University of Southern California Looking for Associate Vice President, Total Rewards at Los Angeles, CA  Full Time

Who We Are:

USC is a leading private research university located in Los Angeles – a global center for arts, technology, and international business. As the city’s largest private employer, responsible for more than $5 billion annually in economic activity in the region, we offer the opportunity to work in a dynamic and diverse environment, in careers that span a broad spectrum of talents and skills across a variety of academic schools and units. As a USC employee, you will enjoy excellent benefits and perks and be a member of the Trojan Family – the faculty, staff, students, and alumni who make USC a great place to work.

About University Human Resources:

University Human Resources (HR) provides the services and the support that allow our faculty and staff to grow and constantly break new ground. From ensuring access to benefits, retirement plans, and wellness resources, to offering training, development, and career advancement support, we keep USC’s mission at the center of all that we do.

Led bySenior Vice President of Human Resources Felicia A. Washington, University HR is part ofUSC Human Resources, Equity and Compliance, a division which also includes the Office for Equity, Equal Opportunity, & Title IX (EEO-TIX); the Office of Culture, Ethics & Compliance, and the Office of Professionalism and Ethics.

The Position:

The Associate Vice President (AVP) of Total Rewards serves as senior leadership’s primary interface and recognized authority on matters related to compensation, employee benefits, and employee health and well-being. This individual is expected to effectively create, translate, and implement the vision and strategy for staff and executive compensation, employee benefits, and employee health and well-being programs into a total rewards strategy that enables the university to attract, recruit, and retain top tier talent, including executive staff. The AVP of Total Rewards will be responsible for creating and/or enhancing Total Rewards strategic initiatives in the areas of employee benefits, staff and executive, compensation, and employee health and well-being frameworks that align to university objectives, including the achievement of competitive, innovative, and sustainable market-driven total rewards programs and practices. This person will lead compensation discussions and strategy for executive searches in collaboration with SVP Human Resources, Equity, and Compliance. Overseeing total rewards for the university, this individual will ensure that appropriate compensation pay policies and practices are established and managed while designing competitive programs linking pay, benefits, and rewards to vision, values, and performance. This position must influence in a highly-collaborative and relationship-driven environment, build credibility, and navigate a changing culture. The Associate Vice President of Total Rewards reports directly to the SVP of Human Resources, Equity, and Compliance and oversees the following functional areas: compensation and benefits (including delivery to Keck Medicine of USC, child care, and employee assistance/work-life wellness provided by the WorkWell Center ). This individual will introduce and drive innovative programs from concept through to delivery. This role will execute USC’s vision while championing USC’s culture and values.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Drive strategic planning, design, implementation, regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, communication, and delivery experience of all compensation (base pay, incentive pay, employment contracts), well-being and benefits programs (time away, family, finance, and psychological health & safety). Continuously assess, analyze, and review competitor and higher education industry practices to evaluate university total rewards programs for cost and impact effectiveness.

• Leverage business and financial acumen to translate visions and strategies into clear priorities. Partner with various stakeholders and customers such as finance and academic units to ensure compensation strategies and benefits programs support the university’s mission and values and comply with university, state, and federal policies and regulations. Maintain relationships with key constituents needed to deploy total rewards strategic initiatives. Design incentive programs linking pay to value creation (e.g., total rewards platform).

• Direct the open enrollment, renewal, and communication processes. Develop relationships with third-party vendors supporting benefits and compensation initiatives for the university, in partnership with senior leadership and relevant stakeholders. Design programs with the customer in mind to meet the evolving needs of the university. Implement total rewards changes and program improvements with operational excellence.

• Ensure senior leadership and relevant stakeholders are informed in a timely manner of pertinent regulatory changes that may affect operations. Prepare and deliver presentations to high-level stakeholders and leadership, including the Board of Trustees, as necessary. Deliver communications to the university community in a manner that drives employee engagement.

• Make USC a destination employer in higher education and in the region by incorporating the latest total rewards trends, leading practices, and innovative service delivery. Drive continuous improvements to compensation technologies and best practices, delivering consistent service excellence and timely responses to regulatory changes. Maintain familiarity with key benefits public policy issues including U.S. federal regulations.

• Collaborate with leadership, utilizing influencing and problem-solving skills, to gain precise input into designing total rewards strategies, understanding leaders’ perspectives, developing consensus, and communicating decisions. Develop and manage department budgets linked to the university’s annual plans and make resource allocation decisions. Provide financial status reports and gleaned insights as needed.

• Motivate a high-performance culture across the university through the design of rewards policies. Ensure that equitable practices are incorporated in the design of total rewards programs.

• Align all programs with university objectives, philosophies, and talent strategies, while ensuring the achievement of consistent, market-driven total reward programs

Performs other related duties as assigned or requested. The university reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have:

Minimum Skills Required

• Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Human and Organizational Development, or related field

• Fifteen years relevant experience (eight years of management experience) in human resources management with an emphasis in one or more of the following: core compensation practices and programs, executive compensation, benefits, health plans, and compliance with government regulations relating to compensation, benefits, payroll, and federal funding obligations.

• Three or more years of experience in a senior administrative or executive role for an organization.

• Experience developing presentation materials and presenting executive compensation to senior leaders and Boards of an organization.

• Demonstrated experience in developing comprehensive total rewards strategies, and interpreting and applying analysis, trends, and best practices in a multi-disciplined environment.

• Extensive experience designing, establishing, and implementing robust total rewards (compensation, benefits, and health plans) programs and policies.

• Proven knowledge of standard filings required by the Department of Labor and Internal Revenue Services and federal funding recipients.

• Ability to quickly establish credibility to partner effectively with leaders and colleagues to define and deliver effective strategies, processes, data, and programs that support organizational goals.

• Demonstrated leadership experience and executive presence, with a proven ability to inspire all levels of the organization.

• Excellent strategic and critical thinking, problem-solving, change management, and organizational skills.

• Exemplary attention to detail.

• Ability to develop analytics from multiple streams of data, interpret trends, and apply persuasive recommendations.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to tailor delivery to various audiences, from staff to executive leadership.

• Substantial problem-solving skills with a strategic focus on process mapping, task management, and deployment of scalable solutions

• Fluency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).

• Familiarity with our core HR system including Workday or comparable, compensation systems, job description systems, and benefits administration technology.

Preferred Skills

• Advanced Degree (master’s or higher) in business, human resources, or another related field.

• Fifteen years of relevant experience (eight or more years’ of management experience) in designing a wide array of total rewards programs and human resources operations at a large and complex organization.

• Experience with an evolving culture.

• Experience promoting diversity and inclusion specifically in equity across Total Rewards offerings.

• Experience with compensation consulting.

• Ability to listen and engage positively and successfully with stakeholders, as well as internal and external business partners.

• Experience with highly complex employment compensation and contracts.

• Experience negotiating with and working with labor unions.

• Ability to think resourcefully as well as proactively drive positive, progressive change.

• Additional human resources certification(s) (e.g., CCP, GRP, CEBS, or similar certification).

• Has a reputation for discretion, integrity, judgment, responsiveness, and common sense.

The annual base salary range for this position is $334,695- $400,000. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

Minimum Education:
Bachelor’s degree Organizational Development Or
Bachelor’s degree Finance Or
Bachelor’s degree Human Resources Or
Bachelor’s degree in related field(s)
Minimum Experience:
15+ years of experience in HR management with an emphasis in one or more of the following: core compensation practices and programs, executive compensation, benefits, health plans, and compliance with relevant government regulations and federal funding obligations.
8 years of experience in a leadership/management role, and three years in a senior administrative or executive role.
Minimum Skills:
Proven knowledge of standard filings required by the Department of Labor and Internal Revenue Services.
Ability to quickly establish credibility partnering effectively to define and deliver strategies, processes, data and programs supporting organizational goals.
Excellent oral and written communication skills, able to tailor delivery to varied audiences. Experience developing and making presentations to senior leaders and organizational boards.
Demonstrated experience with comprehensive total rewards strategies, analysis, trends and best practices in multi-disciplined environments.
Extensive experience designing, establishing and implementing robust total rewards programs and policies.
Excellent critical thinking and organizational skills, and an exemplary attention to detail. Ability to develop analytics from multiple data streams, interpret trends, and advance persuasive recommendations.
Excellent problem-solving skills, with strategic focus on change management, process mapping, task management, and deployment of scalable solutions.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Workday and other relevant systems/software.
Preferred Education:
Master’s degree Business Administration Or
Master’s degree Organizational Development Or
Master’s degree in related field(s)
Preferred Certifications:
Professional in Human Resources – PHR
Certified Compensation Professional – CCP (WorldatWork)
HR Certification
Preferred Experience:
15+ years of experience designing a wide array of total rewards programs in higher education and/or in HR operations at large, complex organizations.
10 years of experience leading or managing teams with evolving cultures.
Preferred Skills:
Experience negotiating and working with labor unions and/or in unionized environments.
Proven reputation for discretion, integrity, sound judgment, responsiveness and common sense.
Experience promoting diversity and inclusion, specifically in equity across total rewards offerings.
Experience with highly complex employment compensation and contracts.