Manager, Equity Compensation - GUS

Grainger; Lake Forest (IL); Hybrid; USD 103,600 - 172,600; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance

18 paid time off days annually

6% company contribution to 401(k) Retirement Plan

Tuition reimbursement and student loan refinancing

Maternity support programs and paid leave

Job summary

Grainger is seeking a Manager for Equity Compensation to oversee global equity compensation programs. The role involves managing day-to-day operations, ensuring compliance, and providing reporting and analytics. Candidates should have a bachelor's degree in Finance or a related field, with over 5 years of experience in equity compensation administration. Strong interpersonal skills and a deep understanding of stock option mechanics are essential. The position is hybrid, offering a competitive compensation package, including a range of $103,600 to $172,600 and benefits.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in equity compensation administration in a public company or firm.
• Deep understanding of RSU, PSU, stock option plan mechanics.
• Strong capability in navigating complex data structures.

Responsibilities

• Oversee grants, releases, exercises, cancellations, and adjustments.
• Manage vendor partnerships and monitor service delivery.
• Support participant communication and education materials.
• Deliver reporting and analytics through dashboards.
• Lead process improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Process improvement

Data analysis

Compliance management

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or related field

Tools

Stock plan systems

Job description

About Grainger

W.W. Grainger, Inc., is a leading broad line distributor with operations primarily in North America, Japan and the United Kingdom. At Grainger, we Keep the World Working® by serving more than 4.5 million customers worldwide with products and solutions delivered through innovative technology and deep customer relationships. Known for its commitment to service and award-winning culture, the company had 2024 revenue of $17.2 billion across its two business models. In the High-Touch Solutions segment, Grainger offers approximately 2 million maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) products and services, including technical support and inventory management. In the Endless Assortment segment, Zoro.com offers customers access to more than 14 million products, and MonotaRO.com offers more than 24 million products. For more information, visit www.grainger.com.

Work Location Type

Hybrid

Job Number

329907

Compensation

The anticipated base pay compensation range for this position is $103,600.00 - $172,600.00. This role is eligible for an incentive target of up to 15%, based on the achievement of individual and company performance objectives in accordance with the current terms of the incentive program which are subject to change.

Rewards and Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans with coverage starting on day one of employment and 6 free sessions each year with a licensed therapist to support your emotional wellbeing.


• 18 paid time off (PTO) days annually for full-time employees (accrual prorated based on employment start date) and 6 company holidays per year.


• 6% company contribution to a 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan each pay period, no employee contribution required.


• Employee discounts, tuition reimbursement, student loan refinancing and free access to financial counseling, education, and tools.


• Maternity support programs, nursing benefits, and up to 14 weeks paid leave for birth parents and up to 4 weeks paid leave for non-birth parents.

Grainger Benefits

The pay range provided above is not a guarantee of compensation. The range reflects the potential base pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual base pay compensation will depend, in part, on factors such as geographic work location and relevant experience and skills. The anticipated compensation range described above is subject to change and the compensation ultimately paid may be higher or lower than the range described above. Grainger reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion at any time, consistent with applicable law.

Position Details

The Manager, Equity Compensation oversees the administration, execution, and governance of Grainger’s global equity compensation programs, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant processing of awards. The role manages day-to-day operations including grants, releases, exercises, cancellations, and adjustments, while maintaining audit readiness and strong internal controls. The Manager serves as the primary liaison with the stock plan administrator, oversees integrations with Payroll and HRIS, delivers reporting and analytics through dashboards, and drives process improvements and automation initiatives. Additionally, the position supports participant communication and education, partners across functions to ensure policy compliance, and provides leadership and coaching to team members.

You Will

• Lead day-to-day equity plan administration by overseeing awards, releases, exercises, cancellations, and adjustments to ensure accuracy, compliance, and timeliness in all transactions.


• Manage vendor partnership and service delivery by acting as the primary liaison with the stock plan administrator, monitoring SLAs, resolving issues, coordinating testing cycles, and driving capability enhancements to maintain program integrity.


• Oversee integrations between vendor, Payroll, and HRIS by validating tax, employee, and award data, identifying discrepancies, and implementing corrective actions to ensure data completeness and accuracy.


• Support participant communication and education by collaborating with Executive Compensation and Communications to create clear FAQs, executive materials, enrollment guides, and timely program updates that enhance participant understanding.


• Maintain audit readiness and controls by partnering with Controllership and SOX to support testing and documentation, strengthen internal controls, and ensure adherence to policies and regulatory requirements.


• Deliver reporting and analytics by developing dashboards that track plan activity, share pool usage, dividend accruals, and proxy-related metrics, providing actionable insights for leadership and external reporting.


• Lead process improvement and automation initiatives by optimizing workflows, reconciliations, and system integrations to increase efficiency, transparency, and scalability.

You Have

• Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or a related field required.


• 5+ years in equity compensation administration in a public company, equity plan provider, or major advisory firm required.


• Deep understanding of RSU, PSU, stock option plan mechanics and associated tax, payroll, and regulatory requirements.


• Experience with one or more stock plan systems; strong capability in navigating complex data structures.


• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to partner across functions and influence without direct authority.


• Demonstrated initiative in improving processes, enhancing controls, and elevating the participant experience.


• Certified Equity Professional (CEP) preferred.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible work environment that includes both providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities during the application and hiring process as well as throughout the course of one’s employment, should you need a reasonable accommodation during the application and selection process, including, but not limited to use of our website, any part of the application, interview or hiring process, please advise us so that we can provide appropriate assistance.