Manager, US Compensation

Ready for more than just a job? Build a career with purpose. At Lactalis in the USA, we’re committed to providing meaningful opportunities for our people to learn, grow, and thrive—whether you’re just starting your journey with us or looking to take the next step in your career. From day one, we offer the tools and support to help you succeed. As the world leader in dairy, Lactalis is a family-owned company with over 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals across the globe. Each day, we’re proud to produce award-winning dairy products that bring people together. In the US, we proudly offer an unrivaled house of beloved brands, including Galbani® Italian cheeses and ricotta, Président® specialty cheeses and butters, Kraft® natural and grated cheeses, Breakstone’s® cottage cheese, Cracker Barrel®, Black Diamond® cheddar, and Parmalat® milk. Our yogurt portfolio includes siggi’s®, Stonyfield Organic®, Brown Cow™, Oui®, Yoplait®, Go-Gurt®, :ratio®, Green Mountain Creamery®, and Mountain High®, along with a growing family of ethnic favorites like Karoun®, Gopi®, and Arz®. At Lactalis, we live by our core values—Ambition, Engagement, and Simplicity. We foster a workplace where innovation thrives, diverse perspectives are celebrated, and everyone’s unique background and ideas are valued. From your PASSION to ours Lactalis USA, part of the Lactalis family of companies, is currently hiring a Manager, US Compensation. This position can be based in New York, NY or Chicago, IL. The Manager, US Compensation plays a critical leadership role in developing, implementing, and governing compensation programs and strategies across Lactalis USA. This position is responsible for leading enterprise-wide compensation initiatives that ensure market competitiveness, internal equity, regulatory compliance, and alignment with organizational objectives. Reporting to the Director, U.S. Compensation & Global Mobility, this role serves as a strategic advisor to HR and business leadership, providing data-driven recommendations on compensation strategy, organizational design, talent attraction, retention, and workforce planning. The Manager leads complex compensation projects, influences key business decisions, and ensures compensation programs align with business priorities, talent strategies, and market best practices. This position requires a strategic thinker with advanced analytical capabilities who can effectively partner with HR Business Partners (HRBPs), HR Site Leaders, Finance, Talent Acquisition, HRIS, Payroll, and business leaders to deliver impactful compensation solutions. Operating in a complex, multi-site manufacturing and corporate environment, the Manager applies strong business acumen, compensation expertise, and analytical rigor to ensure compensation programs support operational performance, workforce stability, and long-term organizational growth while reflecting Lactalis' values of pragmatism, efficiency, and sustainability. From your EXPERTISE to ours Key responsibilities for this position include: Compensation Strategy & Program Management Lead the design, implementation, governance, and continuous enhancement of compensation programs across multiple business units. Partner with the Director, U.S. Compensation & Global Mobility, to develop and execute compensation strategies that support business objectives, talent priorities, and market competitiveness. Lead enterprise-wide annual compensation processes, including merit planning, incentive administration, market adjustments, and promotional increase reviews. Develop and maintain compensation frameworks, policies, and guidelines that promote consistency, internal equity, and sound governance. Identify market trends, legislative developments, and emerging compensation practices, providing recommendations to enhance existing programs. Lead complex compensation initiatives related to organizational changes, workforce planning, acquisitions, restructurings, and business transformation efforts. Ensure compensation programs effectively balance business needs, competitive positioning, employee experience, and financial considerations. Business Partnership Serve as a trusted compensation advisor to HR leaders, HR Business Partners, and business leadership teams. Provide strategic consultation on compensation-related matters, including offers, promotions, retention strategies, organizational design, workforce planning, and job evaluations. Partner with leaders to develop compensation solutions that support attraction, retention, engagement, and succession planning efforts. Influence business decisions through compensation analytics, market intelligence, and risk-based recommendations. Collaborate with Finance, Talent Acquisition, HRIS, Payroll, and Legal to ensure compensation programs support broader business objectives. Present compensation analyses, recommendations, and program outcomes to senior leadership and key stakeholders. Support organizational effectiveness initiatives by providing compensation expertise related to restructures, workforce changes, and talent investments. Market Analysis & Benchmarking Lead enterprise compensation benchmarking and market‑pricing initiatives. Conduct analyses of market trends, competitive pay practices, workforce costs, and compensation positioning. Evaluate internal equity and external competitiveness to develop informed compensation recommendations. Develop actionable insights and executive‑level recommendations using compensation data, market intelligence, and business priorities. Monitor compensation trends and emerging practices to ensure Lactalis remains competitive in attracting and retaining talent. Create and maintain compensation dashboards, workforce analytics, and reporting tools that support strategic decision‑making. Program Design, Governance & Compliance Lead the design, implementation, and ongoing enhancement of salary structures, incentive plans, job The above job description is not a contractual or binding document; it is provided as a guide to the types of duties required to be undertaken. Duties may vary from time to time and this description is subject to review. Modifications will be made as needed to support changes in the business climate and requirements. architecture frameworks, and compensation policies. Develop governance processes that ensure compensation decisions are consistent, equitable, and aligned with company philosophy. Lead or support pay equity analyses and recommend corrective actions where appropriate. Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local compensation regulations, including pay transparency and pay equity requirements. Conduct audits and reviews of compensation programs to identify risks and recommend improvements. Develop tools, resources, and education materials to support managers and HR teams in compensation decision‑making. Maintain comprehensive documentation of compensation programs, policies, and governance practices. Leadership & Organizational Influence Provide functional leadership, coaching, and mentorship to compensation team members and broader HR stakeholders. Serve as a subject matter expert for compensation‑related initiatives and organizational projects. Lead cross‑functional compensation initiatives and drive collaboration across business functions. Champion continuous improvement efforts that enhance compensation processes, systems, reporting, and program administration. Support capability building across HR by providing training, consultation, and guidance on compensation principles and practices. Act as a key resource during compensation reviews, organizational changes, and strategic workforce planning activities. Global (Groupe) Alignment Partner with Global Mobility and international compensation teams to support alignment with global compensation principles and governance standards. Represent U.S. Compensation on global projects and initiatives as required. Support the implementation of global compensation frameworks and best practices within the U.S. organization. Collaborate with Groupe stakeholders to ensure consistency where appropriate while meeting local business and regulatory requirements. Requirements From your STORY to ours Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, Economics, or a related field required. CCP (Certified Compensation Professional) designation strongly preferred. Master's degree preferred. 7-10 years of progressive compensation or total rewards experience, preferably within a manufacturing, consumer goods, or similar operational environment. Experience supporting multiple business units or locations within a decentralized organization. Demonstrated experience leading complex compensation projects and initiatives with enterprise‑wide impact. Experience advising HR and business leaders on compensation strategy and decision‑making. Strong experience with compensation systems (e.g., SAP SuccessFactors), HRIS platforms, and compensation survey tools. Experience conducting market pricing, salary structure development, incentive plan administration, and workforce analytics. Deep knowledge of compensation strategy, salary administration, market pricing, job evaluation, and incentive plan design. Strong understanding of compensation laws, regulations, governance practices, and emerging industry trends. Experience conducting pay equity analyses and supporting compliance with pay transparency requirements. Advanced knowledge of compensation surveys and market data providers, including Mercer, WTW, Aon, and similar sources. Demonstrated expertise in compensation modeling, workforce cost analysis, and data‑driven decision‑making. Strong understanding of organizational design principles and the impact of compensation on talent outcomes. Strong executive presence and consulting skills. Ability to influence stakeholders and build credibility across all levels of the organization. Advanced analytical, problem‑solving, and critical‑thinking capabilities. Strong business acumen and ability to translate data into actionable recommendations. Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship‑building skills. Advanced Microsoft Office proficiency, including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and O365 applications. Ability to work independently while effectively managing multiple priorities and competing deadlines. High level of discretion and ability to manage sensitive and confidential information. Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy. English required; French is a plus. At Lactalis, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards Program with a variety of affordable benefits and coverage options. We support insurance costs significantly, contribute generously to retirement plans, and offer Paid Time Off from day one. We are committed to your professional growth, providing training and development opportunities, including Education Reimbursement. Join us and grow your career. Lactalis is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally‑recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities. Further, any division of the Company that is an Aff… #J-18808-Ljbffr Lactalis American Group