Senior Principal – Total Rewards EU Pay Transparency (Entgelttransparenz)

Great work deserves great reward. But across Europe, how organisations reward their people is under more scrutiny than ever before. Transparency expectations are rising, regulatory requirements are tightening, and organisations increasingly need reward structures they can clearly explain, justify, and defend. This role is for an experienced Rewards& Benefits professional who wants to sit at the center of that shift: helping organisations design transparent, equitable, and robust reward frameworks that build trust, reduce pay gaps, and support long‑term performance. Purpose of the role You will work with clients to design and implement tailored Total Rewards solutions aligned to organisational strategy, including: Salary structures, annual increase systems, bonus schemes, and benefit policies Supporting organisations in preparing for and implementing the EU Pay Transparency Directive Building robust job architecture and grading structures, including job analysis and job evaluation What you will do As a (Senior) Principal, you will work on complex client engagements with a high degree of autonomy. You will combine hands‑on delivery with business development and long‑term client relationship management. Core focus: Pay Transparency and Reward Foundations Deliver job analysis, job evaluation, and grading projects to establish “equal work / work of equal value” frameworks Support clients in designing transparent pay frameworks, salary bands, and clear decision‑making logic Advise organisations on turning pay transparency from a compliance requirement into a trusted, sustainable reward practice Identify pay gaps using data‑driven approaches and support clients in defining corrective actions Help organisations strengthen trust and accountability in how pay decisions are made and communicated Client advisory and enablement Build strong client relationships across sectors and countries, acting as a trusted senior advisor Analyse HR and market data to generate insights and pragmatic business recommendations Contribute to proposals, bids, and commercial discussions Facilitate workshops with senior management and key stakeholders Support client onboarding and training for Korn Ferry’s Talent Suite, translating reward strategy into scalable practice Contribute to the creation, renewal, and maintenance of the reward database in the assigned country Share technical expertise and best practices within the EMEA Total Rewards community Manage projects effectively, including forecasting, planning, and regular status updates Experience and professional background You bring deep experience in Total Rewards / Compensation & Benefits and are comfortable operating in complex, senior‑level client environments. Ideally, you have experience in several of the following areas: Job evaluation, salary benchmarking, career architecture, performance management, and/or executive pay Leading complex programmes and negotiating solutions with diverse stakeholders, including executive teams and employee representatives (Works Council / trade unions) Consulting or professional services experience in Total Rewards, C&B, Mobility, or broader HR topics Strong analytical capability and confidence working with data and Excel Clear, structured communication and solution‑focused problem solving A bachelor’s or master’s degree is useful (e.g. business administration, business engineering, law, mathematics, or similar). Skills and competencies Strong stakeholder management and relationship‑building skills High level of customer focus and attention to detail Driven, resilient, and comfortable delivering high‑quality work under time pressure Excellent written and verbal communication skills in German and English Comfortable working in environments characterised by change and ambiguity Why Korn Ferry, why now Pay transparency is becoming one of the most significant shifts in reward governance in decades. Organisations increasingly recognise that this is not just a regulatory challenge, but an opportunity to build trust, clarity, and credibility with employees and stakeholders. Korn Ferry combines deep Total Rewards expertise with proven frameworks, robust job evaluation methodology, and digital solutions that allow organisations to move from analysis to action at scale. Korn Ferry is on a strong growth journey globally and locally, with rapid development of tools, methodologies, and new opportunities for experienced consultants to shape the future of the rewards profession.