Compensation and Benefits Specialist

Compensation and Benefits SpecialistLocation: Toronto-661 UniversityDepartment: HR Operational Services

This posting is to fill a current vacancy.

The Role:

The Compensation and Benefits Specialist provides expert analysis, advice, and operational support for PHO's compensation and benefits programs. The role is responsible for compensation administration, salary structure management, job evaluation, pay equity, benefits program oversight, market research, cost analysis, reporting, and continuous improvement. Leveraging organizational data, market intelligence, and industry best practices, the Specialist develops recommendations, business cases, and strategic advice to support compensation programs and organizational decision-making. The role serves as a key resource to leaders, managers, employees, and HR partners, and helps ensure compensation and benefits programs are competitive, sustainable, and aligned with legislative requirements, collective agreements, policies, and established practices.

Key Responsibilities -

• Lead the annual compensation cycle, including merit increases, validation or approved of wage adjustments, and related implementation activities.
• Administer salary structures and compensation programs in accordance with legislation, collective agreements, policies and approved practices.
• Establishes and leverages relationships with external compensation partners, industry peers, and professional networks to obtain market insights, identify emerging trends, and support evidence-based compensation program design and decision-making.
• Lead job evaluation for new and revised positions using the applicable methodology; document recommendations and support internal consistency and a defensible pay structure.
• Maintain and support PHO’s pay equity program and related compliance requirements.
• Provide data-driven advice on compensation matters and support the analysis and resolution of complex issues, including matters that may contribute to grievances.
• Administer and support benefit program activities, including annual enrolment, plan changes, monthly remittances, escalated eligibility or coverage issues and employee appeals within the role’s scope.
• Monitor benefit plan performance, cost, utilization, service quality and emerging market practices; identify risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Monitor vendor performance against established service expectations and metrics and work with vendors and internal partners to resolve issues.
• Support vendor reviews, procurement activities and implementation of approved benefit program changes.
• Respond to or coordinate pension-related inquiries with the appropriate plan administrator and direct employees to the correct source for pension transactions, estimates or retirement advice.
• Assess, interpret and provide guidance on compensation and benefits provisions in legislation, collective agreements, policies, procedures and plan documents.
• Partner with HR Business Partners, HR leadership, managers and employees to provide clear, consistent and practical advice within the position’s area of responsibility.
• Assess the impact of new legislation, collective agreements and approved program changes; develop and coordinate implementation plans to meet organizational obligations.
• Recommend and implement improvements to compensation and benefits policies, programs, processes, templates and guidance tools to improve service and reduce organizational risk.
• Maintain current knowledge of relevant legislation, regulations and industry practices.
• Develop and prepare compensation and benefits reports, corporate statistics, costing and detailed analysis and scenario planning to support decision-making.
• Use the HRIS and other tools to monitor data, validate approved position and employee information, investigate anomalies and support accurate reporting.
• Partner with the HR Systems Advisor on system testing, implementation, maintenance, reporting and data integrity relating to compensation and benefits.
• Liaise with Payroll on compensation and benefits matters to support accurate and timely pay and deductions.
• Identify opportunities to improve or automate work through data, technology and streamlined processes.
• Coordinate or lead special assigned HR projects and initiatives within the role’s scope, ensuring deliverables and timelines are met.
• Develop clear communications, briefing notes, reports, tools and guidance materials for compensation and benefits programs and changes.
• Deliver information sessions and explain complex requirements in language appropriate for employees, managers, senior leaders and HR colleagues.
• Maintain effective working relationships with internal partners, benefit carriers, consultants, pension plan administrators, vendors and industry contacts.
• Escalate material risks, exceptions and complex issues to the Manager, People Experience or other decision-makers, with analysis and recommended options.

Knowledge and Skills-

• Working knowledge of legislation and regulatory requirements relevant to compensation and benefits.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen, with the ability to interpret data, identify issues and provide practical recommendations.
• Advanced proficiency with HRIS, reporting tools, spreadsheets, databases and word processing applications; ability to improve and automate processes using technology.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, consultation, negotiation and customer service skills, including tact and diplomacy when handling complex or sensitive matters.
• Ability to work independently, set priorities and manage multiple responsibilities and fixed deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• High attention to detail and sound judgment when working with confidential and sensitive information
• Knowledge of artificial intelligence tools and emerging technologies, including the ability to use AI responsibly to support analysis, reporting, process improvement and service delivery.

Education and Experience-

• Undergraduate degree in business, human resources or a related field, plus an accredited human resources program and at least seven years of related experience in a unionized environment, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) or in progress.
• CHRP designation preferred
• Advanced knowledge of compensation and benefits program design and administration, job evaluation, salary structures, market analysis, pay equity and collective agreement application.

Attributes and Competencies-

• Provides authoritative advice and recommendations on compensation, benefits, job evaluation and related HR programs, often involving sensitive, complex or contentious issues.
• Develops and delivers reports, presentations, briefing notes, communications materials, procedures and guidance documents used to support employee understanding and management decision-making.
• Uses tact, diplomacy and influencing skills when communicating decisions, explaining program requirements, addressing concerns or resolving disputes where there may be disagreement or competing interests.
• Builds and maintains productive working relationships with internal stakeholders, Payroll, HR Systems, benefits carriers, pension administrators, consultants and other external partners to facilitate effective service delivery.
• Provides responsive, high-quality service by assessing client needs, researching issues and delivering accurate information, recommendations and solutions.
• Ensures compensation and benefits programs are administered consistently, fairly and in accordance with legislation, policies, plan provisions and collective agreements.
• Analyzes issues of varying complexity using legislation, collective agreements, policies, precedents, plan documents, market information and HRIS data.
• Determines when an issue can be resolved within established authority and when options or recommendations must be escalated for decision.
• Identifies and prioritizes time-sensitive compensation and benefits activities, anticipates data or process issues and initiates corrective action.
• Provides subject matter expertise and practical guidance to HR colleagues, managers and senior leaders.

Duration: PermanentHours of Work: Full time, 36.25 hours per weekCompensation Group: Individual ContributorCompensation Range: $91,807.00 - $114,730.00Posting Date: 11-3-2026Closing Date: 11-15-2026

Please note: applications will be received no later than 11:59pm on the date preceding the closing date as indicated on the Job Requisition.

Note: Internal candidates will be considered first.

While we thank all applicants for their interest, only those selected to move forward in the recruitment process will be contacted. Any information obtained during the course of recruitment will be used for employment recruitment purposes only, and not for any other purpose.

PHO is committed to ensuring equity in employment. Our goal is to create a diverse, inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to ensure our services and communications are accessible to all individuals. Any candidate who requires a job posting in an alternative format may email a request to [email protected]. Once an applicant has been selected for an interview, they can inform PHO about any accommodations they may require at any stage of the interview process.