Classification and Compensation Manager at State of Washington – View Job Posting for Location, Washington

Please Note: The starting salary offer will be determined based on the successful candidates’ qualifications within the starting salary range of $118,008 - $132,972 annually. Please note that there is career salary growth beyond this starting range for the successful candidate.

Hybrid: Our physical office is in Olympia, WA. We offer flexible work schedules and locations. This is a hybrid position where most of the work allows for telework. However, you will need to travel to in-person activities, meetings, and events according to business needs.

Why work for OFM
The Office of Financial Management (OFM) serves as the backbone of Washington state government. Our mission is to make our state a better place by connecting people, budgets, policies, data, and systems for state agencies and the Legislature. Our team includes budget advisors, researchers, and other experts, all dedicated public servants working towards an equitable future for every Washingtonian. If you want to play a key role in enhancing how state government serves its citizens, you’ve found the right place. Join us in making a meaningful difference for every Washingtonian!

The job opportunity
Are you ready to make a statewide impact and lead a classification and compensation team? We are seeking a Classification & Compensation (C&C) Manager, who will lead a team of professional staff dedicated to developing and maintaining Washington State’s classification structure and compensation plan. In this dynamic role, you will collaborate with state employers and enterprise partners, including the Legislature, Governor’s Office, OFM Policy, Labor Relations, IT, and Budget to create solutions that help agencies and institutions attract, retain, and develop a skilled and engaged workforce. You will provide expert-level consultation on complex classification and compensation issues with enterprise-wide implications, often involving mandatory subjects of bargaining and requiring executive-level support. Additionally, you will work closely with agency and higher education leadership to advise on policy-related matters, ensuring sustainable and strategic workforce decisions. If you're a forward-thinking leader with a passion for driving meaningful change, this is your opportunity to make a lasting difference at the highest levels of state government.
What you will work on

• Manage the daily operations of a team of professional Classification and Compensation Specialists.
• Recommend selection of staff; provide training and development; prioritize, plan and assign work; manage performance; and corrective action.
• Oversee, provide guidance and review teamwork products as necessary, including formal reports, public-agenda documents, executive memos and correspondences, training and presentation materials, etc.
• Ensure accuracy and consistency on enterprise-wide classification and compensation consultations when interpreting and providing classification and compensation standards.
• Oversee assigned team responsibilities to include: programs and processes team members may be responsible for including, but not limited to: the State Officials Salary Administration (SOSA), Statewide HR- related Training (both classroom and online), HR Community C&C Roundtables, Enterprise Cloud Readiness, Small Agency Support, and participate in or take the lead on special projects such as Statewide Hiring Freeze, Executive Order 24-04 implementation, etc.
• Make recommendations to executive leadership on complicated compensation issues requiring the application of specialized knowledge and expertise.
• Advise executive management on the accepted principles and rules of classification and compensation.
• Provide decision makers with multiple policy options to help ensure the integrity of the state’s classification and compensation system is maintained.
• Participate and make recommendations in the development of enterprise classification policies and procedures.
• Serve as a statewide senior-level advisor providing expert technical advice and assistance to agencies/institutions HR offices on allocation, compensation practices, and FLSA and LNI overtime administration.
• Represent C&C and serve as a subject matter expert to OFM Labor Relations and OFM Budget Division throughout the biennial collective bargaining and budget cycle.
• Participate as a member at the bargaining table with labor negotiators; acts as a resource explaining compensation rules and proposal recommendations to labor organizations.
• Serve as an expert witness and provide testimony during interest arbitration hearings.
• Articulates the C&C perspective to ensure an enterprise-wide perspective is a top consideration.
• Reviews all union classification and compensation proposals submitted throughout bargaining; provides policy recommendations and/or options to implement classification and compensation changes.
• Review agency and institution supplemental and biennial decision packages.

What we need you to bring
Required Qualifications:

• Three (3) years as a senior level human resource professional.
• Two years professional experience in classification/compensation (experience can be concurrent with the first bullet).
• Bachelor's degree in business, human resources, finance or related field from an accredited college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
• Professional relevant human resource experience may substitute for the degree on a year-to-year basis.
  • Knowledge of classification concepts, principles, and practices related to structuring organizations and positions and determining the appropriate pay system, occupational grouping, title, and pay level of positions.
  • Knowledge of compensation concepts, principles, and practices, including hours of work, pay and leave administration, and compensation flexibilities.
  • Experience managing staff in a supervisory capacity or in a lead role for mission critical projects that have significant impact on the agencies’ missions/goals and include managing the work of others.

Desired Qualifications:

• SPHR/PHR certification.
• Technical proficiency using Microsoft Office products and Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS).
• Expert level knowledge in assigned area of specialized responsibility.
• Knowledge of government regulations applicable to classification and compensation.
• Understanding of general government and higher education organizations, their objectives, challenges, & needs.

Core Competencies:

• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - Demonstrate agency values by embracing the traits that create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture. Make continuous progress in achieving the enterprise diversity, equity, and inclusion competencies.
• Consultation and communication skills – The ability to effectively plan and deliver oral and written communications that are clear in order to make an impact and persuade their intended audiences. Actively reaching out to create partnerships and provide professional guidance.
• Initiative – Seeks opportunities to learn and grow in other areas related to classification and compensation. Identifying what needs to be done and doing it before being asked or before the situation requires it.
• Analytical thinking – The ability to tackle a problem by using a logical, systematic, sequential approach.
• Forward thinking – The ability to anticipate the implications and consequences of situations and take appropriate action to be prepared for possible contingencies.
• Building collaborative relationships – The ability to develop, maintain, and strengthen partnerships with others inside or outside the organization who provide information, assistance, and support.

What we offer
At OFM, we foster a culture of integrity, innovation, inclusion, and belonging. We value both learned and lived experiences, believing that diversity makes us stronger. To support your health and well-being, we offer a variety of benefit programs for our employees.

Please visit our Recruitment Page for a full list of benefits available to employees. Here’s a quick glance at some of the unique benefits that OFM offers:

• An environment of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging
• Tuition reimbursement
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• 12 paid holidays, 14 paid vacation days (minimum), and 12 days of sick leave per year
• State retirement programs

Application Process: Once you’ve decided to apply for a state government job, you’ll complete an online application to showcase your qualifications. Keep in mind that once you submit the application, a real person is going to read it. We do not use AI or other technology that screens your application and rejects it. So please be sure to provide clear and detailed information about your work history so your qualifications can be accurately assessed. We will contact the top candidates directly to schedule interviews. If you need reasonable accommodation in applying, please call 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.

Your application will not be considered complete and sent to the hiring teams for review, unless you attach all of the following:

• Cover letter: describing your experience, skills, and contributions you will bring to this leadership role, along with the values you will bring to the team and organization if you are chosen for this position.
• Resume: that details your applicable experience and education.

Questions: OFM's Staff ASL interpreter is available to all deaf and hard of hearing applicants. For questions about this recruitment or to request a reasonable accommodation in the application or interview process, please email us at TalentAcquisition@ofm.wa.gov.

The Office of Financial Management is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, and disabled and Vietnam-era veterans are encouraged to apply.

This position is exempt from civil service rules.

For more information, please see WAC 357-19-195.