Sr. Manager, Executive Compensation

Zelis • St. Louis, MO

1d • $127,000 - $160,550 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Executive Compensation & Equity is a senior individual contributor and process owner responsible for the design, administration, governance, and ongoing management of Zelis’ executive compensation and equity programs. This role serves as a subject-matter expert and trusted advisor on executive compensation practices across private and public company environments. The Senior Manager will lead the day-to-day work associated with executive compensation offers, internal equity evaluations, annual and long-term incentive programs, equity plan administration, platform ownership, and executive compensation reporting. This role is known for strong judgment, technical credibility, attention to detail, and the ability to answer the question, “How do we make this work?”

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant experience.
• Typically 8+ years of experience in compensation, executive compensation, equity administration, finance, or a related field.
• Strong expertise in executive compensation, equity programs, and long-term incentives.
• Experience supporting private, pre-IPO, IPO-readiness, or public company compensation programs.
• Experience developing executive offers, including base salary, annual incentives, and equity.
• Knowledge of equity plan design, administration, award agreements, and participant acceptance.
• Experience managing an equity administration platform and equity-related processes in Workday.
• Strong understanding of compensation philosophy, internal equity, market benchmarking, and incentive plan practices.
• Advanced analytical, financial modeling, Excel, and presentation skills.
• Strong attention to detail, communication, organization, and judgment when handling confidential information.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently.
• Proficiency using AI tools to improve analysis, reporting, documentation, and process efficiency.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with compensation consultants, equity administrators, legal counsel, and auditors.
• Experience with a leading equity administration platform.
• Relevant professional certification or advanced degree, CCP, CEP, CECP

Responsibilities

• Develop executive compensation offers, including base salary, annual incentives, equity, sign-on awards, and other compensation elements.
• Evaluate offers and compensation decisions for market competitiveness, internal equity, affordability, and alignment with Zelis’ compensation philosophy.
• Conduct executive compensation benchmarking and prepare clear, decision-ready recommendations.
• Inform and contribute to the design, administration, and ongoing improvement of executive compensation programs, policies, and governance practices.
• Prepare executive-ready Compensation Committee and Board materials, including analyses, presentations, exhibits, and supporting documentation.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders and external consultants to validate and present executive compensation information.
• Serve as the process owner and subject-matter expert for Zelis’ equity and long-term incentive programs.
• Manage the equity award lifecycle, including approvals, grants, agreements, acceptance, vesting, settlement, cancellation, and reporting.
• Oversee award agreements, participant communications, plan documentation, and record retention.
• Support equity plan design, IPO readiness, public company transition activities, and ongoing governance requirements.
• Own the equity administration platform and equity-related processes and data in Workday, including configuration, testing, reporting, data integrity, upgrades, and vendor coordination.
• Perform quantitative analysis and financial modeling related to executive pay, equity value, vesting, dilution, share usage, plan expense, and incentive outcomes.
• Translate complex data into clear insights and recommendations for senior stakeholders.
• Prepare Compensation Committee and Board materials, including analyses, presentations, exhibits, and supporting documentation.
• Lead ad hoc compensation projects and other strategic Total Rewards initiatives.
• Build trusted partnerships across People & Culture and with Legal, Finance, Accounting, Payroll, Tax, HR Technology, and executive leadership.

Benefits

• 401k plan with employer match
• flexible paid time off
• holidays
• parental leaves
• life and disability insurance
• health benefits including medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree