Player‑Coach, Sales Compensation Leader

Cornerstone OnDemand; Portland (ME); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Cornerstone OnDemand is seeking a Sales Compensation Manager to lead the global compensation team. The role blends hands-on execution with strategic partnership across Sales, Finance and Operations to ensure timely commission cycles and accurate compensation tooling usage.

You will mentor a Sales Compensation Analyst, own monthly/quarterly calculations, and drive process improvements, automation, and system enhancements for scalable operations.

Qualifications

• 6+ years in sales compensation administration or related role at a SaaS company.
• 2+ years of people management experience, with a track record of developing a high-performing team.
• Experience in full-cycle sales compensation administration — calculations, crediting, draws, clawbacks and dispute resolution.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify root causes and recommend solutions.
• Hands-on experience administrating a modern ICM tool (SPIFF preferred; Xactly, CaptivateIQ or similar acceptable).
• Familiarity with Salesforce reporting and CRM data.
• Strong Microsoft Excel / Google Sheets skills and a high bar for accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to prioritize competing initiatives, manage multiple deadlines, and lead through ambiguity while maintaining a high degree of accuracy.
• Sound judgement handling confidential compensation data and clear, well-structured communication.
• Experience partnering with geographically dispersed teams.
• A team player with a positive “can do” attitude

Responsibilities

• Coach, mentor, and develop a Sales Compensation Analyst through regular feedback, prioritization, and professional development.
• Own the quality and accuracy of commission processing for assigned business units, providing oversight and quality assurance for work completed by the Sales Compensation Analyst.
• Execute monthly and quarterly commission calculations accurately and on schedule.
• Produce commission statements and support monthly close and commission accrual processes in partnership with Finance.
• Identify process improvements that enhance the accuracy, scalability, and efficiency of sales compensation operations, including automation and system enhancements.
• Assist with the administration of the SPIFF incentive compensation management (ICM) platform, including maintaining plan configuration, payee assignments, quotas, and hierarchy management.
• Serve as the first point of contact for commission inquiries – investigating and resolving issues while providing exceptional customer support.
• Independently execute the commission calculation cycle with high-level direction, owning a defined scope and using established approaches to solve well‑defined problems.
• Deliver high-quality, well‑documented output that others can rely on, and communicate clear, concise updates to stakeholders.
• Gather feedback from payees and validate that solutions address any underlying issue.

Skills

Sales compensation

Mentoring

Data analysis

Excel/Sheets

Prioritization

Confidential data handling

Cross-functional collaboration

Team leadership

Tools

SPIFF

Xactly

CaptivateIQ

Salesforce

Job description

Cornerstone OnDemand is seeking a Sales Compensation Manager to lead the global compensation team. The role blends hands-on execution with strategic partnership across Sales, Finance and Operations to ensure timely commission cycles and accurate compensation tooling usage.

You will mentor a Sales Compensation Analyst, own monthly/quarterly calculations, and drive process improvements, automation, and system enhancements for scalable operations.