Director, Sales Incentive Compensation
At a glance
Leadership Sales Leadership role at Bayer. Whippany · $177,000–$266,000 base.
Growth Roles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Shape field incentive plans around commercial priorities, including measures, weights, payouts, thresholds, accelerators, and special awards
- Build financial models, scenarios, payout simulations, and risk reviews for senior leaders and governance groups
- Run incentive administration from data checks and calculations through exceptions, vendors, quality review, and audit preparation
- Create governance, approval, control, and repeatable operating processes while improving automation and technology use
- Explain plan mechanics and expected results through executive presentations, training, FAQs, field guides, and manager materials
What you bring
- A bachelor’s degree is required for this role
- Progressive pharmaceutical or biotechnology sales incentive compensation experience is required
- You have designed, launched, and administered incentive programs for field organizations
- You have worked with Commercial, Sales, Brand, Finance, HR, Legal, and Compliance stakeholders
- At least five years of progressive pharmaceutical or biotechnology sales incentive compensation experience is preferred
Who this fits
This role suits a senior incentive compensation leader who can connect commercial strategy with field execution and influence executives without direct authority. You’ll need strong modeling, scenario planning, communication, project management, and operational control skills, plus advanced Excel and PowerPoint capability. The position is listed for Whippany, New Jersey, and also includes residence-based locations in New Jersey and New York.
From the employer
At Bayer we’re visionaries, driven to solve the world’s toughest challenges and striving for a world where 'Health for all Hunger for none’ is no longer a dream, but a real possibility. We’re doing it with energy, curiosity and sheer dedication, always learning from unique perspectives of those around us, expanding our thinking, growing our capabilities and redefining ‘impossible’. There are so many reasons to join us. If you’re hungry to build a varied and meaningful career in a community of brilliant and diverse minds to make a real difference, there’s only one choice.
Director, Sales Incentive Compensation
The Director, Sales Incentive Compensation is responsible for leading the strategy, design, implementation, governance, and operational management of incentive compensation programs that align field execution with enterprise and brand objectives. This leader serves as a strategic partner to Brand Leadership, Sales Leadership, Commercial Operations, Finance, and HR to design incentive plans that motivate the right behaviors, reinforce commercial strategy, and deliver measurable business outcomes. This role balances strategic plan design with flawless operational execution, ensuring incentive programs are equitable, compliant, analytically sound, and operationally efficient. The Director will lead the end-to-end incentive compensation lifecycle—from strategy development and modeling through governance, implementation, administration, communication, and ongoing optimization.
YOUR TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The primary responsibilities of this role, Director, Sales Incentive Compensation, are:
Incentive Compensation Strategy, Plan Design & Governance
- Partner with Brand and Sales Leadership to translate commercial strategy into incentive compensation plans that drive desired behaviors and business performance.
- Lead annual plan design and ongoing changes, including measures, weighting, payout mechanics, thresholds, accelerators, and special incentives.
- Develop financial models, scenario analyses, payout simulations, and risk assessments to support executive decision-making.
- Present recommendations, trade-offs, and business impact to senior leadership and governance forums.
- Evaluate market trends and industry best practices to continuously improve incentive plan effectiveness.
- Establish governance processes that ensure consistency, transparency, compliance, and appropriate documentation.
Cross-Functional Strategic Partnership, Communications & Change Management
- Serve as the primary incentive compensation advisor to Commercial Leadership, Brand Teams, Sales Leadership, Finance, HR, Legal, Compliance, and Field Operations.
- Influence senior stakeholders through data-driven recommendations, consultation, and clear articulation of plan trade-offs.
- Facilitate cross-functional alignment through plan development, approval, implementation, and optimization.
- Develop executive presentations, training materials, field communications, FAQs, manager guides, and supporting documentation.
Incentive Compensation Operations & Process Excellence
- Lead incentive compensation administration, including implementation, data validation, processing, payout calculations, exceptions, vendor management, quality assurance, and audit readiness.
- Ensure accurate and timely incentive compensation payments while maintaining strong operational controls.
- Design scalable procedures, approval workflows, governance documentation, controls, and repeatable processes.
- Drive continuous improvement, automation, and technology enablement to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
Communications & Change Management
- Develop clear, compelling incentive compensation materials for executives, managers, and field teams.
- Lead communication of incentive plans through leadership presentations, training sessions, FAQs, field guides, and supporting documentation.
- Ensure managers and sales representatives understand plan mechanics, performance expectations, and payout methodologies.
- Create executive-ready presentations that clearly communicate plan rationale, expected business impact, and performance outcomes.
WHO YOU ARE
Bayer seeks an incumbent who possesses the following:
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree required;
- Progressive experience in pharmaceutical / biotechnology sales incentive compensation.
- Experience designing, implementing, and administering incentive compensation programs for field organizations.
- Demonstrated success partnering with Commercial, Sales, Brand, Finance, HR, Legal, and Compliance stakeholders.
- Experience developing governance frameworks, scalable processes, operational controls, and cross-functional workflows.
Knowledge & Skills
- Deep understanding of pharmaceutical commercial models, sales organizations, and incentive compensation methodologies.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate complex analyses into actionable business recommendations.
- Strong financial modeling, scenario planning, payout simulation, and business case development capabilities.
- Experience managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced commercial environment.
- Proven ability to influence without direct authority across senior leadership and cross-functional teams.
- Excellent executive presence, presentation, communication, project management, and organizational skills.
- High attention to detail with a commitment to operational excellence and continuous improvement.
- Advanced Excel and PowerPoint; incentive compensation platforms and analytics tools preferred.
Leadership Competencies
- Strategic thinker who connects commercial strategy to field execution.
- Trusted advisor who influences executive decision-making and builds cross-functional alignment.
- Data-driven leader with strong business acumen and a continuous improvement mindset.
- Exceptional communicator who simplifies complex concepts for diverse audiences.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Advanced degree
- 5+ years of progressive experience in pharmaceutical / biotechnology sales incentive compensation.
Employees can expect to be paid a salary of between $177,000-$266,000. Additional compensation may include a bonus or commission (if relevant). Additional benefits include health care, vision, dental, retirement, PTO, sick leave, etc. This salary range is merely an estimate and may vary based on an applicant’s location, market data/ranges, an applicant’s skills and prior relevant experience, certain degrees and certifications, and other relevant factors. This posting will be available for application until at least: 8/4/2026.
YOUR APPLICATION
Bayer offers a wide variety of competitive compensation and benefits programs. If you meet the requirements of this unique opportunity, and want to impact our mission Health for all, Hunger for none, we encourage you to apply now. Be part of something bigger. Be you. Be Bayer.
To all recruitment agencies: Bayer does not accept unsolicited third party resumes.
Bayer is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans
Bayer is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations in its application process for individuals with disabilities and encourages applicants with disabilities to request any needed accommodation(s) using the contact information below.
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