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Head of Sales Compensation, Group Benefits

Guardian
United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 15 Sept 2025
💰 $177,295/yr($107,920/yr$177,295/yr)

About the role

Position Overview

The Head of Sales Compensation is responsible for the strategic oversight, administration, and management of all sales compensation programs, policies and processes for Group Benefits brokers and distribution personnel.

Reporting to the Head of Distribution Compensation and Planning, this leader will ensure that incentive programs drive performance, align with company objectives, and attract, motivate, and retain top sales talent. They will ensure compensation programs are administered with accuracy, timeliness and efficiency with proper documentation and audit controls in place.

This leader will have the expertise to combine strategic, analytical, big picture thinking to drive detailed, operational excellence. Collaborating closely with executive leadership, HR, legal, finance, and distribution operations, the Head of Sales Compensation will provide expertise in compensation reporting, audit, communication, issue resolution, process improvement and policy governance.

Successful candidate will be data-driven, have a proven track record of strategically scaling operational processes, possess a broad understanding of sales incentive plans and broker commissions, preferably within the Group Benefits industry. This person must be a hands-on leader that embraces and drives change to foster a culture of high productivity and efficiency across the distribution compensation team. For the right candidate, this role will offer great visibility and opportunities for future career progression.

You Will:

  • Lead and manage the implementation of comprehensive distribution compensation plans that align with organizational goals and drive high performance.
  • Facilitate sales compensation discussions with business partners and executive stakeholders to help reach consensus, develop POVs, inform policies, influence decision making and ensure incentive programs remain competitive and effective.
  • Effectively monitor, analyze, and report on compensation payments, issues and program effectiveness, using data-driven insights to recommend adjustments as needed.
  • Oversee administration and communication of all compensation policies, guidelines and frameworks, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
  • Set priorities for the team and optimizes resources to align with business objectives and strategic efforts.
  • Lead development of scalable and sustainable business tools to enhance compensation administration efforts. 
  • Collaborate with operations, HR, product, sales, legal, and finance teams to ensure seamless plan rollouts, accurate payments, and ongoing education for sales and client management teams.
  • Participate in regular market analysis and industry benchmarking studies to ensure compensation offerings are externally competitive and internally equitable.
  • Develop and implement policies, governance frameworks and audit processes to maintain integrity and transparency in all compensation practices and outcomes.
  • Build and maintain strong partnerships proactively across Group Benefits Distribution leadership including sales, operations, finance, and legal by fostering open dialogue, effective collaboration and providing solutions to issues in real time in alignment with Group compensation policies and administration.  
  • Track and memorialize key compensation decisions by maintaining proper documentation in partnership with compensation strategy team regarding policies, exceptions, agreements, rules and decisions and ensure compliance at all levels.  
  • Support the Head of Group Benefits Distribution Compensation & Planning on specific projects and ad-hoc activities as required. 

You Have:

Essential Skills:

  • Strategic Thinking: Ability to translate business objectives into effective compensation strategies and processes that drive results and efficiency.
  • Analytical Acumen: Advanced skills in data analysis, modeling, and interpreting complex metrics to inform decision-making.
  • Communication: Exceptional written, verbal communication abilities to present complex concepts and influence stakeholders
  • Influence: Ability to cast a broad span of influence within and beyond their own area of responsibility.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven capability to partner with diverse teams and align interests across a matrixed organization.
  • Self-starter: Ability to partner across all business levels to recommend and implement solutions.
  • Change Management: Expertise in leading organizational change initiatives related to compensation program design and rollout.

Qualifications & Experience:

  • Bachelor’s degree and 10+ years of experience in sales compensation, broker commissions, sales incentives, or related fields,

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Company

Guardian

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