Senior Compensation & Benefits Specialist

Sonepar; Paris; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

75% transport pass reimbursement

Swile Ticket restaurant card

Gym access for employees

Sustainable mobility package

Health insurance & Welfare

Employee Savings Plan & Profit Sharing

Job summary

Sonepar, a leading independent family‑owned group, seeks a Senior Compensation & Benefits specialist in Paris. You will shape global reward practices, partner with HR and business leaders, and ensure rigorous execution across international teams.

The role combines strategy with hands‑on delivery and governance, in a hybrid Paris environment. You will guide salary reviews, incentive plans, and mobility programs while maintaining data integrity and confidentiality, driving governance and employee

Qualifications

• 8+ years in Compensation & Benefits in international environments.
• Experience with job evaluation, benchmarking, salary structures and annual reward cycles.
• Strong analytical, data integrity and presentation skills.
• Ability to advise senior leaders and coordinate with international HR teams.
• Experience with mobility and executive compensation is valued.

Responsibilities

• Contributes to design, implementation, and improvement of Group compensation, benefits and mobility policies.
• Leads annual salary reviews, bonus reviews, and bonus campaigns with global guidance.
• Conducts job evaluations, benchmarking, market surveys and scenario modelling with actionable recommendations.
• Provides expert advice to HR and leaders on compensation decisions.
• Prepares analyses and materials for senior leadership and governance discussions.
• Contributes to long-term incentive plans and employee share programs.
• Supports international mobility policy definition and compensation packages.
• Supports development and governance of international benefits programs.

Skills

Salary benchmarking

Job evaluation

Excel & PowerPoint

Stakeholder management

HRIS & data governance

Executive communication

Cross‑border compensation

Analytical problem solving

Confidential handling

Project delivery

Tools

SuccessFactors

Job description

Sonepar is an independent family-owned group and a world leader in the distribution of electrical equipment, solutions and related services to the trade. In 2025, Sonepar generated a turnover of €33.6 billion. With a presence in 40 countries and an extensive network of retail outlets, the Group is undertaking an ambitious transformation to make life easier for its customers by offering them an omnichannel experience and a range of sustainable solutions for the industrial, construction and energy sectors. Our 46,000 employees are committed to the electrification of the world and united by a shared Purpose: “Power Progress for Future Generations.

How will you shape our tomorrow

Reporting directly to the SVP Reward & People Analytics, the Senior Compensation & Benefits specialist acts as a trusted partner across the full spectrum of Group Reward activities. The role combines strategic contribution with hands‑on delivery and is involved in virtually all major Compensation & Benefits matters at Group level. The position provides expert guidance to HR and business leaders, coordinates international stakeholders and ensures the rigorous, timely and high‑quality execution of Reward initiatives in support of Sonepar’s objectives.

This is a broad and highly visible role at the heart of Group decision‑making. You will help translate business priorities into fair, competitive and sustainable Reward solutions, while strengthening governance, data quality and the employee experience across a decentralized international organization.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES :

• Contributes to the design, implementation and continuous improvement of Group compensation, benefits and mobility policies and programs, and promotes consistent and compliant practices across the organization.
• Leads and coordinates annual salary review, bonus review and bonus payment campaigns, providing countries with appropriate guidance and tools and ensuring High-quality data, process consistency and timely execution.
• Conducts job evaluations, salary benchmarking, market surveys, compensation analyses and scenario modelling, and translates findings into clear, business‑relevant recommendations.
• Provides expert and pragmatic advice to HR and business leaders on compensation decisions, including hiring proposals, promotions, retention situations and organizational changes.
• Prepares high‑quality analyses, recommendations and presentation materials for senior leadership and Reward governance discussions.
• Contributes to the management and evolution of the Group’s long‑term incentive plans, executive compensation arrangements and employee shareholding programs, ensuring accurate and confidential execution.
• Contributes to the definition and management of international mobility policies and compensation packages, in coordination with relevant internal and external stakeholders.
• Supports the development, governance and continuous improvement of international benefits programs, taking account of business needs, market practices and applicable requirements.
• Contributes to Reward‑related HRIS developments and drives process simplification, standardization, data integrity and operational excellence.
• Prepare compelling analyses and executive‑ready materials for senior leadership and Reward governance forums, and support the deployment and communication of Reward initiatives across the international HR community.

The experience you bring :

• At least 8 years of broad Compensation & Benefits experience in an international and complex environment, with demonstrated ownership of significant Reward processes and projects.
• Strong command of compensation fundamentals, including job evaluation, market benchmarking, salary structures, incentive plans and annual Reward cycles
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving capabilities, with exceptional rigor, attention to detail and a commitment to high‑quality execution.
• Highly reliable, engaged and proactive, with a strong sense of ownership, sound judgement and the ability to handle sensitive matters with absolute confidentiality.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and stakeholder‑management skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships and work effectively with senior leaders and international HR teams.
• Hands‑on, pragmatic and delivery‑oriented, with the ability to move seamlessly between strategic topics and detailed operational execution.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel and PowerPoint; strong data analysis and presentation capabilities.
• Fluent in French and English, with excellent written and verbal communication skills in both languages.
• Experience in international mobility, executive compensation, long‑term incentives and/or HRIS platforms such as SuccessFactors would be highly valued

Recruitment Process

• Pre-screening Interview
• Managerial Interview
• HR Interview
• Interview with a Skip Level

Work Mode & Location

- Hybrid: 3 days in Paris (8ème) after the Probation period

Benefits that await you:

The role - Your daily activities will be interesting, stimulating and varied... No two days are alike!

The organisation - You'll be part of the Sonepar family and share the same values!

The culture - You'll be working in an international environment.

The team - Our dynamic, multidisciplinary, open-minded and talented team is eager to welcome additional skills to continue to meet the challenge.

• 75% reimbursement of your monthly or annual transport pass.
• Swile Ticket restaurant card
• Gym exclusively reserved for the company and made available to employees free of charge.
• Sustainable mobility package
• Health insurance & Welfare
• Employee Savings Plan & Profit Sharing Bonus.

At Sonepar, we value your skills, your passion and if your career journey has had remarkable twists and turns, it only adds to your unique story. We ensure we create an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcomed and valued for their uniqueness. Regardless of physical abilities, office requirements, gender, sexual orientation, academic backgrounds or other diversity dimensions, every position at Sonepar is open to individuals who share our core values and engagements. We aim to ensure our job listings resonate with everyone and truly represent the diversity we embrace and we are proud to have the GEEIS Label (Gender Equality for European & International Standard) and to be partner of AGEFIPH (Association de Gestion du Fonds pour l’Insertion Professionnelle des Personnes Handicapées).

More information on Sonepar:

Website : www.sonepar.com

Twitter: @sonepar

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sonepar/