Job Description
As a Principal / Senior Compensation Consultant within our Career Consulting practice, you will lead the delivery of large-scale, strategic compensation projects, mentor and coach rising talent, and solve complex reward challenges for industry-leading clients, with a strong emphasis on the Insurance sector and global corporate clients.
In this role, you will partner directly with C-suite executives and HR leaders to build custom compensation strategies that attract, retain, and motivate top talent. Furthermore, you will play an active role in driving practice growth through business development, engagement extensions, and cross-selling Mercer's suite of workforce solutions.
Key Responsibilities:
- Project Leadership & Strategy: Structure, direct, review, and interpret complex analyses performed by project teams. Develop comprehensive compensation strategies, pay philosophies, job architectures, and base/incentive pay structures.
- Executive Advisory: Serve as a trusted advisor to senior management and HR executives on pay competitiveness, reward strategy, digital activation of compensation designs, and regulatory compliance.
- Technology & AI Integration: Embrace and leverage modern AI-enabled compensation agents, advanced survey management tools, and technology platforms to deliver agile, data-backed client solutions.
- Client Relationship Management: Lead day-to-day client engagements, maintaining high client satisfaction and serving as the primary point of contact on high-impact projects.
- Team Development & Oversight: Guide, coach, and mentor junior consultants and analysts, ensuring delivery excellence, quality assurance, and ongoing professional development.
- Business Development: Actively generate revenue by cultivating new client relationships, expanding existing project scope, and identifying cross-selling opportunities across Mercer business lines.
Must-Have Qualifications:
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Human Resources, Finance, or a related field.
- Experience: 8+ years of progressive experience in compensation consulting or senior-level HR total rewards advisory roles.
- Technical Expertise: Deep subject matter knowledge in compensation strategy, job architecture, incentive plan design, market benchmarking methodologies, and regulatory compliance.
- Project & Client Management: Proven track record leading multiple large-scale compensation engagements and advising C-suite / HR leadership.
- Software Proficiency: Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, specifically Excel (complex financial/compensation modeling) and PowerPoint (executive presentations).
- Location: Ability to work in Mercer’s Chicago Loop office (60606) or at client sites at least 3 days per week.
What Makes You Stand Out:
- Direct experience leading compensation engagements within the Insurance sector or for global, matrixed organizations.
- Proven track record in consulting business development, client proposal generation, and revenue expansion.
- Familiarity with compensation technology platforms, automated survey workflows, and AI-driven market analysis tools.
- Demonstrated thought leadership in pay equity, executive compensation trends, or modern reward framework innovation.