Senior Compensation & Benefits Specialist

Overview

The Senior Compensation & Benefits Specialist plays a key role in shaping a competitive and rewarding employee experience. In this role, you will lead our compensation efforts—driving market pricing, salary structure maintenance, and incentive program design—while also supporting our benefits, wellness, and leave programs. This is a high impact opportunity for someone who loves data, thrives on building strong compensation programs, and wants to help elevate our total rewards strategy.

Responsibilities

Compensation Program Lead

• Lead market pricing and benchmarking efforts, maintain and update salary structures, and support the administration of annual compensation processes
• Participate in compensation surveys and conduct market pricing and benchmarking to ensure competitive pay practices
• Partner with the HRIS manager to support the administration of annual incentive programs, including individual performance bonuses and executive bonus structures
• Collaborates with leadership to evaluate and develop incentive plans
• Research and recommend enhancements to existing bonus structures—ensuring programs that remain competitive, equitable, and aligned with organizational goals
• Conduct research on industry trends and best practices related to incentive compensation
• Review and approve promotion and salary adjustment requests, ensuring alignment with market data and internal equity
• Conduct research on industry trends and best practices related to incentive compensation

Leave Program Administrator

• Assist in the administration of company leave programs—including FMLA, state programs, ADA accommodations, STD, and LTD
• Guide employees and managers through complex leave cases
• Partner with TPAs, payroll, and carriers for accurate tracking
• Produce reporting on leave trends

Benefits & Wellness Administration

• Support the design, administration, and compliance of the company’s health and wellness programs, including medical, dental, vision, prescription drug coverage, FSAs/HSAs, disability plans, life insurance, EAP, and wellness initiatives
• Support the management of the company’s retirement plans (401(k), 457(b), and 409A)
• Coordinate wellness initiatives and events
• Manage benefits and wellness communications

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s (BA/BS) degree preferred or equivalent experience
• Minimum of 5 years experience in compensation, benefits, and leave administration
• Strong knowledge of compensation principles
• Experience with compensation tools such as CompAnalyst
• Experience administering FMLA, ADA, STD/LTD, and retirement programs
• Understanding of wellness program compliance (ERISA, HIPAA)
• Strong Excel and HRIS skills; experience with UKG Pro preferred
• Effective oral and written communication skills
• High attention to detail and confidentiality and strong communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to analyze data, identify trends, and apply strong critical thinking to solve complex problems
• Ability to work on-site in our Herndon, VA headquarters

Additional Compensation

Northwest Federal offers a comprehensive and inclusive benefits program, which includes medical, dental and vision plans for you and your family, 4 weeks paid vacation, 12 paid holidays, 24 hours of paid volunteer time, parental leave, company paid disability and life insurance, and a generous 401(k) plan with up to 7% employer match.

EEO Notice

Northwest Federal Credit Union is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other classification protected by law.

NWFCU complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact the Human Resources Department at 703-709-8900 or HRDepartment@nwfcu.org.