Assistant HR Director, Total Rewards

Travis County is seeking an experienced, forward-thinking Assistant Director of Total Rewards to provide strategic leadership and operational oversight of compensation, classification, and employee benefits programs serving approximately 5,000 employees. Reporting to the Chief Human Resources Officer, this position leads a team of two direct reports and ten indirect reports and plays a key role in strengthening market competitiveness, supporting equitable compensation practices, and ensuring sustainable, high-quality benefits. The ideal candidate has hands-on experience leading market salary studies, classification initiatives, compensation strategy development, and self-funded benefits programs in a large, complex organization. As a member of the HR leadership team, the Assistant Director collaborates with the Planning & Budget Office, elected and appointed officials, and department leaders to advance County priorities.

For more information on Travis County, click HERE

In alignment with the responsibilities of this position, the duties of the Assistant Director for Total Rewards span four main categories: 

• Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight of Benefits and Compensation & Classification, including development of managers and professional staff and clear performance expectations
• Lead compensation and classification strategy, including market studies, salary structures, internal equity, pay compression analysis, and recommendations that support recruitment and retention
• Oversee self-funded benefits strategy, plan performance, vendor accountability, employee communications, and annual enrollment planning; present recommendations to Commissioners Court and other stakeholders
• Manage operating budgets, contracts, procurement and RFPs, actuaries, consultants, and third-party administrators, ensuring fiscal stewardship and service quality

Help Travis County be a trusted, well-run County and an employer of choice through competitive total rewards, responsive service, and continuous improvement. We seek a collaborative, data-driven leader who combines strategic vision with practical execution, communicates complex issues clearly, develops high-performing teams, and uses technology and cross-functional partnerships to modernize HR services. 

Review the Assistant Director of Total Rewards Brochure HERE

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

The Assistant Director is a senior level human resources management position. Incumbents in this classification demonstrate a highly advanced degree of initiative and independent judgment, excellent communication skills and problem-solving abilities. This classification may require a flexible work schedule to meet the needs of the department.

• Oversees and leads functional staff. Serves as backup in the absence of the Chief Human Resource Officer
• Provides strategic direction to County leaders on the design, implementation, employee communication, and administration of compensation, classification, and benefits programs
• Evaluates program effectiveness using market data, employee feedback, benefits utilization, financial performance, and service measures; recommends improvements aligned with County priorities
• Develops and executes an equitable, competitive, and financially sustainable total rewards strategy encompassing compensation, classification, employee benefits, and work-life programs
• Keeps abreast of market and legislative or regulatory trends
• Coordinates with the Commissioners’ Court, division, departments, agencies, and organizations to accomplish organizational goals and objectives
• Leads complex initiatives, including compensation and classification studies, pay equity and compression reviews, and benefits modernization, to improve employee experience and organizational outcomes
• Advises, consults, and collaborates with Elected and Appointed Officials, Department Heads, department management, and employees on proposed, new and or existing HR programs, policies, and operational procedures
• Partners across HR divisions and County departments to strengthen service delivery, share information, simplify processes, and implement sustainable improvements
• Applies research, market surveys, cost-benefit analysis, and workforce data to develop salary structures, market positioning, and compensation recommendations
• Oversees self-funded medical and pharmacy programs, plan design and cost containment, consultants, actuaries, third-party administrators, and clear employee communications during changes and open enrollment.
• Presents recommendations to Commissioners Court for policies, procedures, programs, and or actions for HR programs. Presents technical information clearly and logically in a manner that is easily understood by Commissioners Court, and other various and diverse audiences
• Advises and serves on County committees as assigned
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

To view the full job description and duties, Click HereEducation and Experience:
Bachelor’s degree in Personnel Management, Human Resources Management, Public Administration, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a directly related field AND seven (7) years of directly related demonstrated experience in Human Resources. Must have five (5) years of experience in a responsible position within Total Rewards, including three (3) years of mid to senior level supervisory or management experience. Prefer candidates who demonstrate requisite job knowledge and additional competencies including organizational commitment, teamwork, negotiations, change management, adaptability, conflict resolution, initiative, and project management.  Experiences should include training delivery;

OR,

Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.
 
Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:
Valid Texas Driver’s License.
 
Preferred:

• Master's degree in Personnel Administration, Human Resources Management, Public Administration, or a directly related field.
• Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) or Certified Benefits Professional (CBP).
• Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR); or Professional in Human Resources Certification (PHR).
• Experience leading compensation studies and administering or overseeing self-funded benefits in a large, complex organization.
• Systems, Applications and Products (SAP) experience preferred.

Knowledge of:

• Federal, State and Local regulations, codes, and laws: Employment laws and Affirmative Action, Title VII of Civil Rights Act, Equal Pay Act, FLSA, ADA, FMLA, EEOC, I-9, HIPAA, COBRA, ACA, and other compliance requirements.
• Principles and practices of Human Resources management and leadership.
• Collaboration and teambuilding.
• Change management theory and implementation techniques.
• Negotiating techniques. 
• Strategic plans, budgets, and programmatic evaluation tools.
• Best practices in compensation, classification, and benefits design and administration.
• State and local government budget, planning, systems, documents, issues, and trends.
• HR procedures, codes, and terminology.
• Recent Human Resources developments and current literature.
• Innovative HR programs.
• Vendor and contract management.
• Principles of project management, including scheduling, estimating, budgeting.
• HR processes, data, database design, structure, and functions.
• Various HR and regional resources.
• Computer equipment and systems to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and a variety of software packages.

Skill in:

• Developing, implementing, coordinating, interpreting, applying, and enforcing HR policies and procedures per laws, rules, regulations, and codes.
• Contract, vendor, and project management.
• Developing budgets and programmatic evaluation tools.
• Strategic planning and executing plans.
• Applying Human Resources and consulting methods.
• Using information systems such as HRIS, database, advanced MS Excel, and other information systems tools.
• Project management principles and methodologies.
• Explaining complicated technical problems in simple non-technical language.
• Customer-focused, service-oriented leadership and hands-on problem-solving.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills including technology tools such as Excel and PowerPoint.
• People analytics and evidence-based decision-making.

Ability to:

• Influence and impact all levels in the organization and maintain effective relationships with external partners.
• Manage, assign, supervise, motivate, train, and evaluate professional and administrative support staff.
• Interpret policies, procedures, and Federal, State and Local applicable laws.
• Manage, plan, organize, prioritize, and implement department programs, projects, functions, operations, and activities.
• Design and conduct employee training.
• Work independently.
• Manage time well, set priorities, perform multiple tasks, and organize and prioritize diverse activities, changing priorities, independently establish plans and successfully execute multiple assignments with concurrent deadlines in a dynamic environment.
• Exercise sound judgment and make effective decisions.
• Ensure compliance with assigned guidelines, processes, and procedures.
• Perform in a fast-paced environment while maintaining a professional manner.
• Make appropriate and effective public presentations.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with County employees and officials.
• Think strategically and develop a long-term vision for total rewards services.
• Demonstrate strong analytical skills to evaluate compensation data and develop effective programs.
• Synthesize and communicate (verbal/written) complex information about HR programs to a wide range of stakeholders, including executives, managers, and employees.
• Lead and manage effectively.
• Set clear goals, develop talent, and foster a collaborative, integrated, and accountable work environment.
• Manage and identify potential barriers to change and develop strategies to overcome them.
• Technical proficiency in HR software applications.
• Analyze and manipulate data using spreadsheets, databases, and other software tools.
• Collaborate effectively with diverse groups, including elected officials, leaders, employees, and external partners.

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 20-50 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment.  Subject to standing, walking, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, client/customer contact, squatting to perform the essential functions.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

This job description is intended to be generic in nature.  It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities.  The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.

Work Hours: Monday - Friday 8 am - 5 pm

Department: Human Resources Management Department

Location: 700 Lavaca St., Austin, TX 78701

Criminal, Education, and Employment Background Checks Required.

For questions about this position, contact: [email protected]