Head of Global Compensation Programs – Operations

Northern Trust

. Provide support to the Head of Global Total Rewards in setting strategic and operational leadership in the implementation, administration, and communication of compensation programs including HR governance, base pay, variable pay, merit, compensation planning, and market analysis with a focus on continuous improvement .

Posted 4/28/2026full-timeChicago • Illinois • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $137,400 - $240,400 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Provide support to the Head of Global Total Rewards in setting strategic and operational leadership in the implementation, administration, and communication of compensation programs including HR governance, base pay, variable pay, merit, compensation planning, and market analysis with a focus on continuous improvement
Develop, implement and carry out the ongoing evaluation and governance of global compensation and recognition programs, processes and systems and people data to manage costs, increase efficiency and improve functionality
Manage the annual compensation cycles including stakeholder communications, enablement, project planning, timelines, system set up, data management and dissemination, audits and approvals
Advise leaders and managers on compensation & reward policies and practices providing deep subject matter expertise, and provide training, and guidance on development of best practice compensation programs, policies, and procedures to stakeholders
Lead the development of educational materials, tools, and necessary training modules to increase HRBPs and management understanding of existing or new compensation programs and practices
Ownership of compensation survey submissions and salary range reviews: job matching, data submission and independent analysis of benchmarking data to support compensation strategy
Continuously review current compensation processes, programs and tools (e.g., annual compensation review, market pricing, etc.) to identify opportunities for process improvements, automation and solutions for implementation to enable greater efficiency, scalability as well as enhance employees’ total rewards experience
Support audit processes and legal reporting to make certain compensation programs are administered in compliance with company policies and government regulations
Partner with business and HR leaders in the administration and continuous enhancement of the company’s job architecture. Annually assess our job architecture and salary ranges and provide recommendations as needed
Collaborate with HR Technology team on technology strategy, improvements, and enhancements to data integrity and Total Reward systems and tools
Make staffing decisions, manage expenses and salary review process
Support other cross-functional, global initiatives and projects as needed

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree in human resources or related field of study or equivalent experience
Previous Financial Services experience
A minimum of 10+ years of progressive compensation experience partnering with senior leadership/executives and a track record for driving the talent agenda
Demonstrated experience in job evaluation, job architecture, market pricing, benchmarking, salary structure design and development, pay for performance, short- and long-term incentive compensation, and equity plan development and administration
Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to develop creative solutions to complex global compensation issues
Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively present complex global compensation information and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization
Knowledge of global compensation laws, regulations, and market trends
Ability to work independently and in a team environment
Detail-oriented and organized, with strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple global priorities and deadlines
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other Office products and HR applications including Workday.

Benefits

Comp & perks

retirement benefits (401k and pension)
health and welfare benefits (medical, dental, vision, spending accounts and disability)
paid time off
parental and caregiver leave
life & accident insurance
other voluntary and well-being benefits
discretionary bonus program that may include an equity component

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

compensation programsHR governancebase payvariable paymeritcompensation planningmarket analysisjob evaluationsalary structure designpay for performance

Soft Skills

critical thinkingproblem-solvingcommunicationinterpersonal skillsproject managementdetail-orientedorganizational skillsability to work independentlyability to influence stakeholderscreativity