Interim Director of Compensation Consultant

HR Knowledge Source (HRKS) has been retained by a confidential higher education institution in the Washington, DC region to place an experienced Total Rewards leader for a critical interim engagement. The institution supports approximately 1,700 full-time staff and 2,900 faculty, staff, and retirees, and requires an execution-ready consultant to assume immediate leadership of its compensation and benefits function.

This is a 4-6 month independent contractor (1099) arrangement, structured as hybrid with three days on-site per week, including Tuesday as a core in-office day. The consultant will report to the Associate Vice President of Financial Operations on a solid-line basis and to an incoming Interim HR Executive Consultant on a dotted-line basis. Offers are contingent on satisfactory reference and background checks. The client's identity is disclosed to qualified candidates.

• Lead total rewards strategy and execution across compensation and benefits functions for a large higher education workforce
• Oversee job evaluation, market pricing, and pay structure design to ensure internal equity and external competitiveness
• Administer and manage the benefits programme for staff, faculty, and retirees
• Ensure compliance with applicable compensation regulations and institutional policies
• Advise senior stakeholders, including HR and financial operations leadership, on total rewards matters
• Provide execution-ready leadership during an interim period, maintaining continuity across the function

• Demonstrated experience leading a compensation and benefits function, ideally within higher education or a comparable complex organisation
• Expertise in job evaluation methodologies, market pricing, and pay structure design
• Strong working knowledge of benefits administration and total rewards compliance requirements
• Ability to operate as an independent contractor (1099) and work on-site three days per week in the Washington, DC region
• Availability for a 4-6 month engagement commencing promptly, with standard hours of 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Comfortable reporting to both financial operations and interim HR executive leadership simultaneously

HR Knowledge Source (HRKS) is a woman-owned, minority-owned business consulting firm headquartered in the US Southeast, with over three decades of experience in HR talent management and workplace culture across multiple industries. The firm specialises in helping organisations design and deliver high-quality HR functions, and operates The Recruitment Alliance to connect clients with senior interim HR talent.