Description:

Role Overview:

The Manager / Senior Manager Compensation & Benefits will be responsible for designing, implementing and managing competitive, compliant, and scalable total reward programs for Staples India.

The role partners closely with GCC HR Director, Total Rewards COE (based in HQ), GCC Finance to ensure alignment with budgets, business strategy, talent objectives and governance standards.

This role requires strong expertise in compensation structuring, benefits strategy & administration, payroll governance, statutory compliance and data-driven decision-making with the ability to operate in a matrixed and fast-evolving environment.

Key Responsibilities:

Compensation Strategy & Program Management:

- Design, implement and administer compensation frameworks including salary structures, incentives, allowances and variable compensation programs

- Lead annual compensation cycles including merit reviews, promotions, market corrections, variable pay and budgeting

- Partner with GCC Finance, HR teams to ensure cost-effectiveness and business alignment of compensation decisions

- Conduct job evaluations, levelling, compensation recommendations and role benchmarking in line with market and internal equity

Recognition & Rewards:

- Design, implement and govern organization wide employee recognition frameworks aligned with compensation philosophy, performance culture and GCC objectives.

- Establish structured recognition programs (monetary and non monetary) that reinforce desired behaviours, Staples values and performance outcomes while ensuring internal equity and consistency for GCC.

- Ensure recognition programs comply with internal governance standards, financial controls and applicable statutory or tax regulations.

- Monitor effectiveness of recognition initiatives through data, participation metrics and employee feedback and continuously refine programs to enhance impact and adoption.

- Manage recognition budgets, approval workflows and payouts in alignment with annual compensation planning and financial governance.

- Drive transparent communication and leader enablement around recognition guidelines, eligibility and best practices aligned with Staples HQ.

- Benchmark recognition practices externally to ensure market relevance and competitiveness while maintaining alignment with Staples HQ compensation principles.

Market Benchmarking & Analytics:

- Lead compensation benchmarking using industry surveys (e.g., Mercer, Aon, WTW or equivalent)

- Analyse market trends and provide insights to leadership on pay competitiveness and talent risks

- Build compensation dashboards and analytics to support decision-making and governance

Benefits & Wellbeing Programs:

- Oversee end-to-end benefits administration including insurance, retirement benefits, wellness programs and flexibility initiatives

- Manage vendor relationships to ensure service quality, cost optimization, and employee satisfaction

- Drive benefit communication and education to improve employee understanding and utilization

Payroll Governance & Compliance:

- Partner with HR Operations and Payroll teams to ensure accurate and timely payroll delivery

- Ensure adherence to statutory requirements including PF, ESI, Gratuity, Bonus, Income Tax and other local regulations

- Support audits, statutory filings and inspections related to compensation and benefits

Governance, Policy & Stakeholder Management:

- Act as a subject matter expert for rewards-related queries from employees, managers, and leadership

- Partner with Staples Rewards COE to localize and implement global compensation initiatives

Continuous Improvement & Transformation:

- Drive process improvements, automation and standardization in C&B processes

- Support HRMS configuration related to compensation, benefits and payroll

- Contribute to HR transformation projects and shared services maturity initiatives

Key Skills & Competencies:

- Strong expertise in compensation design and benefits administration in India

- Sound understanding of Indian statutory and tax regulations

- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with high attention to detail

- Ability to influence stakeholders and present insights to senior leaders

- Process-oriented mindset with experience in audits and governance

- Comfortable operating in global, matrixed environments

Experience & Education:

- 10+ years of progressive experience in Compensation & Benefits or Rewards roles

- Experience in large organizations, GCCs, or global companies preferred

- Hands-on experience with compensation benchmarking, surveys and analytics

- Exposure to HRMS / payroll systems is required

- MBA / PGDM in HR, Finance, or related discipline