Senior Manager, Executive Compensation & Benefits Consulting

Plante & Moran, PLLC; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 170,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) plan

Flexible time off

Pension plan

Travel and lodging reimbursements

Discretionary bonus

Job summary

Plante Moran is seeking an experienced leader to guide the People, Workforce & Rewards advisory practice. You will oversee complex client engagements, develop talent, and drive growth with senior executives and ownership groups across mid-market and private equity‑backed clients.

You will shape service offerings, communicate strategic value, and mentor the next generation of consultants in a collaborative, in-person culture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree is required.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in qualified retirement plans or executive compensation programs.
• Technical expertise in qualified and nonqualified plan design incl. IRC sections listed.
• Executive presence and ability to lead discussions with C-suite/ownership groups.
• Proven client relationship management, mentoring, and business development skills.
• Experience managing teams across multiple service areas is valued.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a people leader, mentoring and coaching team members.
• Lead and manage complex client engagements for mid-market and PE-backed clients on benefits strategy.
• Develop and deepen client relationships by understanding priorities and delivering long-term value.
• Drive growth through new business development and proposals.
• Communicate complex concepts clearly to executives and ownership groups.
• Shape technical standards, methodologies, and service offerings to align with client needs.

Skills

People leadership

Executive presence

Client engagement

Business development

Strategic communication

Mentoring & coaching

Education

Bachelor’s degree

JD or advanced degree (tax, HR, or related field)

Job description

Count on us. Our we-care culture is more than just a motto; it's a promise. From day one, we prioritize your growth, well‑being, and success. You can count on us to support your career journey and help you achieve your professional goals. Join us. As part of our expanding People, Workforce & Rewards advisory practice, our team partners with mid‑market and private equity–backed organizations to design benefits strategies that strengthen workforce effectiveness, manage risk, and support long‑term growth. Our team focuses on our clients’ critical business needs. From rewards strategy to plan design and everything in between, our integrated solution approach is designed to help enable and manage growth, leverage resources, and mitigate costs and risks. At Plante Moran, we have the privilege of serving clients and providing consultative services as they face challenges and seek new opportunities.

Your role

This role will focus on four essential leadership priorities: serving clients, growing the practice, communicating strategic value, and developing people. Your work will include, but not be limited to:

• Serve as a people leader, building talent, coaching and performance management.
• Lead and manage complex client engagements, serving as a trusted advisor to mid‑market and private equity‑backed organizations on benefits strategy, plan design, compliance, and risk management.
• Build and deepen client relationships by understanding business priorities, identifying emerging needs, and delivering practical, strategic solutions that create long‑term value.
• Drive practice growth through new business development, including identifying prospective clients, expanding opportunities within the existing client base, leading proposals, and supporting go‑to‑market strategies.
• Bring strategic insight and executive presence to client and prospect interactions, including leading discussions with senior executives, ownership groups, and cross‑functional stakeholders.
• Communicate complex technical and strategic concepts clearly and persuasively, translating regulatory, financial, and workforce considerations into actionable recommendations for clients.
• Shape the practice’s technical standards, methodologies, service offerings, and market positioning in alignment with client needs and growth opportunities.
• Develop and coach team members by providing technical guidance, real‑time feedback, mentorship, and opportunities that strengthen consulting, client service, and leadership capabilities.
• Support the growth of future practice leaders by modeling strong client focus, business development discipline, executive communication, and people leadership.

The qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; JD or advanced degree in tax, HR, or a related field preferred (or equivalent practical experience).
• 10+ years of progressive experience in qualified retirement plans or executive compensation programs— ideally within a professional services environment.
• Technical expertise in qualified and nonqualified plan design, including familiarity with IRC Sections 409A, 3121(v), 457, 280G, 162(m), 4960, 401(a), 401(k), and 403(b).
• Executive presence and ability to lead discussions with C‑suite and ownership groups.
• Demonstrated success advising mid‑market and/or private equity‑backed clients.
• Proven client relationship management skills, strong communication abilities, and experience mentoring and developing talent.
• Business development experience and a growth mindset are essential.
• Experience managing teams across multiple service areas is highly regarded.

What makes this opportunity unique

• Ability to shape the growth of a rapidly expanding practice.
• Direct access to firm leadership and meaningful influence on service line strategy.
• Collaborative, low‑ego culture known for developing well‑rounded consultants.
• Opportunity to work across the spectrum of compensation and benefits.
• This is an exempt position, so you may have to work hours that exceed the standard 40‑hour work week.

What makes us different?

At Plante Moran, diversity, equity and inclusion means that all staff members have equitable and fair opportunities to succeed, in an inclusive environment, with their individual, unique identities. So, what are you waiting for?

Plante Moran enjoys a “Workplace for Your Day” model which, simply put, means we strive for flexibility and balance while staying true to our principally in‑person model. We believe that face‑to‑face interactions are paramount for individual and collective development, but also encourage individuals to work with their supervisor and team to determine their optimal working environment each day.

We are committed to a diverse workplace. We strive to create a culture where each person feels accepted and valued. We believe that each person’s ultimate potential begins with first acknowledging their inherent dignity. When we can recognize — and celebrate — our many human differences, we’re able to create a workplace where all staff feel a sense of belonging and an opportunity to succeed. This allows us to attract and retain the best talent, serve clients through diverse thinking, and better represent and support the various communities in which we live and work.

Plante Moran is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Plante Moran maintains a drug‑free workplace.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship, with the exception of qualified candidates who are bilingual in either Japanese and English or Chinese and English.

We are pleased to offer eligible staff a robust benefits package.

• Highlights include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
• In addition to this, eligible staff are able to take advantage of our Flexible Time Off and various pre‑determined holidays, as well as a 401(k) plan, flexible benefits plans, business‑related travel expense, lodging, and meal reimbursement for business‑related use.
• A pension plan is also available for eligible administrative and paraprofessional staff.
• A discretionary bonus plan is available for eligible staff.
• Plante Moran also offers some contingent staff positions the option to elect health insurance in addition to limited paid sick time.

• The compensation range reflects the base salary we reasonably expect to pay for this position across our offices in the following regions: CO, IL, OH, and MA. Please review the position description for the applicable geographic location.
• Generally, experienced hires are not hired at or near the maximum salary range, as compensation decisions take into account a wide variety of factors, including but not limited to: responsibilities, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and geography.
• For early career roles, including campus hires, we offer standardized, market‑based starting salaries among individuals within the same hiring group.
• This approach ensures fairness and reflects current industry benchmarks for entry‑level talent.
• Under Colorado’s Job Application Fairness Act, you have the right to redact, from any documents that you submit in connection with your application, information that identifies your age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution. Should you wish to exercise your right to redact such information, please redact it prior to submitting documentation.

The compensation range for this role in CO, IL, OH, and MA is: $170,000.00 - $220,000.00 #LI-CD1.