California Public-Agency Compensation and Benefits Specialist

AlphaGov is seeking an experienced California Public-Agency Compensation and Benefits Specialist for project-based consulting. You will support compensation studies, benefit valuations, labor-cost analysis, report review, and presentations to executive teams and public-agency boards.

Ideal consultants have direct California public-agency experience and understand compensation, CalPERS/PEPRA, benefits, and labor-relations considerations for special districts and public utilities.

This is an independent contractor / subconsultant engagement — not an employee position or legal-counsel role.

What you'll do:

- Conduct and review compensation and benefits studies for California public agencies

- Analyze salaries, classifications, premiums, allowances, and total compensation

- Evaluate CalPERS classic and PEPRA retirement cost provisions

- Value health benefits, deferred compensation, leave, and premium pay

- Review survey methodologies and findings for accuracy and defensibility

- Develop fiscal-impact calculations and explain assumptions

- Support meet-and-confer preparation with analysis, costing, and materials (not legal advice)

- Prepare executive summaries, staff reports, and Board presentations

- Present or answer technical questions in executive or Board settings when requested

Required:
- Experience conducting or supporting compensation and benefits work for California public agencies
- Working expertise in CalPERS classic and PEPRA provisions
- Experience valuing health benefits, deferred compensation, leave, and premium pay
- Familiarity with Meyers-Milias-Brown Act and meet-and-confer processes
- Strong quantitative, analytical, and report-writing skills
- Experience preparing materials for executive or Board review
Nice to have: special-district / municipal utility experience; Board presentation experience; prior public-sector consulting