Senior Compensation Analyst

Smurfit Westrock; Georgia; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Smurfit Westrock in North America seeks a Senior Compensation Analyst to design, analyze, and administer compensation programs that attract, retain, and motivate talent while ensuring external competitiveness and internal equity.

You will partner with HR, Finance and business leaders to provide data-driven insights, support merit and incentive processes, maintain salary structures, and drive process improvements across Workday and other HRIS platforms.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR, business, finance, or related field.
• 3-5 years of progressive compensation experience.
• Experience in a large, matrixed, or global organization with salaried and hourly populations.
• Strong knowledge of compensation-related laws (FLSA, Equal Pay Act, state/provincial pay transparency laws).
• Advanced skills in Excel and experience with HRIS and compensation systems (Workday preferred).
• Strategic thinking with the ability to translate data into actionable recommendations for leaders.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and administer base pay, short-term incentives, and long-term incentive programs.
• Evaluate and maintain salary structures, job architecture, and pay ranges for market competitiveness and internal equity.
• Partner on annual compensation processes (merit, bonus, equity planning), including modeling, guidelines, and governance.
• Maintain salary structures and pay ranges.
• Consult with HR and business leaders on compensation decisions such as offers, promotions, and retention actions.
• Drive automation and efficiency in compensation processes and support HRIS systems.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving

Strategic thinking

Business acumen

Communication

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance, or related field

Tools

Excel

HRIS

Workday

Job description

The opportunity:

The Senior Compensation Analyst— North America plays a critical role in the design, analysis, and administration of compensation programs that attract, retain, and motivate talent while ensuring external competitiveness and internal equity. This role partners closely with HR Business Partners, Finance, and business leaders to deliver data-driven insights, support compensation strategy, and ensure compliance with applicable regulations across multiple jurisdictions.

How You Will Impact Smurfit Westrock:

Compensation Program Design and Administration

• Support the design, implementation, and ongoing administration of base pay, short-term incentives, and long-term incentive programs
• Evaluate and maintain salary structures, job architecture, and pay ranges to ensure market competitiveness and internal consistency
• Partner on annual compensation processes (merit, bonus, equity planning), including modeling, guidelines, and governance
• Maintain salary structures and pay ranges

Market Analysis and Benchmarking

• Conduct market pricing using survey data (e.g., Mercer, Radford, Willis Towers Watson)
• Analyze competitive positioning and recommend adjustments to salary ranges, job matches, and pay practices
• Develop insights on compensation trends across industry, geography, and employee segments
• Ensure adherence to federal, state, and local regulations (e.g., FLSA, pay transparency laws, equal pay requirements)
• Assist in audits, regulatory reporting, and documentation of compensation decisions

Business Partnership

• Consult with HR and business leaders on compensation decisions such as offers, promotions, and retention actions
• Provide guidance on pay positioning and internal equity considerations
• Translate compensation philosophy into practical application for managers

Process Improvement and Systems

• Drive automation and efficiency improvements in compensation processes
• Support HRIS and compensation system maintenance (e.g., Workday, SAP SuccessFactors)
• Ensure data integrity and governance within compensation systems

What You Need to Succeed:

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance, or related field
• 3-5 years of progressive compensation experience
• Experience in a large, matrixed, or global organization with both salaried and hourly populations
• Strong knowledge of compensation-related laws and regulations (FLSA, Equal Pay Act, state/provincial pay transparency laws)
• Advanced skills in Excel and experience with HRIS and compensation systems (Workday preferred)
• Strategic thinking and business acumen with the ability to translate data into actionable recommendations for leaders
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy

Preferred

• Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) strongly preferred
• SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or equivalent professional certification
• Experience in manufacturing (Paper, packaging, or forest products industries preferred)
• Active participation in professional organizations such as WorldatWork