Compensation Manager

Talent Xpanse; Orange (CA); Hybrid; USD 112,000 - 168,000; Full time

Job summary

Talent Xpanse is seeking a Compensation Manager in Orange County, CA, with a hybrid schedule (onsite Tue–Thu; remote Mon & Fri). You will manage base pay structures, job architecture, and annual cycles for 600+ U.S. employees while aligning Mexico practices to market standards.

Lead benchmarking, surveys, and year-end merit adjustments; ensure compliance with FLSA, pay equity, and state laws; partner with HR and Finance on data and reporting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR, Business, Finance or related field.
• 5+ years in compensation, with at least 2 years in a manager or senior analyst role.
• Experience with compensation surveys and market pricing tools (Radford/Mercer/WTW).
• Strong knowledge of US compensation regulations (FLSA, pay transparency, equity).
• Experience in benchmarking, pay structure design, and cost impact analysis.
• Deep HR compensation domain knowledge; strong analytical skills.
• Project management experience with multiple stakeholders.
• Excellent communicating and consulting abilities; able to influence leaders.
• Proficient in Excel and PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

• Design and administer compensation programs aligned to total rewards strategy.
• Lead annual bonus program, merit cycles, and job evaluation processes.
• Maintain job architecture, leveling, and internal equity against benchmarks.
• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal pay laws (FLSA, equity).
• Conduct market benchmarking and participate in surveys for pricing data.
• Own data integrity in HRIS and compensation planning tools.
• Provide guidance to HR partners and leaders onpay decisions and policy interpretation.
• Communicate total rewards effectively and support pay transparency initiatives.

Skills

Compensation experience

US compensation regulations

Market benchmarking & pricing

Pay structure & salary design

Data analytics & forecasting

Project management

Communication & consulting

Advanced Excel & PowerPoint

Cross-border compensation

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/Business/Finance or related field

CCP designation (preferred)

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

HRIS tools (SuccessFactors/Workday/ADP)

Job description

Job Title: Compensation Manager

Location: Orange County, CA

Hybrid Schedule:

• Onsite: Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday
• Remote: Monday/Friday

Role Overview:

The Compensation Manager implements and administers competitive, equitable, and compliant compensation programs that support the organization’s total rewards strategy. This role manages base pay structures, job architecture, and annual compensation cycles for the company’s 600+ U.S. employees, while partnering with HR and Finance to ensure compensation practices in Mexico remain market-competitive and compliant with local requirements. The Compensation Manager acts as a subject-matter expert to HR Business Partners, Talent Acquisition, and people leaders, translating compensation philosophy and market data into practical guidance that helps the business attract, retain, and fairly reward talent.

Compensation Program Design & Administration

• Partners with senior HR leaders to advise, maintain and continuously improve compensation structures and programs.
• Conduct regular market benchmarking and manage participation in compensation surveys.
• Oversee the annual bonus program, including calculations, approvals, communication, and delivery.
• Lead the annual compensation planning cycle, including merit increases and promotional adjustments, in partnership with HR Business Partners and Finance.
• Own job evaluation and leveling processes, ensuring new and existing roles are evaluated consistently against internal equity and market benchmarks.
• Recommend and implement improvements to compensation programs, tools, and processes to support evolving business needs.

Compliance & Governance

• Ensure compensation programs comply with applicable local, state, and federal regulations, including FLSA exemption classification, pay transparency and pay equity laws, and minimum wage requirements across all geographic areas where employees are located.
• Conduct regular pay equity audits and partner with HR and Legal to remediate identified gaps.
• Maintain accurate compensation documentation, including job descriptions, salary structures, and any other required documents for retention and compliance.

Systems & Data Integrity

• Own compensation data integrity within the HRIS (e.g., SuccessFactors, Workday, ADP) and compensation planning tools, including system configuration for merit and bonus cycles.
• Partner with the HRIS Manager to maintain data integrity in compensation-related systems, including running queries and analyzing data.

Partnership & Consultation

• Provide guidance to HR and management on pay decisions, policy and guideline interpretation, and job evaluations.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for compensation questions from HR Business Partners, recruiters, and people leaders.
• Train and advise managers and HR partners on compensation philosophy, pay structures, and communicating pay decisions to employees.
• Support the design and communication of total rewards statements that reflect the full value of pay and benefits employees globally.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance or a related field.
• 5+ years of progressive experience in compensation, with at least 2 years in a compensation manager or senior analyst capacity.
• Experience with survey participation and market pricing tools (Radford, Mercer, WTW, or similar).
• Strong working knowledge of U.S. compensation regulations (FLSA, pay transparency, and state-specific pay equity laws).
• Experience with compensation data benchmarking, pay structure and cost impact analysis, providing market pricing, and building and designing salary structures.
• Deep knowledge of HR best practices within compensation.
• Strong analytical skills, including market sizing, pricing analysis, competitive benchmarking and forecasting, with the ability to translate complex data into clear, actionable recommendations for non-technical stakeholders and executives.
• Demonstrated project-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and align with Finance partners and internal stakeholders.
• Excellent communication and consulting skills, with the ability to build credibility with HR partners and business leaders at all levels.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a manufacturing, consumer goods, or related industry and/or experience with a blended exempt/non-exempt workforce.
• Familiarity with global compensation, specifically Mexico (China and Vietnam are a plus).
• Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) designation.

Compensation:

The projected annual salary is estimated at $112,406 - $168,000 per year, based on years of demonstrated experience, representing the span of the range. The actual compensation will be formulated by the client and may vary based on factors that include, but are not limited to, the position offered, work experience, education, training, and commensurate experience.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Talent Xpanse and our clients is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing a workplace that is inclusive and free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply. We believe in creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees feel valued and respected, and where differences are embraced as strengths. We are dedicated to fostering an environment that promotes equality and celebrates diversity.