Job Summary:
The Senior Manager, Compensation is responsible for the administration, governance, and execution of Panera's executive compensation and long-term incentive programs in support of Panera's business objectives and talent strategy. This role manages the full lifecycle of long-term incentive awards, including grants, vesting events, distributions, participant transactions, tax reporting, plan documentation, and Board support while acting as a trusted advisor to HR, Finance, Talent Acquisition, HR Technology, and business leaders.
Location: Newton, MA (3 Days in Office) to Weston, MA (4 Days in Office, 2027)
Key Responsibilities:
Executive & Long-Term Incentive Administration
- Administer executive compensation and long-term incentive programs, including grant issuances, vesting events, program payouts, grant forfeitures, sale transactions, and participant recordkeeping activities.
- Manage annual and ongoing grant processes in coordination with the Chief People Officer and the Board, ensuring participant data, award agreements, vesting schedules, approvals, communications, and supporting documentation are fully aligned upon, accurate and complete.
- Maintain current, audit-ready records of award history, participant activity, transaction detail, plan documentation, and supporting files.
Sale Window & Participant Support
- Lead approved sale windows and participant transaction opportunities, including planning, eligibility, elections, communications, execution, and final reconciliation.
- Serve as a trusted resource for executives, former employees, beneficiaries, and other participants regarding plan provisions, award treatment, vesting schedules, payment timing, transactions, and required documentation.
- Support participants through complex employment and life events, including retirement, death, disability, leaves of absence, terminations, and other status changes.
Governance, Tax & Compliance
- Maintain long-term incentive plan documents, award agreements, administrative procedures, participant materials, and governance records.
- Prepare Board materials related to executive compensation, long-term incentive awards, participant activity, and program administration.
- Coordinate tax reporting activities, including preparation and distribution of Form 1099s, and support audits, regulatory inquiries, legal requests, and finance reporting needs.
Process Excellence
- Maintain controls, calendars, procedures, and reusable templates supporting accurate, consistent, and confidential program administration.
- Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy, controls, participant experience, and administrative effectiveness.
Qualifications
Required:
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field.
- 5+ years of progressive compensation, executive compensation, equity compensation, stock administration, finance, HR operations, or related experience.
- Demonstrated experience administering long-term incentive, equity compensation, executive compensation, or similarly complex participant-based compensation programs.
- Strong understanding of grant administration, vesting events, participant transactions, tax reporting, plan governance, and documentation requirements.
- Advanced Excel skills, exceptional attention to detail, discretion, confidentiality, organization, follow-through, and strong communication skills.
Preferred:
- Certified Equity Professional (CEP), Certified Compensation Professional (CCP), or similar certification.
The actual pay offered will be determined by multiple factors, including but not limited to the candidate’s relevant experience, job-related knowledge, skills, and geographical location. Individual compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.
Newton Support CenterSkills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field.
- 5+ years of progressive experience in compensation, executive compensation, equity compensation, stock administration, finance, HR operations, or a related field.
- Experience administering long-term incentive, equity compensation, executive compensation, or similarly complex participant-based compensation programs.
- Strong understanding of grant administration, vesting events, participant transactions, tax reporting, plan governance, and documentation requirements.
- Advanced Excel skills, exceptional attention to detail, discretion, confidentiality, organization, follow-through, and communication skills.
- Certified Equity Professional, Certified Compensation Professional, or similar certification.
What We Do
Panera began in 1987 as St. Louis Bread Company, a humble community bakery founded with a sourdough starter from San Francisco and a dream of putting a loaf of bread in every arm. While our business has expanded well beyond St. Louis since then, that same sourdough starter is still used in our iconic sourdough bread and the craft of baking bread fresh each day remains at the heart of Panera Bread. Each day, our trained bakers fill our bakery shelves with delicious freshly baked cookies, pastries, bagels, and a range of breads from focaccia to classic baguettes. We believe in serving delicious, freshly prepared, clean food made with carefully selected ingredients that we are proud to serve our own families. Our menu, crafted by chefs and bakers, features classic, comforting dishes, each with an intriguing twist. We respect our planet and take measures to lessen our impacts. We believe in treating people with warmth, kindness, and respect, whether it’s a guest in our cafe or one of our associates. And we believe in helping our local communities, especially in times of need. We’re also focused on improving quality and convenience. With investments in technology and operations, we offer omni-channel access to your Panera favorites – like mobile ordering, catering, and Rapid Pick-Up® for to-go orders, Curbside pick-up and delivery – all designed to make things easier for our guests. Today, Panera operates as both Panera Bread® or Saint Louis Bread Co St. Louis Bread Company in 48 states, the District of Columbia and Canada. Panera Bread is privately held by JAB Holding Company. Panera Bread is part of Panera Brands, one of the largest fast-casual restaurant platforms in the U.S., comprised of Panera Bread®, Caribou Coffee® and Einstein Bros.® Bagels.
