Director of Compensation and Benefits (Hybrid)

Director of Compensation and Benefits (Hybrid)

Metropolitan Family Services (MFS) empowers families to learn, to earn, to heal, to thrive. Since 1857, MFS has been the engine of change that empowers families to reach their greatest potential and positively impact their communities. We are currently looking to hire the Director of Compensation and Benefits at our Headquarters office in downtown Chicago. This role will lead all aspects of compensation and benefits, including the development and implementation of an agency compensation philosophy and structure. The position requires high‑level strategic thinking and leadership and will ensure the organization remains compliant, competitive, and that employees are equitably compensated.

SALARY: The average starting salary for this position is $120,000 annually. Compensation will depend on skill and experience level.

Essential Job Functions

Leadership

• Serve as the primary subject‑matter expert in compensation and benefits, providing clear, timely, and strategic communication to executives, managers, and employees to ensure understanding, alignment, and informed decision‑making across the agency.
• Provide leadership and coaching to develop the team in accordance with our values and culture.
• Research and make recommendations to Executive Leadership and provide cost analysis of new comp and benefits offerings, including pay‑for‑performance models, flexible benefits, company‑wide or program‑based bonus offerings, etc.

Compensation

• Maintain processes and procedures to ensure consistency in the application of our compensation philosophy. Act as a trusted advisor to enhance pay transparency within the organization through knowledge sharing, maintaining manager resources, and fostering partnerships with key stakeholders.
• Develop new compensation policies, guidelines and procedures; monitor effectiveness of existing practices and recommend plan revisions ensuring cost‑effective and consistent with market trends and best practices aligned with the organization’s mission, values, and long‑term goals.
• Design and implement a compensation framework that supports recruitment of quality candidates and retention of current staff and ensures the framework remains relevant over time.
• Oversee the development and maintenance of a job evaluation system to classify and compensate roles based on responsibilities, skills, and market rates.
• Oversee the annual salary review process, including working with Executive Leadership to set annual salary increase budgets.
• Design, maintain, and administer the company job architecture; work closely with technology teams to ensure data integrity and optimal delivery of compensation administration.
• Provide guidance to managers and HR staff on compensation‑related matters, including job leveling, new hire offers, promotions, and market salary adjustments.
• Ensure that all program, state and federal mandated compensation adjustments are identified and implemented in a timely manner and in accordance with requirements.

Benefits

• Develop and continuously review and improve upon the benefit offerings at MFS to ensure alignment with strategy and support recruitment and retention of quality candidates.
• Oversee all aspects of employee benefits programs, including health insurance, retirement & pension plans (e.g., 401(k)), life insurance, disability coverage, and other voluntary benefits.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for benefits vendors, brokers, and consultants, negotiating contracts, monitoring service levels, and ensuring compliance with contractual agreements.
• Oversee the annual open enrollment process, including communication campaigns, enrollment meetings, and coordination with benefits providers.

Other

• Conduct regular benchmarking and market research to evaluate competitiveness of compensation and benefits packages and make informed recommendations for adjustments and enhancements.
• Research and recommend new compensation and benefits offerings for Executive Leadership, including cost analysis of innovative models.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant federal, state, and local regulations governing compensation and benefits.
• Work closely with leadership and HR to ensure changes to compensation and benefits programs are communicated effectively to employees.
• Collaborate with the Director of HR System and Services to ensure greatest value from HR system modules related to compensation and benefits.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources management, business management, finance or related field, or equivalent experience required.
• 7+ years of experience in compensation and benefits management required.
• 3+ years of direct leadership experience required.
• Master’s degree in human resources management, business management, finance or related field preferred.
• Experience in a nonprofit or social services environment preferred.
• Compensation and Benefits certifications such as CEBS and/or CPP, CEBS Certified Employee Benefit Specialist, and/or PHR/SHRM‑CP Certification preferred.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Intermediate level Excel skill.
• Strong understanding of compensation and benefits best practices, trends, and regulations.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and make data‑driven recommendations.
• Experience with HRIS systems and design to ensure compensation and benefits modules interact with other modules.
• Strong financial skills and high level of business acumen required.
• Proven leader who can effectively lead a team through change.
• Ability to create high‑level presentations and present data to varying levels in the organization including Executive Leadership.
• Able to convince and persuade with the use of data and facts.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse individuals and groups.

Additional Requirements

• Satisfactorily pass all relevant screenings and criminal background checks.

Physical Demands

• While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is required to sit and stand for sustained periods, frequently talk, hear, use hands and fingers to feel, handle, and operate objects, and occasionally stand, bend, stretch, stoop, kneel and crouch. Close visual acuity to perform activities such as preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing, and viewing a computer terminal.

Benefits Highlights

• Medical Coverage, Dental Coverage, and Vision Coverage.
• Metropolitan Family Services contributions of $2,000 to individual and $4,000 to family HSA accounts, pro‑rated to benefit start date.
• FREE General Medicine and Behavioral Health Teladoc services provided to all team members.
• Ascensus 401(k) plan services with a 4% employer match, vested at 100% on day one of eligibility.

More About Us

Metropolitan is Illinois’ first comprehensive human services agency and reaches more than 122,970 individuals and families in Chicago, Evanston/Skokie, the southwest suburbs, and DuPage County with services promoting education, economic stability, emotional wellness, and empowerment.

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