Opportunities: Classification & Compensation Consultant

About Us

The Public Service Commission (PSC) is government’s human resources organization supporting departments and employees to deliver programs and services to Nova Scotians. We’re committed to helping build a collaborative and inclusive public service driven by the public service values: respect, integrity, diversity, accountability and the public good.

The PSC is responsible for government’s HR policies, programs, standards and procedures; and provides direction, advice and assistance to departments on how to apply them.

We’re focused on the current and future needs of the provincial workforce to meet the demands and expectations of a growing and changing province.

About Our Opportunity

The PSC’s Classification and Compensation team provides subject matter expertise, leadership, advisory and consulting services to government departments clients, promoting corporate consistency and equity in the program areas of job classification and corresponding employee compensation. We also work with our divisional colleagues in the design, development, implementation, and management of compensation strategies, solutions and plans for the Province of Nova Scotia.

In collaboration with Human Resources Client Service Delivery teams and other organizational partners, our Classification and Compensation Consultants plan and deliver services/resources related to job content, organizational design, job analysis/evaluation, job description development support, and/or research/review/recommendations on corporate pay plan frameworks and employee compensation matters. As a subject matter expert, you may also deal with all aspects of compensation management including base pay, market competitiveness, and data analysis and management. Within our division our teams support the broad client base across the public sector including the civil service, crown corporations, health, and education sectors.

Primary Accountabilities

Depending on assigned priorities and operational capacity within the team, the Consultant may be involved with a combination of responsibilities from a full range of team accountabilities across matters of Classification and/or Compensation, as follows:

• Provide consultation and advisory services related to job classification, considerations/impacts of organizational design, job analysis activities, tools/resources for job description development, and/or compensation matters including but not limited to base pay, salary determination, market competitiveness, pay plan maintenance, and costing.
• Develop/maintain strong relationships and healthy communication channels within partnerships across the PSC, client departments, union liaisons, and other related internal/external organizational contact networks.
• Represent the Employer as a subject matter expert relating to the Province’s Classification and Compensation system as associated with operational changes, union initiated appeals and/or grievances, support to collective bargaining processes and/or market survey/review activities. This may involve leading reviews/research, conducting assessments, completing cost estimates, analyzing results and preparing reports, including the development of options and recommendations and/or at times providing advice and testimony on related disputes at hearings and arbitrations.
• Lead and/or participate in projects and initiatives to maintain/improve/develop related policies, procedures, guidelines, and other informational resources, while ensuring alignment with corporate, departmental, and overall human resources/talent management strategies/objectives and accordance with collective agreements and applicable legislation. This could include leading/supporting the development of new classifications and associated standards/qualifications, memorandums of agreement, training/communication materials and/or the negotiation of rates of pay and costing.
  Involvement with divisional efforts to develop compensation solutions for clients by clarifying client needs, designing solutions using accepted compensation principles in areas such as work measurement, pay and banding structures and market competitiveness. This may include building pay structures, cost estimates, seeking appropriate approvals, writing plan/policy documents, and managing implementation within established budgets and timelines.
• Provide advice and recommendations to Government on compensation matters by identifying or analyzing issues on a wide range of topics such as pay relativity for specific jobs, bargaining units, employers or sectors (e.g. Civil Service, crown agencies, health, education), assessing compensation proposals developed by agencies or designing, updating or managing corporate compensation plans.
• Supporting the facilitation of pay adjustments by evaluating market competitiveness, creating options where needed, costing, supporting Cabinet approval requests, working within approved budgets, and partnering with HR and other representatives from different sectors to provide employee payments.

Qualifications and Experience

Post-secondary education with courses in Human Resources and/or Compensation and/or Organizational Design with several years’ experience involving consulting, project-oriented workload management, research and analysis activities, and/or developing options and recommendations related to job analysis, compensation strategy and/or the design and management of compensation plans, related human resources matters; or an equivalent combination.

A professional designation with a concentration in compensation or related area as well as experience with SAP HR would be considered assets. The successful candidate may be required to complete the Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) designation.

The successful candidate will demonstrate abilities and experience with client consulting, analyzing information to assess client needs, partnering, providing advice and feedback to colleagues and senior leaders as well as planning, researching, and developing options and communicating findings / explaining outcomes (written and verbally). Experience developing and leading presentations and training others one-on-one or in group settings is an asset.

The successful candidate will also demonstrate the following technical and behavioural competencies:

• Advanced proficiency with MS Excel
• Ability to manipulate large data sets, detect trends, draw conclusions, and formulate recommendations
• Analytical Thinking
• Client Orientation
• Effective Interactive Communication – oral and written
• Initiative
• Innovation & Problem Solving
• Multitasking while maintaining attention to detail and accuracy
• Research / Information Seeking

We will assess the above qualifications and competencies using one or more of the following tools: written examination and/or standardized tests, oral presentations, interview(s), and reference checks.

Equivalency

An equivalent combination of training, education and experience will be considered. Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.

Benefits

Based on the employment status and union agreement, the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as a Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Health, Dental, Life Insurance, General illness, Short and Long Term Disability, Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs.  For information on all our Benefit program offerings, click here: Benefits for government employees.

Working Conditions

• Normal work week is 35 hours/week, 7 hours/day
• May be required to work overtime on occasion
• Primarily located in the PSC’s recently renovated central offices in downtown Halifax within an open and collaborative environment. The Consultant role may also be required to spend time working in other partner and/or client office sites to support enhanced understanding and engagement with these valued groups. All required technology and office set-ups will be provided by the PSC.
• High concentration of visual demands for proofreading, data analysis, report and presentation production, etc., giving close attention to detail
  Pressures to meet deadlines with attention to accuracy

Additional Information

Consultants are encouraged and supported to continually maintain and expand expertise to remain current with best practices through a blend of formal and informal learning opportunities.

What We Offer

• Career Development where you have access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training for every stage of your career
• Engaging workplace. Our Employees feel valued, respected, connected, and tuned in. We have forward-thinking policies and strategies
  Countless Career Paths
• A dynamic, Client focused office environment where service excellence and teamwork are our focus