Compensation Manager

Kimley-Horn; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Exceptional Retirement Plan

Comprehensive Health Coverage

Time Off

Financial Wellness

Professional Development

Family-Friendly Benefits

Job summary

Kimley-Horn is seeking a Compensation Manager for its Raleigh, North Carolina office. This role leads the firm's compensation function, with primary responsibilities in salary administration and governance while partnering closely with firm leadership. The ideal candidate will have over 10 years of experience, particularly in salary administration and market pricing.

Benefits include an exceptional retirement plan, comprehensive health coverage, and professional development opportunities. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in compensation, with strong focus on salary administration.
• Proven experience managing salary structures, market pricing, and compensation cycles.
• Experience advising senior leaders on compensation decisions.

Responsibilities

• Own and lead the firm’s compensation function.
• Serve as the primary compensation partner to senior leadership.
• Administer and evolve the salary structure.

Skills

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Data interpretation

Communication

Judgment

Education

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

Tools

Excel

Job description

Overview

We are seeking a Compensation Manager to lead the firm’s compensation function, with primary responsibility for salary administration, governance, and decision support. This role partners closely with firm leadership to shape and maintain a compensation approach that is competitive, equitable, and aligned with business priorities—while remaining closely involved in execution.

This is a hands‑on role that balances leadership, judgment, and day‑to‑day ownership of key compensation processes, with a focus on building scalable practices as the function grows.

Kimley‑Horn is looking for a Compensation Manager to join our Raleigh, North Carolina (NC) office. This is not a remote position.

Responsibilities

• Own and lead the firm’s compensation function, including salary administration frameworks, policies, and governance
• Serve as the primary compensation partner to senior leadership, providing clear, data‑driven recommendations and guidance in partnership with our external consultant.
• Administer and evolve the salary structure, including job mapping, pay positioning, and range management
• Lead and actively manage compensation decisions, including offers, promotions, and off‑cycle adjustments
• Serve as the escalation point for complex or high‑impact pay decisions, providing clear, defensible recommendations
• Lead the annual salary review process, including planning, guidance, and calibration across the firm
• Support bonus administration and ensure alignment to overall compensation programs
• Oversee market pricing and benchmarking to maintain competitive, market‑aligned salary ranges
• Analyze compensation data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities (e.g., equity, compression, market gaps)
• Partner with Finance on budgeting, workforce planning, and compensation cost impacts
• Establish and maintain consistent processes, documentation, and controls to support audit‑ready, defensible decisions
• Drive process improvements to increase consistency, efficiency, and scalability of salary administration
• Serve as a trusted advisor to HR and office leadership, translating data into practical, actionable guidance
• Mentor and develop compensation analysts while helping build the structure and capabilities of the team over time

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or related field
• 10+ years of experience in compensation, with strong focus on salary administration
• Proven experience managing salary structures, market pricing, and compensation cycles
• Experience advising senior leaders on compensation decisions and trade‑offs
• Strong analytical skills with advanced Excel and data interpretation capabilities
• Demonstrated ability to operate at both a strategic and hands‑on level
• Strong communication, judgment, and stakeholder management skills Preferred Qualifications
• Certified Compensation Professional (CCP)
• Experience in a professional services environment
• Experience mentoring or leading team members

Why Kimley‑Horn?

At Kimley‑Horn, we do things differently. People, clients, and employees are at the forefront of who we are. Clients know we prioritize achieving their goals and growing their success. Employees know our culture and approach to business are built on a desire to provide an environment for everyone to flourish. Our commitment to quality is only as good as the people behind it— that’s why we welcome and develop passionate, hardworking, and proactive employees. We take pride in how our employee retention, robust benefits package, and company values have led to Kimley‑Horn’s placement on the Fortune “100 Best Companies to Work” list for 19 years!

Key Benefits at Kimley‑Horn

• Exceptional Retirement Plan: 2-to‑1 company match on up to 4% of eligible compensation (salary + bonus) and additional profit‑sharing contribution.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Low‑cost medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
• Time Off: Personal leave, flexible scheduling, floating holidays, and half‑day Fridays.
• Financial Wellness: Student loan matching in our 401(k), and performance‑based bonuses.
• Professional Development: Tuition reimbursement and extensive internal training programs.
• Family‑Friendly Benefits: New Parent Leave, family building benefits, and childcare resources.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work for Kimley‑Horn in the U.S. without employer sponsorship. We do not typically sponsor H1‑B or any other work visa petitions.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities