AVP Rewards

University of Kentucky

Equal Employment Opportunity/M/F/disability/protected veteran status.

• Job Title:
  
  Associate Vice President Total Rewards (AVP Total Rewards)
• Requisition Number: RE52950
• Working Title:
  
  Associate Vice President Total Rewards
• Department:
  Human Resources Administration
• Work Location:
  
  Lexington, KY
• Grade Level: 0
• Salary Range:
  Not specified
• Type of Position:
  Staff
• Position Time Status:
  Full-Time
• Required
  
  Education:
  
  BA
• Related
  
  Experience:
  
  10 years
• License/Registration/Certification:
  None
• Shift: Primarily days

The University of Kentucky (UK) seeks a strategic and collaborative leader to serve as the Associate Vice President (AVP) of Total Rewards. The AVP reports to the Vice President for Human Resources and serves as the strategic architect of UK’s total rewards philosophy, guiding the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of integrated compensation, executive compensation, benefits, health and wellness, HR Informatics, and HRIS.

UK is a flagship land‑grant institution with a workforce of more than 36,000 employees across academic units, UK Health Care, and community hospitals. The AVP will align total rewards programs with the distinct needs of staff, executive leadership, faculty, physicians, researchers, and clinicians.

Responsibilities include ensuring total rewards strategies are closely aligned with institutional goals, market competitiveness, workforce segmentation, and the broader employee value proposition; balancing salary alignment, fiscal stewardship, and organizational performance; leading a team of HR professionals; and championing a data‑informed approach to talent attraction, engagement, and retention.

Reports to:

Vice President & Chief Human Resource Officer

• Advanced expertise in total rewards strategy, including compensation and executive compensation design, benefits, and wellness program stewardship.
• Experience in market pricing, pay equity analysis, executive and board‑level compensation governance, and applicable employment and benefits regulations.
• Proficiency in HRIS platforms and workforce analytics for data‑driven decision‑making and vendor management.
• Demonstrated leadership in organizational change, complex program management, stakeholder engagement, compliance, risk mitigation, and ethical decision‑making.

• Minimum of 10 years progressive leadership experience in total rewards, compensation, benefits, or HR strategy.
• At least 5 years in a senior or enterprise‑level role.
• Strong preference for Certified Compensation Professional (CCP), Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS), SHRM‑SCP or SPHR, and certifications in HRIS platforms or data analytics tools (e.g., Workday, SAP, Oracle, Tableau).

• Resume
• Cover Letter

The University follows federal and state nondiscrimination laws and provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations.