Compensation Manager
Compensation Manager
Location: New Jersey
Work Arrangement: Hybrid
Experience: 10+ years
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced Compensation Manager to join a sophisticated Total Rewards organization in New Jersey. This highly visible role will be responsible for the development, analysis, governance, and administration of executive and broad-based compensation programs, with significant emphasis on executive compensation, equity compensation, proxy disclosure, and Board-level materials.
The ideal candidate brings 10+ years of progressive compensation experience and has operated in a complex, highly regulated or financially sophisticated environment. Candidates should come from financial services, insurance, compensation/HR consulting, or another finance-relevant industry where executive compensation governance, equity programs, and public-company disclosure requirements are central to the role.
This individual will partner closely with senior HR leadership, Finance, Legal, and other key stakeholders and will have exposure to executive leadership and the Board/Compensation Committee.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and support the design, analysis, and administration of executive compensation programs, including base salary, annual incentives, long-term incentives, and equity awards.
- Manage and provide subject matter expertise for equity compensation programs, including long-term incentive plan design, award modeling, competitive analysis, and ongoing administration.
- Play a key role in the preparation and review of the company’s annual proxy statement, with particular ownership and expertise around the Compensation Discussion & Analysis (CD&A) and executive compensation disclosures.
- Develop high-quality Board and Compensation Committee materials, including compensation analyses, market benchmarking, executive pay recommendations, incentive plan results, and supporting documentation.
- Partner with senior HR leadership, Finance, Legal, and external compensation consultants on executive compensation strategy, governance, and disclosure.
- Conduct executive compensation benchmarking and competitive market analyses using relevant peer groups and compensation survey data.
- Evaluate executive pay positioning, pay mix, incentive opportunities, equity utilization, and pay-for-performance alignment.
- Support the development and ongoing evaluation of annual and long-term incentive plans, including performance measures, goal-setting methodologies, payout modeling, and design considerations.
- Provide analytical support around executive compensation governance matters and compensation-related public disclosures.
- Prepare compensation analyses and recommendations for senior executives and other key employee populations.
- Advise HR and business leadership on sophisticated compensation issues, market trends, internal equity, retention strategies, and compensation program design.
- Partner with external advisors and consultants on executive compensation studies, benchmarking, proxy-related matters, and program design.
- Maintain strong governance and controls around compensation processes and ensure programs are administered accurately and consistently.
- Monitor evolving executive and equity compensation practices and incorporate relevant market developments into compensation strategy.
- Support broader compensation initiatives and special projects as required.
Qualifications
Required
- 10+ years of progressive compensation experience, with significant depth in executive compensation.
- Demonstrated experience with executive compensation and equity compensation programs.
- Hands-on experience preparing, reviewing, or providing substantial input into public-company proxy statements.
- Strong working knowledge of Compensation Discussion & Analysis (CD&A) and executive compensation disclosures.
- Experience developing analyses and presentation materials for a Board of Directors and/or Compensation Committee.
- Strong executive compensation benchmarking, modeling, and analytical capabilities.
- Experience partnering effectively with senior executives, Finance, Legal, HR leadership, and external compensation consultants.
- Background within financial services, insurance, consulting, or another financially sophisticated/relevant industry.
- Advanced Excel and financial/compensation modeling skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate complex compensation concepts into concise, executive-level recommendations.
- Strong judgment, attention to detail, discretion, and ability to work with highly confidential executive compensation information.
Preferred
- Public-company compensation experience.
- Experience with long-term incentive and equity plan design.
- Experience supporting formal Compensation Committee processes and annual compensation planning cycles.
- Knowledge of executive compensation governance and disclosure requirements.
- Experience working in a highly regulated or complex corporate environment.
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Finance, Business, Economics, or a related discipline. Advanced degree and/or compensation certification is a plus.
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