Compensation & Benefits Manager, Europe
2 days ago
Paris
Our Brand Story ZIMMERMANN is a global luxury fashion brand, founded in Sydney in 1991 by sisters Nicky and Simone Zimmermann. Renowned for its signature approach to sophisticated femininity, distinctive prints, and exceptional craftsmanship, the brand is present across Australia, Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Asia. Nicky Zimmermann’s creative vision and Simone Zimmermann’s strategic leadership have formed the foundation of the brand’s success. Their partnership – balancing design innovation with strong commercial direction – remains central to ZIMMERMANN’s identity and growth. Today, ZIMMERMANN continues to redefine modern luxury with collections that celebrate self‑expression. Grounded in Australian sun‑soaked optimism, the brand resonates with women around the world. Our global teams are united by a shared commitment to creativity, quality, and evolving the brand with integrity and purpose. At ZIMMERMANN, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to empowering talented individuals to build meaningful careers within an inclusive, collaborative, and forward‑thinking environment – where craftsmanship and innovation are celebrated, and individuality is valued. The Opportunity ZIMMERMANN is seeking a talented Compensation & Benefits Manager, Europe, to join our Human Resources team, where you’ll play an important role in designing, steering and controlling the Company’s total rewards framework while ensuring robust payroll governance and HR cost control across Europe. In this position, you’ll help support operational excellence across European markets. This opportunity is ideal if you’re motivated by problem solving, data‑driven decision making, structure, and cross‑functional collaboration, and enjoy contributing meaningful, measurable impact within a dynamic and fast‑paced international environment. As Compensation & Benefits Manager, Europe, you’ll contribute to the design, execution and governance of compensation, benefits, payroll and HR cost management across Europe, bringing together strategic thinking and hands‑on operational execution to deliver outcomes that support ZIMMERMANN’s continued evolution. You’ll collaborate closely with global, cross‑functional teams and act as a key business partner to HR and Finance, helping shape how the HR Department operates today and grows into the future. You will report to the VP HR Europe and be an essential member of the European HR leadership team. Key Responsibilities As Compensation & Benefits Manager, Europe, your responsibilities will include: • Designing, implementing and continuously improving a competitive and equitable compensation and benefits strategy across European countries, including salary structures, job architecture, grading and benchmarking, • Leading annual compensation cycles, including salary reviews, merit increases, bonus processes and promotions, • Managing employee benefits across Europe (healthcare, pensions, insurance, wellbeing and perks), ensuring market competitiveness, cost efficiency, and legal and tax compliance, while driving harmonisation where possible and respecting local specificities, • Owning HR cost control and workforce cost management for Europe, including payroll, benefits and headcount evolution, in close partnership with Finance, • Preparing and consolidating annual people budgets, rolling forecasts and multi‑year workforce plans for retail and head office populations, • Producing and maintaining HR dashboards and KPIs, covering headcount, payroll versus budget, attrition, cost of turnover, C&B costs, gender equality and retail productivity indicators, • Supervising payroll governance across European countries, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, compliance and strong internal controls, while coordinating internal teams and external payroll providers, • Ensuring compliance with local labour laws, social regulations and tax requirements, and supporting audits, statutory reporting and year‑end processes, • Owning and overseeing HR systems, including HRIS (ZEngage / HiBob), Time & Attendance (LUCCA) and payroll providers, ensuring data integrity, optimisation and automation, • Acting as a trusted partner to HR leaders, Finance, Retail teams and external providers, ensuring consistent HR processes, documentation and governance, • Leading and contributing to special HR projects, including the implementation of a unified pan‑European payroll solution What You Will Bring To succeed in this role, you will bring: • A graduate degree or equivalent experience, • 8+ years’ experience in compensation & benefits, payroll, HR controlling or total rewards, ideally in an international European environment, • Strong exposure to multi‑country European payroll and benefits, • Proven experience in HR cost control, budgeting, forecasting and reporting, • Solid understanding of labour law, social charges and payroll mechanisms, • Strong experience working with HRIS, time & attendance and payroll systems, • A strong analytical mindset, with excellent Excel and reporting capabilities, • Fluent English (additional European languages are a strong plus), • A hands‑on, structured and pragmatic approach, with the confidence to challenge and push back when needed, • Excellent communication, stakeholder management and business partnering skills Why Join ZIMMERMANN? • Flexible work options that support balance and wellbeing, • Access to tailored development plans and learning opportunities, • Generous employee benefits and product discounts, • Clear pathways for career progression within a global organisation, • A collaborative, high‑performing, and inclusive team culture Next Steps If you’re ready to take the next step in your career and would like to contribute to ZIMMERMANN’s continued success, we’d love to hear from you. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. ZIMMERMANN is an equal opportunity employer. We assess all applicants based on their individual capabilities, experience, and qualifications and are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. If you have any support or access requirements, please let us know at the time of application so we can assist you throughout the recruitment process.