Manager, Compensation

Core & Main; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Core & Main, based in St. Louis, seeks a Compensation Manager to lead key compensation programs across the organization.

You will oversee market pricing, job architecture, equity administration, annual merit planning, and governance activities, translating data into actionable business recommendations. The ideal candidate has strong analytical skills, experience with compensation analytics, and the ability to partner with leaders to drive fair and competitive pay practices in a national

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR, Finance, Business, Accounting, Economics, or related field.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in compensation, analytics, finance, HR analytics, or related field.
• Experience with market pricing, benchmarking, job architecture, annual compensation planning, and compensation analytics.
• Strong analytical skills, including advanced Excel and the ability to translate data into clear recommendations.
• Strong communication, project management, and stakeholder partnership skills.
• Adaptability and a solutions-oriented mindset for changing priorities.
• Prior experience leading people, projects, programs, or cross-functional initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead compensation analysis, market benchmarking, and pay recommendations supporting competitive and equitable pay practices.
• Manage and improve job architecture, job leveling, compensation structures, and governance processes.
• Support annual merit and compensation planning processes, including data validation and reporting.
• Oversee equity program administration, including grants, vesting, reporting, and partner coordination.
• Partner with HR, Finance, Payroll, Legal, HRIS, Tax, and vendors to ensure programs are accurate and scalable.
• Support executive compensation and public company governance activities, including proxy reporting and disclosures.
• Prepare and validate compensation data for proxy filings, including the Summary Compensation Table and CEO Pay Ratio reporting.
• Develop compensation reporting, dashboards, and analytics for decision-making.
• Coach and develop compensation team while driving automation and continuous improvement.

Skills

Market pricing

Job architecture

Compensation analytics

Excel advanced

Stakeholder partnership

Adaptability

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/Finance/Business

Tools

Workday

Equity administration platforms

Reporting tools

Job description

Based in St. Louis, Core & Main is a leader in advancing reliable infrastructure with local service, nationwide. As a specialty distributor with a focus on water, wastewater, storm drainage and fire protection products and related services, Core & Main provides solutions to municipalities, private water companies and professional contractors across municipal, non-residential and residential end markets, nationwide. With over 370 locations across the U.S., the company provides its customers local expertise backed by a national supply chain. Core & Main's 5,700 associates are committed to helping their communities thrive with safe and reliable infrastructure. Visit coreandmain.com to learn more.

About the Role

We are seeking a Compensation Manager to lead key compensation programs that help attract, retain, and reward talent across the organization. This role will oversee compensation analysis, market pricing, job architecture, equity administration, annual merit planning, executive compensation support, and compensation-related projects. The position also supports public company compensation reporting and governance activities. The ideal candidate brings strong analytical skills, sound judgment, and the ability to partner with leaders to turn data into practical, business-focused recommendations.

What You’ll Do

• Lead compensation analysis, market benchmarking, and pay recommendations that support competitive and equitable pay practices.

• Manage and improve job architecture, job leveling, compensation structures, and related governance processes.

• Support annual merit and compensation planning processes, including data validation, reporting, stakeholder support, and process improvement.

• Oversee equity program administration, including grants, vesting, reporting, participant support, and coordination with internal and external partners.

• Partner with HR, Finance, Payroll, Legal, HRIS, Tax, business leaders, and vendors to ensure compensation programs are accurate, compliant, and scalable.

• Support executive compensation and public company compensation governance activities, including proxy statement reporting, compensation disclosures, and related analyses.

• Prepare and validate compensation data used in proxy filings, including the Summary Compensation Table, Pay Versus Performance disclosures, and CEO Pay Ratio reporting.

• Develop compensation reporting, dashboards, and analytics that provide actionable insights and support business decision-making.

• Manage, coach, and develop compensation team members while driving continuous improvement, automation, and operational excellence.

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Finance, Business, Accounting, Economics, or a related field.

• 7+ years of progressive experience in compensation, compensation analytics, finance, HR analytics, or a related field.

• Experience with market pricing, benchmarking, job architecture, annual compensation planning, and compensation analytics.

• Strong analytical skills, including advanced Excel experience and the ability to translate data into clear recommendations.

• Strong communication, project management, and stakeholder partnership skills.

• Bring flexibility, adaptability, and a solutions-oriented mindset to support changing business priorities and evolving compensation needs.

• Prior experience leading people, projects, programs, or cross-functional initiatives.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with Workday, compensation planning tools, equity administration platforms, or reporting tools.

• Experience supporting public-company compensation, equity programs, executive compensation, proxy reporting, SEC disclosures, international compensation, or mergers and acquisitions.

• Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) designation or progress toward certification.

Core & Main is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Employment at Core & Main is based solely on a person's merit and qualifications directly related to professional competence. Core & Main does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, nationality, ancestry, age, disability, veteran status, pregnancy or related condition (including breastfeeding), affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, citizenship, or any other basis protected by law.

None of the questions in this application are intended to elicit information regarding any protected characteristics, nor imply any limitation, illegal preferences or discrimination based upon non-job-related information or protected characteristics.