Job Description

Join the movement and find new inspiration.

We are looking for an experienced Senior Manager Regional Compensation & Benefits (All genders welcome) to lead our European reward agenda from Kia Europe headquarters in Frankfurt.

Job Mission:

Leads the regional Compensation & Benefits agenda as a specialist adviser and owner of significant work programmes consisting of several interconnected projects. Develops and delivers the medium-term plan, including priorities, resources, governance, milestones and KPIs, with a planning horizon of approximately 12 months.

• Influences senior stakeholders through expert advice, robust analysis and pragmatic, evidence-based recommendations.
• Determines the team contribution to the regional plan and ensures reliable delivery across recurring cycles and strategic initiatives.
• Manages, coaches and develops team members, encouraging autonomy while maintaining clear accountability and quality standards.
• Balances regional consistency with local market realities, legal requirements and business needs.

Main Responsibilities/Tasks:

1. Regional Total Rewards strategy and governance

• Develop and maintain the regional Compensation & Benefits roadmap, translating corporate pay philosophy and business priorities into consistent European frameworks, annual plans and measurable deliverables.
• Advise P&O leadership, senior management and local Heads of P&O on compensation strategy, policy interpretation, governance, risks and decision options.
• Establish clear decision rights, approval routes, documentation standards and controls; ensure appropriate confidentiality, data protection and auditability.
• Align with Kia HQ while representing European market realities, regulatory developments and stakeholder requirements.

1. Annual compensation, incentive and recognition programmes

• Lead regional salary review, salary structure and midpoint updates, management incentive and discretionary bonus processes from design and planning through validation, approval and communication.
• Define regional methodologies, eligibility principles, templates, timelines, controls and decision-support materials; monitor execution and resolve or escalate material exceptions.
• Own regional recognition frameworks and award processes, ensuring transparent criteria, consistent governance, reliable administration and meaningful management reporting.
• Evaluate process effectiveness, stakeholder experience and outcomes, and implement sustainable improvements and automation.

1. Executive compensation and sensitive cases

• Develop fact-based executive compensation proposals and advice covering appointments, promotions, mobility, localisation, retention and selected benefit arrangements.
• Benchmark executive and key-position packages, assess internal and external equity, model options and prepare decision-ready recommendations for senior governance bodies.
• Coordinate with Finance, Payroll, Legal, Tax, Mobility, HQ and external advisers to ensure compliant and accurate implementation.
• Maintain rigorous records of assumptions, precedents, approvals and individual compensation history for sensitive cases.

1. Market intelligence, salary structures and pay equity

• Lead participation in compensation surveys and manage relationships with Korn Ferry and other external providers, ensuring robust job matching and reliable market data.
• Monitor European market pay trends, inflation, regulatory developments and emerging practices; translate findings into practical implications for Kia.
• Own the methodology for salary structures, pay ranges, compa-ratios and market positioning, and provide country-specific analysis and recommendations.
• Lead regional readiness for pay transparency and equal-pay requirements, including objective pay criteria, job architecture, pay-gap analysis, documentation and local implementation support.

1. Job evaluation and organisational consistency

• Lead and govern job evaluation using the Korn Ferry Hay Guide Chart-Profile methodology and Kia E-Grade framework.
• Evaluate executive, functional-head and other material roles; provide expert advice on grading, job scope, accountabilities, titles and organisational design.
• Ensure consistent application of Know-How, Problem Solving and Accountability, maintain evaluation records and manage external validation where appropriate.
• Challenge unsupported regrading requests and require a clear business case, role evidence and appropriate approval.

1. Benefits strategy and regional coordination

• Develop and recommend competitive, sustainable benefits principles and programmes across Europe, including pensions, healthcare, company cars, allowances and selected executive benefits.
• Lead regional benchmarking and country comparisons, identify harmonisation opportunities and assess employee value, competitiveness, cost, compliance and implementation risk.
• Provide governance for benefit changes and ensure accurate, transparent communication and system representation.

1. Analytics, systems and management reporting

• Own the quality and integrity of compensation data in Workday and other approved systems, including salary, grade, incentive, allowance and benefit information.
• Develop dashboards, scenario models and executive materials covering competitiveness, internal equity, costs, pay gaps, programme effectiveness and emerging risks.
• Ensure analyses are reproducible and transparent, with clearly documented data sources, assumptions, validation checks and limitations.
• Use digital and approved AI-enabled tools to improve efficiency, insight quality, controls and stakeholder service.

1. Leadership and regional stakeholder management

• Lead, coach and develop the Compensation & Benefits team, setting priorities, allocating work and building capability and succession coverage.
• Act as the regional centre of expertise and trusted adviser for subsidiary P&O teams, enabling consistent delivery while respecting local requirements.
• Facilitate regional forums, workshops and decision meetings; communicate complex reward topics in clear, concise and actionable language.
• Manage external advisers, survey providers and consultants, including scope, quality, budget and performance of assigned engagements.

Experience/Skills

• University degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Economics, Finance or a comparable field; advanced reward training or certification is an advantage.
• Substantial professional experience in Compensation & Benefits or Total Rewards in a multinational environment, including ownership of regional programmes and senior stakeholder advice.
• In-depth knowledge of compensation strategy, salary structures, executive compensation, incentives, benefits, market benchmarking, job evaluation and pay equity.
• Strong working knowledge of the Korn Ferry Hay methodology and experience managing external compensation advisers and survey providers.
• Advanced analytical capability, with excellent Excel and PowerPoint skills and confidence handling complex, sensitive employee and executive data.
• Experience with Workday or another global HRIS, compensation platforms, dashboards and process automation is desirable.
• Fluent written and spoken English; German or another European language is an advantage.
• Proven leadership, influencing, judgement, communication, organisation and change-management skills; able to work effectively under pressure and ambiguity.

Competencies:

• Care for people - Involve: Create an inclusive environment where team members and stakeholders can contribute openly.
• Move further, together - Motivate: Connect countries and functions, encourage constructive debate and align stakeholders around common outcomes.
• Empower people to act - Encourage autonomy: Set clear expectations, delegate effectively and hold the team accountable for commitments.
• Dare to push boundaries - Stimulate creativity: Challenge established practices and support calculated, evidence-based improvements.
• Chase excellence, every day - Facilitate change: Translate complex requirements into practical solutions and continuously improve stakeholder experience.
• European Key Success Factors: Optimism, flexibility, ambition, creativity, dynamism, patience and resilience.

Who are we?

At Kia, we are a global mobility brand with more than 75 years of experience. Since our founding in 1944, we have grown from manufacturing bicycles, motorcycles and cars to becoming a provider of mobility solutions, always guided by the changing needs of our customers.

Today, we continue to expand our portfolio of electrified and battery electric vehicles while developing new mobility services. Guided by our brand slogan, Movement that Inspires, we are exploring new ways to make mobility more convenient and relevant for people’s everyday lives. Through continuous innovation and a customer-centric approach, we aim to create products and services that inspire new possibilities and meaningful connections.

As the European sales and manufacturing arm of Kia Corporation, we support 39 markets across Europe and the Caucasus from our headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany. Together, we are more than 5,500 colleagues, including around 3,500 team members at our manufacturing facility in Žilina, Slovakia.

At our European headquarters, more than 50 nationalities work side by side, bringing different perspectives, experiences and ideas. This diversity is one of our strengths and contributes to the way we work, learn, and grow together. Every day brings opportunities to collaborate, develop new skills, and contribute to our shared success.

If you are looking for an environment where curiosity, collaboration, and continuous learning are valued, we would love to hear from you. Join us and be part of the movement that inspires.

Should you still have doubts, we also offer:

• A vibrant international atmosphere where our workforce represents 50+ nations.
• Playing a pivotal role in shaping Kia's culture in Europe, actively contributing to its development.
• Exploring new solutions, where your creative input matters significantly.
• Enjoying a competitive compensation package, including a Job ticket, consistent on-the-job training, a complimentary staff restaurant, and engaging company events.

If you’re interested to become part of our Kia team, please apply via our online portal. We are looking forward to getting to know you.