Associate Director, Compensation

Barings; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Barings is seeking an Associate Director of Compensation to lead complex compensation programs and analyses in support of Total Rewards. You will partner with HR, Finance, Legal, and business leaders to deliver competitive, compliant, and scalable solutions.

You will own key components of annual cycles, develop models and dashboards, and ensure data accuracy across systems while driving governance and process improvements in a global context.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field preferred.
• 4–6 years in compensation or total rewards.
• Advanced knowledge of market pricing, job evaluation, pay equity.
• Experience partnering with HR, Finance, Legal, Talent, and senior stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and Excel skills; Workday experience preferred.
• Ability to manage multiple processes and communicate clearly.

Responsibilities

• Lead market pricing and pay benchmarking across functions and regions.
• Own components of the annual compensation cycle: merit, incentive, promotion, year-end planning.
• Develop compensation models, reports, and dashboards for decision-making.
• Provide guidance on pay decisions with HR Business Partners and leaders.
• Lead or support job evaluation, leveling, and pay structure alignment.
• Identify process improvements and governance enhancements.
• Audit compensation data in Workday for accuracy and readiness.

Skills

Market pricing

Merit & incentive planning

Job evaluation & leveling

Excel advanced

Stakeholder collaboration

Data analysis

Workday skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business, Finance, Economics, Analytics

Tools

Workday

Job description

At Barings, we are as invested in our associates as we are in our clients. We recognize those who work diligently for us and reward them for personal and professional integrity, communication skills, distinct competencies and expertise in specific strategies, ability to collaborate as a team member and true dedication to the interests of our clients.

We thank you for your interest in joining the Barings team, and invite you to explore our current employment opportunities.

Title: Associate Director, Compensation

Business Unit: Human Resources- Total Rewards

Location: London, UK or Charlotte, NC

Barings is a leading global financial services firm dedicated to meeting the evolving investment and capital needs of our clients and customers. Through active asset management and direct origination, we provide innovative solutions and access to differentiated opportunities across public and private capital markets. A subsidiary of MassMutual, Barings maintains a strong global presence with business and investment professionals located across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

Job Summary

The Compensation Associate Director role leads complex compensation programs, analyses, and processes that support the firm’s compensation strategy and business objectives. This role serves as a subject matter expert within Total Rewards, partnering closely with HR Business Partners, Talent teams, Finance, Legal, and business leaders to deliver competitive, equitable, compliant, and scalable compensation solutions. The role is accountable for multiple compensation processes and programs, anticipates and resolves complex business issues, and may lead initiatives or coordinate the work of others.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead complex market pricing, compensation survey participation, benchmarking, and pay positioning analyses across functions and regions
• Own key components of the annual compensation cycle, including merit, incentive, promotion, and year-end planning activities
• Develop compensation recommendations, models, reports, and dashboards that inform HR, Finance, and business leadership decisions
• Partner with HR Business Partners and business leaders to provide compensation guidance, evaluate pay decisions, and address complex compensation matters
• Lead or support job evaluation, leveling, business title alignment, and pay structure development to promote consistency and internal equity
• Identify process improvements, strengthen governance, and enhance compensation procedures, tools, and controls
• Maintain, audit, and analyze compensation data in Workday and related systems to ensure accuracy, consistency, and readiness for decision-making
• Monitor compensation practices for compliance with internal policies, regulatory requirements, and market standards

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance, Economics, Analytics, or related field preferred
• Typically 4-6 years of progressive compensation, total rewards, HR analytics, or related experience
• Advanced working knowledge of compensation principles, market pricing, job evaluation, pay equity, incentive planning, and annual compensation processes
• Experience partnering with HR Business Partners, Finance, Legal, Talent, and senior business stakeholders
• Strong analytical, modeling, and data interpretation skills; advanced Excel skills required
• Experience with Workday or comparable HRIS/compensation systems preferred
• Ability to manage multiple processes or programs, exercise judgment and discretion, and recommend practical solutions to complex business issues
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex compensation concepts for varied audiences
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively, take accountability, foster trust, and deliver high-quality work in a fast-paced environment

Barings is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer; Minority/Female/Age/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/Individual with Disability/Protected Veteran. We welcome all persons to apply.