Global Compensation Lead

NTT DATA, Inc.; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

NTT DATA is seeking a Global Compensation Lead to drive the development and execution of our worldwide total rewards programs. You will align compensation strategies with enterprise guidelines, partner with regional teams, and manage the total cost of compensation across the organization.

You will collaborate with HRIS, Finance, and People & Culture to deliver scalable, compliant, and competitive programs that attract and retain top talent while supporting transformation and post-M&A integration.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of global compensation experience in complex environments.
• Ability to track and manage compensation program costs against budgets.
• Strong knowledge of global compensation practices and regulatory changes.
• Proven cross-functional collaboration with Total Rewards and finance.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning and execution of global compensation processes end-to-end.
• Ensure scalable solutions across regions while meeting local requirements.
• Partner with regional leaders to balance global consistency with local needs.
• Monitor costs and ensure programs stay within budget and governance.
• Develop global compensation strategies to attract and retain talent.
• Drive process improvements to simplify practices and improve experience.
• Support post-M&A integration with unified compensation frameworks.
• Create clear communications and training materials for programs.

Skills

Global compensation

Budget management

Cross-functional leadership

Regulatory compliance

Market insights

HRIS proficiency

Communication skills

Tools

HRIS

Job description

Overview

Make an impact with NTT DATA

Join a company that is pushing the boundaries of what is possible. We are renowned for our technical excellence and leading innovations, and for making a difference to our clients and society. Our workplace embraces diversity and inclusion – it’s a place where you can grow, belong and thrive.

Your day at NTT DATA

The Global Compensation Lead will lead the development and execution of our global total rewards programs and processes. This role is central to ensuring our compensation strategies are globally scalable, locally adaptable, and fully aligned with our enterprise-wide guidelines, compensation principles, and business timelines.

As a key member of our Global Compensation team, you will partner closely with business/regional and country-level Total Rewards professionals and People & Culture business partners to deliver compensation programs that are not only effective and compliant, but also designed to attract, retain, and motivate top talent—all while operating within our global framework and guiding principles.

You will also be responsible for tracking and managing the total cost of compensation programs globally, ensuring the financial sustainability of our reward strategies. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to our transformation journey as a newly unified company, ensuring compensation practices are consistent, competitive, and impactful for both the business and our people.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the planning and execution of global compensation processes, including annual salary planning, incentive planning, LTIP Planning benchmarking, pay governance, job architecture, and global pay programs.
• Ensure compensation solutions are scalable across regions, aligned with global strategies, and adaptable to local legal and regulatory requirements.
• Partner with regional and country Total Rewards leaders with their People & Culture business partners to co-create compensation solutions that balance global consistency with local relevance and business needs.
• Actively track and manage compensation-related costs globally, ensuring programs are cost-effective and aligned with budget expectations.
• Develop scalable, globally aligned compensation strategies that support the business in attracting, retaining, and motivating talent, while adhering to our compensation guiding principles.
• Identify and drive process improvement opportunities to simplify compensation practices and enhance the manager and employee experience.
• Support enterprise-wide transformation by ensuring consistent compensation frameworks post-M&A, helping unify legacy organizations under a common structure.
• Develop and maintain clear, user-friendly communications, training materials, and documentation to support effective program understanding and adoption.
• Monitor global market trends, pay equity practices, and regulatory changes to inform program design and enhancements.
• Craft market intelligence and insights that equip the Total Rewards Partners and People & Culture Business Partners with global as well as local trends and competitor practices
• Collaborate with HRIS, Finance, and other partners to ensure systems and processes enable accurate, timely, and efficient program delivery.
• Champion operational excellence, data integrity, and governance across all compensation activities globally.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in global compensation, including managing and executing compensation programs in complex, international environments.
• Demonstrated expertise in tracking and managing compensation program costs and aligning rewards strategy with financial goals.
• Strong knowledge of global compensation practices, compliance requirements, and evolving market trends.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives with operational rigor and strong stakeholder collaboration.
• Strategic mindset with a hands-on, solution-oriented approach.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex data and concepts into actionable insights for business leaders.
• Proficiency with compensation tools and platforms (e.g. HRIS).
• Experience in post-merger integration or transformation environments is a strong advantage.
• A global mindset and passion for building reward programs that support a diverse and high-performing workforce.

Workplace type

About NTT DATA

NTT DATA is a $30+ billion trusted global innovator of business and technology services. We serve 75% of the Fortune Global 100 and are committed to helping clients innovate, optimize and transform for long-term success. We invest over $3.6 billion each year in R&D to help organizations and society move confidently and sustainably into the digital future. As a Global Top Employer, we have diverse experts in more than 50 countries and a robust partner ecosystem of established and start-up companies. Our services include business and technology consulting, data and artificial intelligence, industry solutions, as well as the development, implementation and management of applications, infrastructure, and connectivity. We are also one of the leading providers of digital and AI infrastructure in the world. NTT DATA is part of NTT Group and headquartered in Tokyo.

Equal Opportunity Employer

NTT DATA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer with a global culture that embraces diversity. We are committed to providing an environment free of unfair discrimination and harassment. We do not discriminate based on age, race, colour, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, disability, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status, or any other protected category. Join our growing global team and accelerate your career with us. Apply today.