Director, Total Rewards

About the role

Location: Administration or As Assigned Reports to: Talent Officer FLSA Status: Exempt Salary Band: 9 Compensation: $86,417.00 - $116,663.00 The Director, Total Rewards leads the strategy, administration, and continuous improvement of compensation and benefits across Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD). This role balances strategic leadership with strong operational execution in a large, unionized, public-sector environment. The Director ensures that Total Rewards programs and practices are equitable, compliant, financially responsible, operationally sound, and aligned to district priorities, collective bargaining agreements, and workforce strategy goals. This leader partners closely with Finance, Legal, Executive Leadership Team, and school and department leaders to support workforce effectiveness and employee experience. As a member of the Talent leadership team, the Director contributes to broader workforce strategy and organizational priorities while ensuring the district's Total Rewards systems operate with consistency, accuracy, and strong customer service. Total Rewards Strategy and Leadership Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the District's Total Rewards philosophy and practices Ensure compensation and benefits programs align with workforce strategy, equity commitments, operational realities, and financial sustainability Monitor market trends, emerging practices, and regulatory changes to inform recommendations and continuous improvement Provide strategic guidance and operational leadership on compensation, benefits, and Total Rewards matters across all employee groups Partner with Talent leadership to support broader workforce planning, retention, and employee experience priorities Partner with Executive Leadership Team on contract negotiations Compensation Administration Lead administration of district compensation programs across unionized, civil service, and at-will employee groups Oversee salary placement, position classification, reclassification review, and compensation-related processes Review, provide recommendations and implement recommendations regarding additional compensation requests, promotions, and position changes Ensure compensation practices are equitable, compliant, operationally consistent, and responsive to differentiated workforce needs Partner closely with Finance and Executive Leadership Team on compensation implementation and budget alignment Coordinate salary band reviews and compensation analysis as needed Ensure timely and accurate execution of compensation actions, notices, and related communications Benefits Administration Oversee administration of employee benefits programs and wellness

Benefits

Additional Information

Position Type: Administration and Professionals Date Posted: 2026-05-28 Location: Administration or As Assigned ABOUT CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT The Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) is Ohio's third-largest public school system, serving more than 35,000 students. CMSD strives to ensure that every child receives a high-quality education, regardless of the provider. To that end, CMSD lets families choose which District schools their children attend, with options that include STEM, the arts, single-gender education, International Baccalaureate, Montessori, and early college. Our schools have autonomy over human and financial resources in exchange for accountability for performance. The principal has primary responsibility and accountability for establishing their school as a high-quality, high-expectation academic center focusing on personalized instruction, professional support for teachers, and school-wide practices that lead to measurable results. CMSD ensures that students have access to technology and training to prepare them for the future. The District provides a free laptop or tablet for every student and connects every family that needs internet access. Graduating seniors leave commencement with not only a diploma but also a laptop. In our pursuit of a more fair, just, and good system of education, we strive to ensure that all of our learners, both scholars and educators, to be challenged with academically and intellectually complex tasks that are worthy of their efforts and provide them opportunities to demonstrate their best work. BUILDING BRIGHTER FUTURES The Cleveland Board of Education adopted the Building Brighter Futures (BBF) initiative on December 9, 2025. Building Brighter Futures is a strategic and data-driven plan shaped by more than a year of community engagement, information analysis, and thoughtful deliberation. The goal of this plan is to strengthen enrollment and ensure scholars attend a newer school building that offers more educational opportunities, including algebra in the eighth grade, more sports and extracurricular activities, and college credits and college and career pathways in high school. BBF is ensuring academic excellence so every CMSD scholar can thrive.

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