and related decision-making, recognizing the distinct structures and governance considerations within academic environments
Conduct market benchmarking, pay equity analyses, and financial modeling; translate complex data into clear, practical recommendations that support leadership decision-making and institutional priorities
Provide oversight and guidance for annual compensation processes, including merit, adjustments, and related communications, ensuring consistency, transparency, and timely execution
Provide leadership for the design, administration, and continuous improvement of PNWU’s benefits programs, including medical, dental, vision, retirement, leave, wellness offerings, and employee assistance resources, ensuring they are responsive to workforce needs, compliant, and financially sustainable
Ensure benefits offerings are inclusive and accessible across life stages and employment categories, balancing competitiveness, affordability, and institutional stewardship in a complex academic and clinical environment
Lead and oversee the interactive accommodation process for employees, ensuring consistency, timeliness, and compliance while approaching each request with care, clarity, and sound judgment
Contribute to institution-wide efforts that support holistic well-being by aligning benefits, flexibility, leave practices, and workplace expectations with PNWU’s commitment to a healthy and sustainable work environment
Serve as a knowledgeable and steady resource to leaders and employees on benefits and accommodation matters, reinforcing trust through clear guidance, predictable processes, and thoughtful communication
Serve as a trusted partner to leaders on workforce planning, role design, compensation decisions, and workplace effectiveness, helping align people practices with operational needs, institutional priorities, and available resources
Integrate perspectives across Human Resources, Payroll, Finance, IT, Academic Affairs, and campus leadership to inform sound, coordinated decisions and reduce fragmentation across people-related systems and processes
Apply systems thinking and practical judgment to navigate organizational complexity, competing priorities, and evolving workplace expectations, offering guidance that is thoughtful, realistic, and grounded in PNWU’s culture
Support change management related to compensation, benefits, systems modernization, and evolving workplace practices, helping leaders and employees understand the purpose, impact, and practical implications of change
Advance a consistent, transparent, and values-aligned employee experience across the employment lifecycle by promoting clarity, predictability, and follow-through in workplace practices and decisions
Provide leadership for HR data and analytics related to total rewards, workforce metrics, and institutional reporting needs, ensuring information is accurate, relevant, and useful for decision making
Develop and maintain dashboards, analyses, and reports that support leadership understanding of compensation, benefits, workforce trends, and resource implications, translating data into clear insights and practical recommendations
Partner with Institutional Research, Finance, Payroll, and IT to ensure data integrity, consistency, and alignment across systems, recognizing the importance of shared definitions and reliable reporting
Support compliance, audit, and regulatory reporting related to compensation, benefits, and employment practices, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and readiness
Use data thoughtfully to anticipate trends, identify risks, and inform planning, while remaining attentive to the limits of data and the importance of context and judgment
Provide leadership for the ongoing optimization, integration, and effective use of HR systems that support total rewards, accommodations, and workforce data, with attention to accuracy, usability, and sustainability
Partner closely with IT, Payroll, and Finance to improve data integrity, system interoperability, and user experience, recognizing the interdependence of people, process, and technology
Lead or contribute to HR systems modernization initiatives, including workflow redesign, digitization of manual processes, and participation in future system selection, upgrades, or migrations as appropriate to institutional needs and capacity
Ensure that HR systems and workflows support compliance, reliable reporting, and informed decision making, while also reducing administrative burden for employees and supervisors
Balance improvement efforts with operational realities, prioritizing changes that meaningfully enhance clarity, efficiency, and trust in people systems
Partner with Payroll to ensure accurate and timely execution of compensation, benefits, and employee lifecycle transactions
Align Total Rewards practices with payroll processes to create a seamless and reliable employee experience
Collaborate with Finance to ensure compensation and benefits strategies are fiscally responsible and aligned with institutional priorities
Support budget planning through modeling of salary actions, benefit cost projections, and workforce investments
Maintain strong data integrity across HRIS, payroll, and financial systems through coordinated processes and shared accountability
Identify and implement process improvements that reduce manual work, increase efficiency, and strengthen internal controls
Ensure compliance with federal and state wage and hour laws, benefits regulations, and audit requirements in partnership with Payroll and Finance
Provide clear reporting and insights that support transparent, equitable, and consistent compensation and benefits decisions
Translate complex Total Rewards information into practical guidance for leaders to support informed decision making
Foster a collaborative, stewardship-minded partnership that aligns people strategy, financial sustainability, and operational excellence
Performs other related duties as assigned and based on departmental need
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in human resources, Business, Finance, or a related field
Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive HR experience with significant focus on compensation, benefits, and total rewards
Demonstrated experience in compensation strategy, market analysis, and job architecture
Experience leading benefits programs and accommodation processes
Strong analytical, financial, and data reporting skills
Experience partnering closely with Payroll and Finance functions
Preferred
Master's degree in a related field
Experience in higher education, healthcare, or complex nonprofit environment
Professional certifications such as CCP, CBP, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, or PHR
Experience leading HR systems modernization or implementation efforts
Benefits
Health Benefits - Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance
Paid Time Off
403b with Roth Option
Paid Holidays
Company
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences provides education and training for health care professionals.
201-500 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageTotal Funding
$12MKey Investors
Delta Dental of Washington
2023-10-24Grant· $12M
Leadership Team
Ann Hittle
CFO
Adam Story
Chief Development Officer
Recent News
Yakima Herald-Republic
2024-11-30
NonStop Local Tri-Cities/Yakima
2024-11-30
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