Compensation Business Partner

Cerebras; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Cerebras is seeking a Compensation Business Partner to design and implement North America compensation programs. You will partner with People Managers, HRBPs, and Talent Acquisition to attract, retain, and engage top talent across NA.

This mid-senior individual contributor role requires deep technical expertise, strong business acumen, and the ability to influence senior leaders while driving annual cycles, budgeting, and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive experience in compensation or total rewards.
• Experience designing compensation structures and pay programs.
• Strong business acumen and data-driven decision making.
• Experience with Workday or comparable HRIS.
• Ability to influence senior leaders.

Responsibilities

• Partner with People Managers, HRBPs, and Talent Acquisition to develop and advise on compensation strategies across NA.
• Design and recommend compensation structures (base, variable pay, equity) aligned to internal equity and market benchmarks.
• Lead benchmarking, market analysis, and pay positioning for US/Canada.
• Support job architecture evolution and program effectiveness reviews.
• Manage annual compensation cycles, budgeting, and process design.
• Monitor pay trends and regulatory requirements across NA.
• Collaborate with HR Operations to optimize HRIS compensation modules (Workday preferred).
• Use analytics to assess pay competitiveness and internal equity.
• Present data-driven insights to senior leadership and develop communications on compensation philosophy.

Skills

Compensation design

Market benchmarking

Data analysis

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Postgraduate degree in HR, Business, Finance

Tools

Workday

Excel

Job description

We are seeking a Compensation Business Partner to join our Total Rewards team supporting North America. In this role, you will design, implement, and advise on compensation programs that attract, retain, and engage top talent across North America.

Operating at the intersection of operations and strategy, you will partner closely with People Managers, HR Business Partners, and Talent Acquisition to scale high-impact Total Rewards programs across our North American workforce. This is a mid-senior individual contributor role requiring deep technical expertise, strong business acumen, and the ability to influence senior leaders.

What You’ll Do:

• Partner with People Managers, HR Business Partners, and Talent Acquisition to develop and advise on compensation strategies and pay programs across North America
• Design and recommend compensation structures (base salary, variable pay, sales incentives, equity/long-term incentives) aligned to internal equity and competitive market benchmarks
• Lead compensation benchmarking, market analysis, and pay positioning strategies for U.S. and Canadian markets
• Support strategic initiatives such as job architecture evolution, compensation frameworks for critical talent, and program effectiveness reviews
• Manage annual compensation cycles (merit increases, bonus planning, equity refresh) including budgeting, process design, and execution
• Monitor regulatory requirements and pay trends across North America (e.g., pay transparency laws, provincial/state requirements)
• Partner with HR Operations to optimize compensation modules within HRIS platforms (Workday experience preferred)
• Use advanced analytics to assess pay competitiveness, internal equity, and workforce impact
• Present clear, data-driven insights and recommendations to senior leadership
• Develop communication materials that articulate compensation philosophy, benefits, and wellness offerings

What You Bring:

• Postgraduate degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance, or related field (preferred)
• 7+ years of progressive experience in compensation or total rewards, preferably supporting North American organizations
• Proven experience designing compensation structures, analyzing market data, and scaling programs in high-growth environments
• Strong project management skills with the ability to work independently and cross-functionally
• Advanced proficiency in Excel or Google Sheets for modeling, data analysis, and reporting
• Hands-on experience managing U.S. and/or Canadian salary and bonus review cycles and participating in compensation surveys
• Experience with Workday or a comparable HRIS platform required
• Familiarity with job evaluation frameworks (e.g., Aon, Mercer, Willis Towers Watson) strongly preferred
• Exceptional attention to detail, ownership mindset, and ability to thrive in fast-paced environments