We are looking for a Compensation & Benefits Specialist to join a contract position based in Illinois. This role is ideal for a compensation specialist who can interpret pay practices, evaluate market data, and guide stakeholders through compensation processes with clarity and strong customer service. The position also requires a thorough approach to managing manual workflows, analyzing large spreadsheets, and supporting projects tied to job architecture and process improvement.

Responsibilities:
• Conduct compensation evaluations by reviewing job details, analyzing market information, and aligning roles to appropriate pay structures.
• Prepare and present pay recommendations that reflect internal guidelines, external competitiveness, and business needs.
• Partner with managers and stakeholders to explain compensation practices, answer questions, and provide clear guidance on process steps.
• Review job descriptions to support role leveling, pay grade placement, and broader job architecture initiatives.
• Manage high-volume spreadsheet work, using Excel formulas to organize data, validate inputs, and support compensation analysis.
• Identify inefficiencies in manual processes, document workflow gaps, and recommend practical improvements for greater accuracy and consistency.
• Support benefits-related analysis, including areas such as leave administration and workers compensation, as needed within the role.
• Track deliverables, timelines, and milestones for compensation-related projects, ensuring work progresses according to schedule.
• Contribute to implementation or process-related activities in systems such as Dayforce when compensation expertise is needed.• 3+ years of experience in compensation, benefits, or a closely related HR specialty.
• Demonstrated knowledge of compensation analysis, market pricing, pay structures, and pay rule interpretation.
• Proficiency in Excel, including the ability to work with formulas and large, detail-heavy spreadsheets.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to explain compensation concepts and processes to a range of stakeholders.
• Experience reviewing job descriptions and supporting job architecture, leveling, or pay grade decisions.
• Solid project management skills, including the ability to manage timelines, priorities, and process-driven work.
• Familiarity with benefits analysis, FMLA, workers compensation, or related areas is preferred.
• Experience with Dayforce or similar HRIS platforms is an advantage.