Consulting Services

Compensation Design & Development

We specialize in compensation studies that focus on building and empowering a diverse workforce. Understanding the value of talent in driving innovation, we offer comprehensive solutions to help attract, develop, and retain a multifaceted team.

Compensation Is More Than Just a Calculation

At Santiago & Company, we believe that compensation programs should reflect the entire narrative of your business goals and values. While gathering market data and crunching numbers is a vital part of any compensation philosophy, turning that data into actionable, strategic insights takes experience, expertise, and a deep understanding of compensation design. How do you determine what works best for your organization? How do you set benchmarks that drive success? Our team helps you look beyond the numbers. We conduct thorough compensation studies to identify the most relevant aspects of your business objectives, evaluating what makes sense for your unique situation. By blending these insights with the right market data, we ensure your compensation strategy is competitive, equitable, and aligned with your broader business goals.

Find the Sweet Spot in Your Compensation Programs
Our expert compensation consulting services are designed to align employee motivations with your company’s objectives. Together, we’ll clarify your compensation goals, integrate them within your overall business strategy, and create programs that drive sustainable success. We also guide you in communicating your compensation plans effectively to all stakeholders. Whether it's leadership, employees, or external partners, we ensure your strategies are well-understood and embraced. This ensures the plans are not only accepted but also achieve the measurable benchmarks we establish from the outset.

Why Choose Santiago & Company?

At Santiago & Company, we specialize in helping businesses achieve fair, competitive, and effective pay strategies through our expert compensation services. With years of experience in compensation studies, compensation consulting, and compensation design, we provide tailored solutions that drive organizational success.

Comprehensive Compensation Studies

Gain valuable insights into your industry's pay trends and benchmarks. Our in-depth compensation studies ensure you stay competitive while attracting and retaining top talent. From market analysis to pay equity evaluations, we deliver actionable data to inform your decisions.

Strategic Compensation Consulting
Navigating the complexities of compensation management can be challenging. Our compensation consulting services are designed to align your pay practices with business goals, improve employee satisfaction, and ensure compliance with regulations.

Innovative Compensation Design
Build a compensation strategy that works for your organization. We excel in creating custom compensation design plans that balance competitiveness, fairness, and cost-effectiveness. Whether it’s base pay structures, incentive programs, or executive compensation, we’ve got you covered.

What goes into our Compensation Consulting?

The Santiago Compass Framework℠
At Santiago & Company, we’ve developed The Santiago Compass Framework to provide organizations with a proven methodology for creating compensation programs that balance market competitiveness, equity, and financial sustainability. This framework integrates data-driven insights, strategic planning, and expert execution to help you achieve measurable success. Each phase of the framework is designed to integrate seamlessly, ensuring a smooth transition from analysis to action. The Compass Framework ensures that every step builds on the previous one, creating a cohesive and efficient approach:

Continuous
Feedback:
Diagnostic findings are shared and iteratively refined with stakeholders, ensuring alignment at every stage.
Integrated Equity
Focus:
Equity considerations are woven into both the phases, ensuring pay strategies reflect values.
Seamless Transition to Execution:
Recommendations are directly tied to actionable implementation plans, reducing disruption and ensuring smooth adoption.
Long-Term Sustainability:
Financial modeling and phased rollouts allow for cost-effective implementation, aligning with budget constraints and long-term goals.

Ready to Realign Your Compensation Strategy?
Explore how The Santiago Compass Framework™ can guide your organization toward market competitiveness, equity, and financial sustainability. Contact us today to get started!

Featured Compensation Consulting Services

Tailored Solutions to Build, Refine, and Align Your Compensation Strategies
At Santiago & Company, we offer comprehensive compensation consulting services designed to meet your organization’s unique needs. From market analysis to executive pay design, our expertise ensures your compensation programs are competitive, equitable, and strategically aligned.

Market Review and Analysis
Stay Ahead of Trends to Attract and Retain Top Talent
Competing for talent starts with understanding the market. We help you:

  • Prepare job definitions that align with your strategy.
  • Gather and interpret market data.
  • Evaluate pay structures in the context of your business goals.

Our comprehensive approach not only identifies current trends but also anticipates shifts in the market to ensure your organization remains ahead of the competition. With our help, you can position your business as an employer of choice while achieving your financial and strategic goals.

Compete Effectively While Achieving Your Base Pay Goals
Creating and managing salary structures with defined pay ranges requires a strategic approach:

  • Incorporate competitive market data into pay programs.
  • Build structures that align with business goals and hiring philosophies.
  • Guide HR and managers in making informed pay decisions.

Our solutions ensure that your salary structures reflect industry best practices while aligning with your company’s unique mission. By providing the tools and insights managers need, we help you maintain a strong competitive edge in every hiring and promotion decision.

Job Architecture and Job Leveling
The Foundation of a Strong Compensation Strategy
A well-designed job architecture goes beyond an organizational chart—it’s a critical framework for achieving HR and business objectives.

  • Define roles and responsibilities clearly.
  • Establish consistent levels across job functions.
  • Create a foundation for equitable and effective compensation programs.

We develop job leveling frameworks that create transparency for employees, enabling them to understand career progression and growth opportunities. This clarity fosters engagement, alignment, and long-term organizational success.

Pay Equity and Fair Pay
Comply with Laws and Foster Employee Trust
Keeping up with pay equity laws is essential for avoiding risks and maintaining trust.

  • Evaluate your pay systems for compliance and equity.
  • Test perceptions of fairness across locations and demographics.
  • Prepare for current and anticipated legislation.

We craft policies that provide guardrails while still allowing managers the flexibility to make decisions that align with organizational values. These balanced policies promote fairness, trust, and alignment across your workforce.

Compensation Audits
Align Your Compensation Programs for Success
A thorough compensation audit uncovers gaps and ensures alignment with your organization’s:

  • Strategic objectives.
  • Pay equity and compliance requirements.
  • Employee satisfaction and retention goals.

Our audits go beyond identifying issues—they provide actionable solutions to address them. By realigning your compensation programs, we help you unlock greater workforce satisfaction and long-term success.

Employee Pay Planning Tools
Streamline Pay Planning and Maximize Efficiency
Annual pay planning doesn’t have to be disruptive. We offer repeatable frameworks to:

  • Improve workflows during pay planning cycles.
  • Enhance communication and team productivity.
  • Streamline systems like Workday for better results.

Our tools not only simplify the process but also empower your team to focus on strategic decisions rather than administrative tasks. With our solutions, pay planning becomes a predictable and efficient part of your yearly cycle.

Executive Compensation
Confidently Design Executive Compensation Packages
Whether public or private, executive compensation demands a tailored approach.

  • Navigate SEC disclosure rules and “say-on-pay” regulations.
  • Balance strategic positioning with market competitiveness.
  • Attract and retain top executive talent while minimizing risks.

We collaborate with your leadership team to design compensation packages that reflect your organization’s values and goals. With our expertise, you can feel confident in rewarding top executives while maintaining shareholder and employee trust.

Client Results

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