Manager, Sales & Incentive Compensation

Advantage Sales & Marketing dba Advantage Solutions • St. Louis, MO

4d • Onsite

About The Position

This role leads the Compensation team responsible for governance and execution of the organization’s sales and incentive compensation programs, achieving results through assigned direct reports and cross-functional partners rather than through personal execution alone. Accountable for short-term incentive programs (STIP, RBIP, SIP), sales incentive plan design, variable pay forecasting, and long-term incentive program administration, the Manager sets team direction, removes execution barriers, and serves as the escalation point with Finance, Legal, Sales leadership, and HR Business Partners — ensuring incentive programs run with accuracy, compliance, and strategic alignment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, finance, or related field preferred)
• 6–8 years experience in relevant field (Sales compensation, incentive plan design, or variable pay administration experience preferred)
• Strong understanding of sales compensation and incentive program operations in complex environments
• Ability to translate compensation governance and plan design into executable processes
• Advanced analytical skills including data validation, audit checks, and quality assurance practices
• Ability to manage multiple compensation cycles and cross functional deliverables
• Experience with process improvement and systems enablement
• Strong communication and documentation skills for explaining compensation plans and resolving issues
• Demonstrated people management and team development skills
• Working knowledge of long term incentive, deferred cash, and related compensation programs

Responsibilities

• Direct and oversee execution of all sales and short term incentive plans including commissions and bonuses through the team, ensuring accurate and timely calculations, validations, and payouts while serving as escalation point for issues and disputes
• Serve as advisor and primary point of contact for sales leadership, finance, and HR partners on incentive strategy, plan design, and program interpretation while building strong stakeholder relationships
• Oversee financial partnership for incentive compensation including forecasting, accruals, true ups, and budget planning while ensuring programs operate within approved financial guidelines
• Direct analysis and reporting of incentive attainment, performance distribution, and cost effectiveness while using insights to inform leadership decisions and identify risks
• Lead systems strategy and process optimization for incentive compensation including system enhancements, data integrity, testing, and workflow improvements
• Establish governance frameworks for incentive programs including policies, procedures, audit readiness, and compliance requirements while maintaining standards as programs evolve
• Manage, coach, and develop direct reports while setting goals, providing feedback, and making workload and prioritization decisions for the team

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager