State of Washington
Compensation Policy and Planning Manager
State of Washington, Walla Walla, Washington, United States
Description
Compensation Policy & Planning Manager – State of Washington Hybrid: Our office is in Olympia, WA. This is a hybrid role with telework flexibility; occasional in-person activities, meetings, and events are required as needed. Note: The position will remain open until filled; applications are screened daily. The starting salary will be based on qualifications within an annual range of $139,000 to $142,500. About OFM
The Office of Financial Management (OFM) serves as the backbone of Washington state government. Our mission is to connect people, budgets, policies, data, and systems for state agencies and the Legislature. We value integrity, innovation, inclusion, and belonging, and support public service toward an equitable future for every Washingtonian. The job opportunity
The OFM is seeking a strategic and analytical professional to lead statewide compensation, benefits, and labor relations efforts. As the Compensation Policy and Planning Manager, you will advise OFM leadership on developing and implementing enterprise-wide policies that align with Washington State priorities and budget objectives across all functions, including general government, natural resources, education, human services, and transportation. You will shape and administer compensation and HR policies for represented and non-represented employees, provide expert-level analysis and financial modeling to support complex compensation strategies and labor relations decisions, and influence multiple collective bargaining agreements and statewide HR practices. You will also lead efforts to identify and implement HR system updates related to personnel, payroll, and budget processes to ensure compliance with agreements and policies. If you are a policy-minded professional who thrives on collaboration and broad impact across state government, we encourage you to apply. Duties – What You Will Work On
Manage financial and policy analyses for all collective bargaining agreements (currently 31), present analysis and recommendations, oversee 4 compensation market surveys, and develop compensation strategies affecting up to 140,000 state employees totaling up to 1 billion dollars per biennium. Prepare comprehensive fiscal analyses and present recommendations on policy and budget implications across the portfolio of over half a billion dollars per biennium (excluding health care). Lead a high-performing team of compensation analysts and advisors supporting collective bargaining and budget development; provide guidance on compensation and benefit practices and strategies. Conduct fiscal and policy analyses and research for enterprise-wide compensation strategies, identifying risks, benefits, policy considerations, and cost estimates. Partner with IT staff to improve data accessibility and modeling capabilities. Write operating and transportation budget language to enact collective bargaining outcomes and policy decisions; provide policy advice on potential provisions and rule changes. Coordinate interagency teams to improve data quality and partnerships to increase data reliability and efficiency. Provide leadership and project management on cross-functional work teams or inter-agency improvement projects. Conduct legislative bill analyses and prepare fiscal notes, decision packages, and requests; collaborate with business unit leads and legislative analysts as needed; supervise division-wide fiscal note process. Provide leadership to implement budgeting and collective bargaining outcomes in HR systems; present outcomes and gather stakeholder feedback to ensure accurate implementation. Manage enterprise HR-related projects and initiatives; lead cross-functional teams to improve business processes, workplace culture, and data to meet customer needs. Qualifications
Required Qualifications Five years of experience as a compensation and policy analyst with increasing responsibilities leading to a senior analyst role; additional qualifying experience such as supervising or providing complex financial, HR/labor/compensation analysis may substitute on a year-for-year basis. Three years of supervisory and managerial experience. At least one year of experience or expertise in developing and presenting formal compensation, benefit and management briefs, interpreting contracts, regulations, labor agreements, and laws; understanding of personnel management and budgeting. Bachelor’s degree in public or business administration, economics, political science or closely related field. Professional experience may substitute year-for-year for education. Experience with government organizations, administrative procedures, and labor relations concepts; advanced knowledge of complex financial modeling and compensation practices. Strong interpersonal skills and leadership qualities to promote collaboration and organizational growth. Attention to detail and ability to produce accurate documents free of errors; understanding of drafting and interpreting contract language. Desired Qualifications Advanced knowledge of labor contract cost models, data management, and methods for costing labor relations activities; knowledge of WA state budget processes; ability to translate business needs between colleagues and technical staff; capacity to prepare special compensation reports and manage projects to improve systems and data for budgeting decisions. Develop and administer labor contract cost models and data management methods. Independent preparation of compensation reports and salary surveys for bargaining and arbitration. Act as project manager for business process changes and cross-functional initiatives to improve systems and data for budgeting decisions. Respond to inquiries on compensation cost analysis from legislators, unions, constituents, and agencies. Supplemental Information
What We Offer OFM fosters a culture of integrity, innovation, inclusion, and belonging. We offer a diverse benefits package to support health and well-being. Benefits Please visit our Recruitment Page for a full list of benefits. Highlights include diversity and inclusion, tuition reimbursement, comprehensive health coverage, sufficient paid leave, and state retirement programs. Application Process Complete an online application; a human will review your materials. We do not use AI screening for rejection. Top candidates will be contacted for interviews. If you need reasonable accommodation, please call 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384. Your application will not be considered complete unless you attach a cover letter and resume, and provide at least three professional references. Questions OFM provides ASL interpretation for deaf and hard of hearing applicants. For questions or accommodations, email TalentAcquisition@ofm.wa.gov. The Office of Financial Management is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds. This position is exempt from civil service rules. For more information, see WAC 357-19-195. More than Just a Paycheck Employee benefits are designed to support health and financial security with a flexible, competitive package. Note The following information describes typical benefits for full-time employees; actual benefits may vary by appointment type. For specific benefits, consult the job posting. Insurance Benefits, Retirement and Deferred Compensation, Social Security, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Holidays, Sick Leave, Vacation, Military Leave, Bereavement Leave, Other Leave, and the State HR Website for more detail. Updated 07-21-2025 On the Application
Questions include experience requirements and sources of knowledge. Please answer accordingly and indicate if you have attached the required documents. Note: This description may include references to application questions used during the process. References: State of Washington – OFM
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Compensation Policy & Planning Manager – State of Washington Hybrid: Our office is in Olympia, WA. This is a hybrid role with telework flexibility; occasional in-person activities, meetings, and events are required as needed. Note: The position will remain open until filled; applications are screened daily. The starting salary will be based on qualifications within an annual range of $139,000 to $142,500. About OFM
The Office of Financial Management (OFM) serves as the backbone of Washington state government. Our mission is to connect people, budgets, policies, data, and systems for state agencies and the Legislature. We value integrity, innovation, inclusion, and belonging, and support public service toward an equitable future for every Washingtonian. The job opportunity
The OFM is seeking a strategic and analytical professional to lead statewide compensation, benefits, and labor relations efforts. As the Compensation Policy and Planning Manager, you will advise OFM leadership on developing and implementing enterprise-wide policies that align with Washington State priorities and budget objectives across all functions, including general government, natural resources, education, human services, and transportation. You will shape and administer compensation and HR policies for represented and non-represented employees, provide expert-level analysis and financial modeling to support complex compensation strategies and labor relations decisions, and influence multiple collective bargaining agreements and statewide HR practices. You will also lead efforts to identify and implement HR system updates related to personnel, payroll, and budget processes to ensure compliance with agreements and policies. If you are a policy-minded professional who thrives on collaboration and broad impact across state government, we encourage you to apply. Duties – What You Will Work On
Manage financial and policy analyses for all collective bargaining agreements (currently 31), present analysis and recommendations, oversee 4 compensation market surveys, and develop compensation strategies affecting up to 140,000 state employees totaling up to 1 billion dollars per biennium. Prepare comprehensive fiscal analyses and present recommendations on policy and budget implications across the portfolio of over half a billion dollars per biennium (excluding health care). Lead a high-performing team of compensation analysts and advisors supporting collective bargaining and budget development; provide guidance on compensation and benefit practices and strategies. Conduct fiscal and policy analyses and research for enterprise-wide compensation strategies, identifying risks, benefits, policy considerations, and cost estimates. Partner with IT staff to improve data accessibility and modeling capabilities. Write operating and transportation budget language to enact collective bargaining outcomes and policy decisions; provide policy advice on potential provisions and rule changes. Coordinate interagency teams to improve data quality and partnerships to increase data reliability and efficiency. Provide leadership and project management on cross-functional work teams or inter-agency improvement projects. Conduct legislative bill analyses and prepare fiscal notes, decision packages, and requests; collaborate with business unit leads and legislative analysts as needed; supervise division-wide fiscal note process. Provide leadership to implement budgeting and collective bargaining outcomes in HR systems; present outcomes and gather stakeholder feedback to ensure accurate implementation. Manage enterprise HR-related projects and initiatives; lead cross-functional teams to improve business processes, workplace culture, and data to meet customer needs. Qualifications
Required Qualifications Five years of experience as a compensation and policy analyst with increasing responsibilities leading to a senior analyst role; additional qualifying experience such as supervising or providing complex financial, HR/labor/compensation analysis may substitute on a year-for-year basis. Three years of supervisory and managerial experience. At least one year of experience or expertise in developing and presenting formal compensation, benefit and management briefs, interpreting contracts, regulations, labor agreements, and laws; understanding of personnel management and budgeting. Bachelor’s degree in public or business administration, economics, political science or closely related field. Professional experience may substitute year-for-year for education. Experience with government organizations, administrative procedures, and labor relations concepts; advanced knowledge of complex financial modeling and compensation practices. Strong interpersonal skills and leadership qualities to promote collaboration and organizational growth. Attention to detail and ability to produce accurate documents free of errors; understanding of drafting and interpreting contract language. Desired Qualifications Advanced knowledge of labor contract cost models, data management, and methods for costing labor relations activities; knowledge of WA state budget processes; ability to translate business needs between colleagues and technical staff; capacity to prepare special compensation reports and manage projects to improve systems and data for budgeting decisions. Develop and administer labor contract cost models and data management methods. Independent preparation of compensation reports and salary surveys for bargaining and arbitration. Act as project manager for business process changes and cross-functional initiatives to improve systems and data for budgeting decisions. Respond to inquiries on compensation cost analysis from legislators, unions, constituents, and agencies. Supplemental Information
What We Offer OFM fosters a culture of integrity, innovation, inclusion, and belonging. We offer a diverse benefits package to support health and well-being. Benefits Please visit our Recruitment Page for a full list of benefits. Highlights include diversity and inclusion, tuition reimbursement, comprehensive health coverage, sufficient paid leave, and state retirement programs. Application Process Complete an online application; a human will review your materials. We do not use AI screening for rejection. Top candidates will be contacted for interviews. If you need reasonable accommodation, please call 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384. Your application will not be considered complete unless you attach a cover letter and resume, and provide at least three professional references. Questions OFM provides ASL interpretation for deaf and hard of hearing applicants. For questions or accommodations, email TalentAcquisition@ofm.wa.gov. The Office of Financial Management is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds. This position is exempt from civil service rules. For more information, see WAC 357-19-195. More than Just a Paycheck Employee benefits are designed to support health and financial security with a flexible, competitive package. Note The following information describes typical benefits for full-time employees; actual benefits may vary by appointment type. For specific benefits, consult the job posting. Insurance Benefits, Retirement and Deferred Compensation, Social Security, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Holidays, Sick Leave, Vacation, Military Leave, Bereavement Leave, Other Leave, and the State HR Website for more detail. Updated 07-21-2025 On the Application
Questions include experience requirements and sources of knowledge. Please answer accordingly and indicate if you have attached the required documents. Note: This description may include references to application questions used during the process. References: State of Washington – OFM
#J-18808-Ljbffr