State of Washington
Compensation Policy & Planning Manager
State of Washington, Olympia, Washington, United States, 98502
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 teleworking. However, you will need to travel to in‑person activities, meetings, and events according to business needs.
Why work for OFM 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 toward 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 Office of Financial Management (OFM) is seeking a strategic and analytical professional to lead key statewide compensation, benefits, and labor relations efforts. As the Compensation Policy and Planning Manager, you will advise the Compensation Policy and Labor Relations Section Chief, OFM leadership, and the Deputy Chief Human Resources Officer on developing and implementing enterprise‑wide policies that align with Washington State’s priorities and budget objectives across all functional areas, including general government, natural resources, education, human services, and transportation.
You will be responsible for shaping and administering compensation and HR policies for both represented and non‑represented employees, providing expert‑level analysis and financial modeling to support complex compensation strategies and labor relations decisions. Your work will directly influence multiple collective bargaining agreements and statewide HR practices. You will also lead efforts to identify and implement necessary HR system updates related to personnel, payroll, and budget processes to ensure compliance with collective bargaining agreements and compensation policies.
If you are a policy‑minded professional who thrives on collaboration, problem‑solving, and making a broad impact across state government, we encourage you to apply.
What you will work on
Manage financial and policy analyses for all collective bargaining agreements (currently 31) and oversee compensation market surveys and developing strategies affecting up to 140,000 state employees.
Prepare comprehensive fiscal analyses and provide expert recommendations covering over a half a billion dollars per biennium.
Lead a high‑performing team of compensation analysts and advisors, providing guidance and support on compensation and benefit practices and strategies.
Conduct fiscal and policy analyses and research for enterprise‑wide compensation strategies, identifying risks, benefits, and policy considerations and cost estimates.
Partner with IT staff to improve data accessibility and modeling capabilities.
Write operating and transportation budget language necessary to enact collective bargaining outcomes and policy decisions.
Bring interagency teams together to improve data quality, foster understanding of executive and legislative staff needs, and enhance partnerships to increase data reliability and efficiency.
Provide leadership and project management expertise on cross‑functional work teams or on inter‑agency improvement projects.
Conduct legislative bill analyses and prepare fiscal notes, decision packages and requests, collaborating with business unit leads to understand resource needs and policy implications.
Provide leadership and guidance to implement budgeting and collective bargaining outcomes in HR systems, using technical expertise and collaboration.
Manage and serve on enterprise HR‑related projects and initiatives; lead cross‑functional teams to improve business processes, workplace culture and data to meet customer and stakeholder needs.
What we need you to bring Required Qualifications
Five years of experience as a compensation and policy analyst with increasing responsibilities leading to service as a senior analyst.
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, and understanding of management and administrative personnel management and budgeting.
Bachelor’s degree in public or business administration, economics, political science or closely related field.
Government organization, administrative procedures, governmental functions, departmental policies, collective bargaining agreement provisions, and general principles of labor relations.
Advanced knowledge of complex financial modeling and compensation and benefit practices and strategies.
Highly developed interpersonal skills and leadership qualities proven to promote collaboration, innovation and growth and development in others as well as accomplishing organizational goals and objectives.
Attention to detail: Documents created and shared with others have been reviewed for accuracy and are free from typos and grammatical errors; understands technical aspects of drafting and interpreting contract language; follows through and meets deadlines and commitments given to agencies, co‑workers and unions; responds to phone calls and emails in a timely manner.
Desired Qualifications
Advanced knowledge of labor contract cost models, database management systems and methods for costing labor relations activities.
Effective principles and practices of effective human resources management and WA state budget process and organization.
Human resource applications and ability to articulate business needs between colleagues and technical staff to implement or update systems functionality to aid in financial analysis as well as implement policy outcomes.
Independently prepare or manage special compensation reports, studies, and salary surveys in preparation for bargaining and interest arbitration.
Act as the project manager for business process changes, technical solutions and cross‑functional initiatives to improve systems and data to inform statewide budgeting and financial decision‑making.
Respond to inquiries on compensation cost analysis from a variety of audiences including legislature, unions, constituents and agencies.
What we offer
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 Complete an online application and attach a cover letter, resume, and at least three professional references with current phone numbers. The Office of Financial Management is an equal opportunity employer and strives 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.
For more information, please see WAC 357‑19‑195.
This position is exempt from civil service rules.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Why work for OFM 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 toward 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 Office of Financial Management (OFM) is seeking a strategic and analytical professional to lead key statewide compensation, benefits, and labor relations efforts. As the Compensation Policy and Planning Manager, you will advise the Compensation Policy and Labor Relations Section Chief, OFM leadership, and the Deputy Chief Human Resources Officer on developing and implementing enterprise‑wide policies that align with Washington State’s priorities and budget objectives across all functional areas, including general government, natural resources, education, human services, and transportation.
You will be responsible for shaping and administering compensation and HR policies for both represented and non‑represented employees, providing expert‑level analysis and financial modeling to support complex compensation strategies and labor relations decisions. Your work will directly influence multiple collective bargaining agreements and statewide HR practices. You will also lead efforts to identify and implement necessary HR system updates related to personnel, payroll, and budget processes to ensure compliance with collective bargaining agreements and compensation policies.
If you are a policy‑minded professional who thrives on collaboration, problem‑solving, and making a broad impact across state government, we encourage you to apply.
What you will work on
Manage financial and policy analyses for all collective bargaining agreements (currently 31) and oversee compensation market surveys and developing strategies affecting up to 140,000 state employees.
Prepare comprehensive fiscal analyses and provide expert recommendations covering over a half a billion dollars per biennium.
Lead a high‑performing team of compensation analysts and advisors, providing guidance and support on compensation and benefit practices and strategies.
Conduct fiscal and policy analyses and research for enterprise‑wide compensation strategies, identifying risks, benefits, and policy considerations and cost estimates.
Partner with IT staff to improve data accessibility and modeling capabilities.
Write operating and transportation budget language necessary to enact collective bargaining outcomes and policy decisions.
Bring interagency teams together to improve data quality, foster understanding of executive and legislative staff needs, and enhance partnerships to increase data reliability and efficiency.
Provide leadership and project management expertise on cross‑functional work teams or on inter‑agency improvement projects.
Conduct legislative bill analyses and prepare fiscal notes, decision packages and requests, collaborating with business unit leads to understand resource needs and policy implications.
Provide leadership and guidance to implement budgeting and collective bargaining outcomes in HR systems, using technical expertise and collaboration.
Manage and serve on enterprise HR‑related projects and initiatives; lead cross‑functional teams to improve business processes, workplace culture and data to meet customer and stakeholder needs.
What we need you to bring Required Qualifications
Five years of experience as a compensation and policy analyst with increasing responsibilities leading to service as a senior analyst.
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, and understanding of management and administrative personnel management and budgeting.
Bachelor’s degree in public or business administration, economics, political science or closely related field.
Government organization, administrative procedures, governmental functions, departmental policies, collective bargaining agreement provisions, and general principles of labor relations.
Advanced knowledge of complex financial modeling and compensation and benefit practices and strategies.
Highly developed interpersonal skills and leadership qualities proven to promote collaboration, innovation and growth and development in others as well as accomplishing organizational goals and objectives.
Attention to detail: Documents created and shared with others have been reviewed for accuracy and are free from typos and grammatical errors; understands technical aspects of drafting and interpreting contract language; follows through and meets deadlines and commitments given to agencies, co‑workers and unions; responds to phone calls and emails in a timely manner.
Desired Qualifications
Advanced knowledge of labor contract cost models, database management systems and methods for costing labor relations activities.
Effective principles and practices of effective human resources management and WA state budget process and organization.
Human resource applications and ability to articulate business needs between colleagues and technical staff to implement or update systems functionality to aid in financial analysis as well as implement policy outcomes.
Independently prepare or manage special compensation reports, studies, and salary surveys in preparation for bargaining and interest arbitration.
Act as the project manager for business process changes, technical solutions and cross‑functional initiatives to improve systems and data to inform statewide budgeting and financial decision‑making.
Respond to inquiries on compensation cost analysis from a variety of audiences including legislature, unions, constituents and agencies.
What we offer
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 Complete an online application and attach a cover letter, resume, and at least three professional references with current phone numbers. The Office of Financial Management is an equal opportunity employer and strives 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.
For more information, please see WAC 357‑19‑195.
This position is exempt from civil service rules.
#J-18808-Ljbffr