Compensation and Benefits Specialist

About The Job

This Munich-based position is located in our Head Office and we are looking to fill the role of Compensation and Benefits Specialist at the earliest possible start date.

This role has a strong focus on Compensation & Benefits (C&B) and is critical to ensuring smooth and accurate operations of all compensation and benefit related programs for the German and Austrian teams. Reporting to the HR Director Germany & Austria, the successful candidate will drive and implement the local C&B strategy with EMEA guidance while delivering robust HR operations support to the organization — from designing competitive reward structures to supporting payroll administration, employee data integrity, personnel cost planning, and compliance. The position requires close collaboration with HR, Retail, Finance, and regional stakeholders.

Job responsibilities

Compensation & Benefits Excellence

• Develop and implement tailored compensation programs aligned with the Maison’s premium positioning
• Maintain and enhance job evaluation frameworks and salary structures in line with market benchmarks
• In partnership with the HRD, lead the annual compensation review cycle, ensuring fairness, consistency, and competitiveness
• Design and implement innovative benefits offerings that enhance employee experience and retention
• In close collaboration with the regional C&B team, conduct market analyses to ensure competitive positioning within the luxury retail landscape

Payroll Administration & Systems

• Prepare and support end-to-end payroll processes for employees in Germany and Austria
• Partner with Finance on payroll reconciliations, accruals, and personnel cost forecasting
• Oversee payroll system operations to ensure accuracy, compliance, and data integrity
• Manage interactions with external authorities and partners (e.g., labour authorities, insurers, auditors)
• Prepare and support annual salary review in line with Group guidelines and timelines
• Work closely with the HR Payroll Specialist to ensure efficient delivery of payroll operations and related projects

Compliance & Auditing

• Ensure full compliance with local regulatory and labour law requirements
• Lead preparation and documentation for internal and external HR audits
• Implement monitoring mechanisms to safeguard data accuracy, security, and confidentiality

General HR Support

• Act as an agile team player supporting adjacent HR activities when needed (e.g., recruitment events, onboarding, performance cycles)
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of HR policies and procedures
• Participate in regional C&B and broader HR projects as required

Profile

• Minimum 3–4 years of progressive HR experience, with strong exposure to Compensation & Benefits and HR analytics (payroll experience is a plus)
• Proven experience in C&B and analytical topics, ideally within retail or hospitality environments
• Solid experience liaising with external HR stakeholders (e.g., labour authorities, insurers, auditors)
• Hands-on experience managing workplace injury cases end-to-end
• Strong analytical mindset with excellent attention to detail
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills
• High level of integrity and strong risk awareness
• Ability to work independently with a proactive problem-solving mindset
• Agile and flexible, thriving in a lean yet high-performing HR environment
• Strong service orientation with sensitivity to retail stakeholders’ needs
• Proficiency in HRIS systems and Microsoft Office Suite (especially Excel)
• Fluency in English; German is a strong advantage

Key skills/competency

• Compensation & Benefits
• HR Analytics
• Payroll Administration
• Compliance Management
• Job Evaluation
• Market Benchmarking
• Data Integrity
• HRIS Systems
• Microsoft Excel
• Stakeholder Management