25-21326, Deputy Director, Compensation Practices

At the MBTA, we envision a thriving region enabled by a best-in-class transit system. Our mission is to serve the public by providing safe, reliable, and accessible transportation. MBTA's Core Values are built around safety, service, equity, sustainability, and culture. Each employee that works for the MBTA performs their roles based on our vision, mission, and values. This includes attendance, participation, and contribution in local safety committee meetings as needed.

The Deputy Director, Compensation Practices leverages deep expertise in compensation strategy, analytics, and industry knowledge to lead the design, delivery, and communication of the MBTA's compensation framework and programs. The role ensures alignment between role definitions, leveling, and compensation structure to meet complex business needs, and is responsible for designing, building, and/or re-building job family architecture to support organizational structure. The role collaborates across all levels of the organization—including HR and senior leadership—to gain alignment and support for market-competitive strategies. The Deputy Director oversees data collection and analysis related to market trends, pay equity, and other compensation studies, and ensures all programs comply with local, state, and federal compensation regulations.

• Leads the analysis, design, and administration of the MBTA's compensation programs - including base pay strategies to drive recruitment, retention, and employee engagement in alignment with organizational goals.
• Oversees the design, implementation, and communication of pay structures, salary grades, compensation budgets, and related guidelines.
• Collaborates with key stakeholders to ensure pay decisions support employee engagement while aligning with compensation policies and budgetary constraints.
• Supports Compensation Partners by evaluating jobs and leading initiatives to develop, maintain, and refine job family architecture, ensuring alignment between role definitions, leveling, job descriptions, and compensation structure.
• Prepares financial models and conducts in-depth data analysis to inform strategic compensation recommendations for leadership.
• Leads compensation survey participation and conducts research and analysis on market competitiveness, pay equity, and industry compensation trends.
• Serves as the administrator for compensation management systems (e.g., ), overseeing configuration and daily operations.
• Perform all other duties and projects that may be assigned.

Supervision

• No direct reports.

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in Human Resources with a specialization in Compensation, which must include:
• Developing financial models and compensation analyses to support management decisions;
• Designing, building, and/or re-building job family architecture to support organizational structure;
• Developing and maintaining compensation structures that align with organizational goals and pay equity principles.
• Two (2) years of managerial, supervisory, and/or leadership experience.
• Experience presenting compensation data and influencing data driven decision making with stakeholders at all levels.
• Expert knowledge of compensation platforms/systems.
• Demonstrated experience with end-to-end process thinking, including ability to understand holistic approach to achieve optimization, efficiency and strategic goals.
• Skilled in utilizing advanced Excel functions including pivot tables and queries for data analysis, automation, and effective presentation of insights.
• Understanding of collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) as it relates to compensation.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills.
• Advanced knowledge of PC applications and Microsoft Office applications required.
• Strong ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent consulting, influencing and communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail.

• A High School Diploma or GED with an additional seven (7) years of directly related experience substitutes for the bachelor's degree requirement.
• An associate degree from an accredited institution and an additional three (3) years of directly related experience substitutes for the bachelor's degree requirement.
• A master's degree in a related subject substitutes for two (2) years of experience.
• A nationally recognized certification, or statewide/professional certification in a related field substitutes for one year of experience.

Preferred Experience and Required Skills

• Ten (10) or more years of experience as a compensation professional in a large HR department.

Job Conditions:

• Ability to effectively read, comprehend, communicate, and respond to instructions, orders, signs, notices, inquiries, etc. in English.
• Be at least eighteen (18) years of age, except if participating in an approved high school internship / co-op program.
• Ability to commute to assigned work locations in the Boston, MA metro area, as required by the role.
• Ability to provide internal and external customers with courteous and professional experiences.
• Ability to work effectively, independently, and as part of a diverse workforce team (or supervise, if required).
• Ability to uphold the rights and interests of the MBTA while building and maintaining effective relationships with employees and co-workers.
• Ability to adhere to rules, regulations, collective bargaining agreements (if applicable), and policies of the MBTA, including the EEO, anti-discrimination, anti-harassment, and anti-retaliation policies.
• Have a satisfactory work record for the two (2) years immediately prior to the closing date of this posting (unless if current student or recent graduate), including overall employment, job performance, discipline, and safety records (infractions and/or offenses occurring after the closing of the posting and before the filling of a vacancy may preclude a candidate from consideration for selection).
• Ability to pass a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check, comprehensive background screening, and / or medical Clinic screening, potentially including physical examination and drug and alcohol screenings.
• Ability to work all shifts and / or locations assigned, directed, or necessary for this position, including (for some transit / operations roles) up to twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week as necessary to accommodate severe weather conditions, emergencies, or any other circumstances that may potentially impact service or the safety of service.
• Intern / co-op staff must be enrolled full or part-time in an accredited educational program and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 for the entire duration of the internship / co-op. Additionally, interns / co-ops must have valid work authorization and U.S. Social Security Number prior to starting their positions and throughout the duration of their program.

Disclaimers and Definitions:

• General Disclaimer: The statements contained in this job description are intended to describe a summary, general nature, and complexity of typical job functions and do not represent an exhaustive list of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities required of staff assigned to this position.

• Application Completion: It is each applicant's responsibility to ensure application details are entered completely and correctly, including updated work and education histories (past and current). Incomplete applications may not be considered. Attachments do not substitute for application fields. The recruitment team does not have access to existing employee data / history.

• Application Deadlines: Applicants should apply as soon as possible, as the MBTA may stop considering applicants after a sufficiently large applicant pool is established.

• Work Environment:The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here-in are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. See job description for role-specific requirements.

• Work Eligibility: All employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States and on an unrestricted basis. The MBTA does not have an employer work sponsorship program. However, if you have unrestricted work authorization, or are sponsored by a separate entity, you are welcome to apply. Further, all persons hired will require a U.S. Social Security Number prior to starting the position and employees will be required to complete a Form I-9 to verify their identity and eligibility to work in the U.S.

• Interviews: Candidates should ensure they arrive on time, are prepared, can remain for the duration, and if remote, are in a quiet place without distraction, for the interview. Candidates who do not attend their interview without advance authorization, including an email confirmation of a rescheduled time/date from Human Resources, will be considered a no-show and disqualified from consideration for the position. Related to rescheduling, on a one-time basis, and due to something emergent, you may be allowed to reschedule the interview. In addition, Human Resources may require documentation supporting the request. However, should you need to reschedule, you will need to contact your Recruiter directly by email.

• Safety Sensitive Positions: Employees working in this classification will be subject to periodic physical examinations plus random drug and alcohol testing.

• On-call or 24/7 Positions: Employees working in this classification must be available to respond to page / text / call and report to work as determined by assigned department or the Authority.

• Essential / Emergency Staff:During declared "states of emergency," employees working in this classification are required to report to work for their assigned work hours or as directed by management.

• ADA Accommodations: The MBTA makes reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. If you require an accommodation during this process, please contact the MBTA's ADA Unit at or

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: The MBTA is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. For terms, descriptions, and definitions related to diversity, equity, inclusion, veteran status, and immediate family members that you may find on the application form, please visit

• Intern / Co-Op Benefits: Employees taking part in an internship or co-op at the MBTA are eligible to receive accrued paid sick leave as well as a monthly transportation pass, based on the city from which the intern / co-op commutes to work, at no cost. However, no additional benefits are currently offered for interns or co-ops.