Compensation & Benefits Manager

About CrossBoundary Group

CrossBoundary Group is a mission-driven investment and advisory firm focused on unlocking capital for sustainable growth and strong returns in underserved markets. It has facilitated over US$700 million of transactions across sectors such as agriculture, health, education, manufacturing, ICT, infrastructure, and clean energy. The group's investment arms finance projects that bring affordable, cleaner, and reliable electricity and education infrastructure to developing countries, with a substantial portfolio exceeding US$100 million in renewable energy projects across more than 10 African nations.

Role Overview

We are seeking a full-time Compensation & Benefits Manager to join our People Team in Nairobi. This pivotal role combines strategic design and practical execution, aiming to transform our global payroll and rewards systems into streamlined, automated, and employee-focused solutions across all operational jurisdictions.

Key Responsibilities

• Take complete ownership of People-related payroll processes, transitioning from manual and disjointed workflows to a structured and automated system.
• Manage all payroll inputs including joining, salary amendments, bonuses, deductions, advances, loans, and terminations, ensuring immaculate and timely delivery aligned with the Global Payroll Calendar, with Finance executing payments.
• Support payroll readiness for new countries, including statutory obligations documentation, benefits, and onboarding data preparation.
• Enhance and co-lead monthly HR-Finance payroll reviews, replacing manual tracking with automated and structured reporting to improve process reliability.
• Serve as the central contact for payroll-related employee inquiries, creating clear FAQs and communications regarding payments, tax withholding, and currency matters.
• Develop comprehensive playbooks documenting payroll, compensation, and benefits procedures for clarity and self-service.
• Implement rigorous audit trails to track compensation adjustments ensuring legal and internal compliance.
• Audit and optimize benefits programs across locations, design frameworks suited for site-based teams, and oversee implementation and continuous assessment.
• Manage day-to-day benefits enrollment operations ensuring every new employee is properly covered from their start date.
• Administer the compensation system including salary structure maintenance and annual bonuses, standardize pay data within HRIS (BambooHR), and design robust compensation review cycles.
• Collaborate with leadership to refine compensation philosophies and drive transparency efforts.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or a related discipline.
• At least nine years of experience within People Operations or HR, specializing in payroll, compensation, or benefits management, ideally with multi-jurisdiction exposure.
• Proven ability to develop system architectures and automate manual operations to create reliable information sources.
• Strong ownership mentality with an aptitude to self-manage complex projects and deliver consistent, error-free outcomes.
• Experience navigating international labor laws and payroll practices in ambiguous or evolving regulatory environments.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement capabilities within diverse teams.
• Leadership experience, particularly in managing and mentoring junior team members in fast-paced and complex contexts.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and HR Information Systems, particularly BambooHR.

Location

This role is based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Additional Information

CrossBoundary is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates with disabilities during recruitment. We encourage applications from passionate candidates even if they do not meet every listed qualification.