Global Compensation Manager

SGS is a world leader in Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC), headquartered in Switzerland and operating in 90+ countries with over 100,000 professionals. We are expanding our Reward team and seeking a proactive, analytical Compensation Manager to help shape our global compensation strategy. . The agile Reward Team designs, governs and maintains the job architecture; coordinates access to and the use of market compensation data; drives the annual salary review process; designs, implements and administers short-term and long-term variable compensation plans, cash and equity-based; provides insights and guidance to HR Operations and senior leaders; and monitors labor-cost trends and pay dynamics. As SGS is listed on the Swiss stock exchange, Reward also ensures compliance with disclosure requirements for the remuneration of governing bodies. The team additionally oversees employee benefits governance and leads the management of international mobility.
What You’ll Do:
Design, govern, and maintain SGS’s global job architecture and job grading systems
Lead market benchmarking and salary range design; analyze internal compensation practices and labor market trends to inform merit budgets and pay decisions
Support short- and long-term incentive plan design (cash and equity)
Interpret financial statements (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow) and assess business impact of reward decisions
Provide expert guidance to HR and senior leaders across a global, multicultural environment
Collaborate closely with a small, high-performing team and coach colleagues on reward topics
Manage relationships with external vendors and service providers
What We’re Looking For:
Solid experience in compensation management in a multinational or global environment
Excellent knowledge of Excel and advanced spreadsheet skills (actuarial/statistical analysis a strong plus)
Strong foundation in job architecture, job levelling, and salary benchmarking
Ability to interpret financial statements and KPIs
Experience with incentive plan design and reward communications
Pragmatic, hands-on approach and ability to manage multiple projects in parallel
Fluent in English; additional European languages a plus
Knowledge of Swiss labor law and the Swiss Code of Obligations (preferred)
Interest in technology and recent developments, including AI
This is an individual contributor position based in a European country and reporting to the Global Head of Reward (based in Italy).
Why SGS?
Join a global leader in a dynamic phase of growth and transformation
Influence compensation strategy for 100,000+ employees worldwide
Flexible, hybrid work options anywhere in Europe
Ready to make an impact? Apply now and help us shape the future of reward at SGS!
As part of our recruitment process, we kindly request that you submit your CV in English to ensure accurate evaluation