Compensation Manager

Salary Range $112,406.00 - $168,608.00 Position Summary The Compensation Manager implements and administers competitive, equitable, and compliant compensation programs that support the organization's total rewards strategy. This role manages base pay structures, job architecture, and annual compensation cycles for the company’s 600+ U.S. employees, while partnering with HR and Finance to ensure compensation practices in Mexico remain market-competitive and compliant with local requirements. The Compensation Manager acts as a subject-matter expert to HR Business Partners, Talent Acquisition, and people leaders, translating compensation philosophy and market data into practical guidance that helps the business attract, retain, and fairly reward talent. Compensation Program Design & Administration Partners with senior HR leaders to advise, maintain and continuously improve compensation structures and programs. Conduct regular market benchmarking and manage participation in compensation surveys. Oversee the annual bonus program, including calculations, approvals, communication, and delivery. Lead the annual compensation planning cycle, including merit increases and promotional adjustments, in partnership with HR Business Partners and Finance. Own job evaluation and leveling processes, ensuring new and existing roles are evaluated consistently against internal equity and market benchmarks. Recommend and implement improvements to compensation programs, tools, and processes to support evolving business needs. Compliance & Governance Ensure compensation programs comply with applicable local, state, and federal regulations, including FLSA exemption classification, pay transparency and pay equity laws, and minimum wage requirements across all geographic areas where employees are located. Conduct regular pay equity audits and partner with HR and Legal to remediate identified gaps. Maintain accurate compensation documentation, including job descriptions, salary structures, and any other required documents for retention and compliance. Systems & Data Integrity Own compensation data integrity within the HRIS (e.g., SuccessFactors, Workday, ADP) and compensation planning tools, including system configuration for merit and bonus cycles. Partner with the HRIS Manager to maintain data integrity in compensation-related systems, including running queries and analyzing data. Partnership & Consultation Provide guidance to HR and management on pay decisions, policy and guideline interpretation, and job evaluations. Serve as the primary point of contact for compensation questions from HR Business Partners, recruiters, and people leaders. Train and advise managers and HR partners on compensation philosophy, pay structures, and communicating pay decisions to employees. Support the design and communication of total rewards statements that reflect the full value of pay and benefits employees globally. Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance or a related field. 5+ years of progressive experience in compensation, with at least 2 years in a compensation manager or senior analyst capacity. Experience with survey participation and market pricing tools (Radford, Mercer, WTW, or similar). Strong working knowledge of U.S. compensation regulations (FLSA, pay transparency, and state-specific pay equity laws). Experience with compensation data benchmarking, pay structure and cost impact analysis, providing market pricing, and building and designing salary structures. Deep knowledge of HR best practices within compensation. Strong analytical skills, including market sizing, pricing analysis, competitive benchmarking and forecasting, with the ability to translate complex data into clear, actionable recommendations for non-technical stakeholders and executives. Demonstrated project-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and align with Finance partners and internal stakeholders. Excellent communication and consulting skills, with the ability to build credibility with HR partners and business leaders at all levels. Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint. Preferred Qualifications Experience working in a manufacturing, consumer goods, or related industry and/or experience with a blended exempt/non-exempt workforce. Familiarity with global compensation, specifically Mexico (China and Vietnam are a plus). Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) designation. Perks and Benefits We hope that you’re excited by the possibilities that come along with working at Exemplis! With us, TEAM comes first. We bring integrity, passion, and excellence to work each day. Being part of our team means living our core values and thriving in an environment of constant innovation and positive change. Competitive Salary: Our compensation philosophy is to be externally competitive, internally fair, and not win or lose on compensation. Salary ranges are developed with the support of national benchmarks and industry best practices that adjusts to your cost of labor, years of relevant experience, skill set, and education. Hybrid Work Schedule: We believe in supporting a healthy work–life balance and offer a flexible hybrid schedule, with remote work on Mondays and Fridays and onsite collaboration on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Health Insurance: We offer a variety of health insurance options (medical, dental, vision, etc.) for all of our team members. Eligible the first month following your start date. 401(k): We match 100% up to 3% and then 50% of the next 2% deferred. Time Off: Taking time off to recharge is a must whether it is for your personal health or vacation; paid time off starts accruing day 1! Observed Holidays: 10 company observed holidays: New Years, Martin Luther King, President’s Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Day. Employee Discounts: We offer discounts to our employee across all of our product lines. Hit our Numbers Lunch: When we hit our monthly milestones, we all celebrate! Tuition Scholarships: Partnership with UMASS Global for 10%-20% off tuition for you and/or your family. About Us It all started in a small warehouse in California with just three employees, a fax machine and a bell that rang out every time a chair came down the conveyor belt. 30 years later, Exemplis continues to lead, innovate and disrupt an array of industries through its growing family of brands — including SitOnIt Seating, Timbuk2, X-Chair, Maverick, Mavix, Edloe Finch, and Albany Park. From sustainable manufacturing to outreach programs and more, we strive to make a positive impact on everyone we serve. We make sure our people (and their communities) are at the core of our organization. To make a difference, we must be a champion of diversity, inclusion, service and social justice — above all else. Exemplis is an Equal Opportunity Employer and our company adheres to the equal employment opportunity guidelines set forth by federal, state, and local laws. Read our full statement on our careers page. #J-18808-Ljbffr