Senior Manager, Global Commissions at Instructure
Instructure · Salt Lake City, United States Of America · Remote
At Instructure, we believe in the power of people to grow and succeed throughout their lives. Our goal is to amplify that power by creating intuitive products that simplify learning and personal development, facilitate meaningful relationships, and inspire people to go further in their education and careers. We do this by giving smart, creative, passionate people opportunities to create awesome.
And that's where you come in:
Instructure is seeking an experienced and meticulous Senior Manager of Global Commissions to lead our commissions team and oversee all aspects of our sales incentive compensation programs. This is a critical leadership role responsible for ensuring the timely and accurate calculation and payment of commissions for our global sales organization.
You will manage a distributed team of four, including two remote analysts in the United States and two analysts in the Philippines. This role requires a hands-on leader who can drive process improvements, implement robust controls, and serve as the subject matter expert for all commission-related inquiries. If you are a strategic thinker with a passion for operational excellence and team leadership, we encourage you to apply.
What you’ll do:
- Team Leadership & Development: Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing, geographically distributed team of four commission analysts. Foster a collaborative and supportive team environment that promotes professional growth.
- Commission Calculation & Administration: Oversee the end-to-end administration of sales commissions for approximately 500 global employees across more than 10 unique compensation plans. Ensure all commissions are calculated accurately, verified, and paid on time each cycle.
- System Management: Serve as the primary system administrator for our Incentive Compensation Management (ICM) tool, Performio. Manage system configuration, data integration, and troubleshoot any issues to ensure system integrity and efficiency.
- Plan Updates & Maintenance: Lead the periodic, generally annual, process of updating and implementing changes to commission plans within Performio. Collaborate with Sales Leadership, Finance, and HR to ensure plan designs are translated accurately into system calculations.
- Process Improvement & Control: Develop, document, and implement robust controls, policies, and procedures to govern the entire commissions process. Continuously identify opportunities for process automation and efficiency to enhance accuracy and reduce manual intervention.
- Reporting & Analysis: Prepare and present detailed commission reports, dashboards, and financial accruals for leadership. Provide insightful analysis on sales performance, commission expenses, and the effectiveness of incentive plans.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Act as the primary point of contact for all commission-related matters. Work closely with Sales, HR, Payroll, and Finance teams to resolve discrepancies, answer inquiries, and ensure seamless cross-departmental workflows.
- Compliance & Auditing: Ensure strict adherence to company policies, plan documents, and internal controls (e.g., SOX). Support internal and external audits of the commission process.
What you will need to know/have:
- Experience: 7+ years of progressive experience in commissions administration, sales operations, or a related finance role, with at least 3 years in a management or leadership capacity.
- Leadership: Proven experience leading and managing a team, with a strong preference for candidates who have managed remote or international direct reports.
- ICM System Expertise: Hands-on experience with an automated Incentive Compensation Management (ICM) platform is required. Direct experience with Performio is strongly preferred.
- Analytical Acumen: Exceptional analytical, quantitative, and problem-solving skills with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
- Process-Oriented: A demonstrated ability to design, document, and implement effective business processes, policies, and internal controls.
- Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex commission structures and calculations to a variety of audiences.
- Technical Skills: Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (e.g., VLOOKUP, pivot tables, complex formulas). Experience with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and ERP systems is a plus.
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field.
It would be a bonus if you also had:
- Experience working in a fast-paced, high-growth technology or SaaS company.
- Deep understanding of complex, multi-variable compensation plans.
Get in on all the awesome at Instructure!
- We offer competitive, meaningful benefits in every country where we operate. While they vary by location, here's a general idea of what you can expect:
- Competitive compensation, plus all full-time employees participate in our ownership program - because everyone should have a stake in our success.
- Flexible schedules and a remote-friendly culture, with hybrid or onsite work options available in some regions for specific roles
- Generous time off, including local holidays and our annual company-wide “Dim the Lights” week in late December, when we encourage everyone to step back and recharge
- Comprehensive wellness programs and mental health support
- Annual learning and development stipends to support your growth
- The technology and tools you need to do your best work — typically a Mac, with PC options available in some locations
- Motivosity employee recognition program
- A culture rooted in inclusivity, support, and meaningful connection
This range reflects our target hiring range, with flexibility based on experience, skills, and market factors.
We believe in hiring great people and treating them right. The more diverse we are, the better our ideas and outcomes.
Instructure is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We comply with applicable employment and anti-discrimination laws in every country where we operate.
All employees must pass a background check as part of the hiring process. To help protect our teams and systems, we’ve implemented identity verification measures. Candidates may be asked to verify their legal name, current physical location, and provide a valid contact number and residential address, in accordance with local data privacy laws.
Any attempt to misrepresent personal or professional information will result in disqualification.
