The Timken Company is seeking a Principal Sales Compensation Analyst to lead the design, optimization, and administration of global sales compensation programs that fuel growth, performance, and customer-centric behaviors. This highly visible role partners with Sales Leadership, Finance, HR, and business leaders around the world to create innovative, data-driven compensation strategies that drive results. As the Principal Sales Compensation Analyst, you will combine strategic thinking, advanced analytics, financial acumen, and modern technology to design compensation programs that align pay with performance across diverse sales roles, product lines, channels, and global markets.
Key ResponsibilitiesSales Compensation Design & Strategy- Design and refine global sales compensation plans including base pay salary structures, incentive plans, and pay mix optimization amongst varying sales roles globally
- Align compensation programs with business strategy and industrial sales cycles
- Conduct scenario modeling to evaluate plan effectiveness, cost, and behavioral outcomes
Advanced Analytics and AI-Driven Insights- Leverage advanced analytics, AI tools, and forecasted sales performance to estimate payout distributions and identify over/under performance trends
- Incorporate external market data and historical data trends into compensation modeling frameworks
- Utilize tools such as PowerBI or other AI-enabled compensation platforms
Pay Mix Optimization- Conduct pay mix analyses across roles and geographies to ensure competitiveness and alignment to external markets and internal business/growth strategies
Compensation Administration & Systems- Administer global sales compensation plans through modern tools
- Ensure accurate and timely quarterly/annual incentive calculations
- Partner with internal departments (IT, Sales, Finance, etc.) to maintain data integrity and optimize/automate manual workflows
- Lead sales compensation systems implementation and enhancements
Reporting & Business Insights- Develop executive-level dashboards and reporting on sales performance vs. plan and incentive attainment and payout analyses
- Provide actionable insights to sales leadership regarding effectiveness of sales compensation programs
Qualifications/Functional Skills- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Accounting/Finance, Business, Economics or related field, Master's degree preferred, CCP certification a plus
- 5-10 years in Sales Compensation, Compensation, Accounting/Finance or related field, preferably in a global manufacturing environment
- Sales compensation experience (market pricing, survey benchmarking, incentive plan design, merit cycles, etc.)
- Advanced Excel skills, and experience with Compensation systems/HRIS tools preferred (e.g., SuccessFactors, Workday, MarketPay)
- Demonstrates strong systemic thinking by understanding how decisions and processes are interconnected across functions, regions and organizational levels, anticipating downstream impacts and aligning actions with overall business strategy
- Ability to work collaboratively in cross-functional teams and build strong working relationship across HR, HRIS, IT, Finance and business functions
- Exceptional analytical, critical thinking and project management skills; Applies a data-driven approach to solving complex problems, ensuring solutions align with both organizational strategy and operational execution
- Clear written and verbal communication skills for stakeholders at all levels
- High attention to detail and commitment to data integrity
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
Timken is a global technology leader in engineered bearings and industrial motion. Our expanding portfolio of next-generation solutions helps customers around the world improve efficiency, solve their toughest challenges, and push the boundaries of performance. We employ 19,000 people globally, operate from 45 countries, and posted $4.6 billion in sales in 2025.
We have been recognized as one of America's Most Responsible Companies 6x by Newsweek and one of the World's Most Ethical Companies® 15x by Ethisphere.
Why Choose Timken? - Over a century of knowledge and innovation
- A culture of top performance
- A global, diverse environment
- Products that contribute to a sustainable world
- A conviction to improve communities around us
- Competitive salary and benefits
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