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.
Job DescriptionWhat 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!
Additional InformationAs part of our recruitment process, we kindly request that you submit your CV in English to ensure accurate evaluation
Skills Required
- Experience in compensation management in a multinational or global environment
- Excellent knowledge of Excel and advanced spreadsheet skills
- Actuarial or statistical analysis skills
- Strong foundation in job architecture, job levelling, and salary benchmarking
- Ability to interpret financial statements (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow) and KPIs
- Experience with short- and long-term incentive plan design and reward communications
- Pragmatic, hands-on approach and ability to manage multiple projects in parallel
- Fluent in English
- Additional European language skills
- Knowledge of Swiss labor law and the Swiss Code of Obligations
- Interest in technology and recent developments, including AI
- Based in a European country (hybrid work)
SGS Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about SGS and has not been reviewed or approved by SGS.
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Healthcare Strength — Core medical, dental, and vision coverage is part of the U.S. package and is generally viewed as adequate even if not standout. Company information also underscores healthcare coverage as a standard element of the offering.
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) is commonly included in the U.S., and group disclosures reference post‑employment benefit plans in select regions. These components provide a baseline of retirement security beyond core pay.
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Strong & Reliable Incentives — Annual incentive/bonus structures are part of the compensation mix and cited positively in some regions and roles. Punctual pay is also highlighted as a plus.
SGS Insights
What We Do
SGS is the world's leading Testing, Inspection, and Certification company, providing quality and safety control services.
