Salaries: Star HR managers take the prize

Evil tongues will say that they have the upper hand on the pay slips. Except that, within management, these positions did not until then have the reputation of winning the prize.

Times are changing. According to the latest study on remuneration by Michael Page, the highest positions in human resources are among the best paid functions within large groups. The network of recruitment firms suggests up to 400,000 francs for a “senior vice-president HR director”.

“Beyond the more traditional skills of organizing and managing a large staff, we are talking about specialists with the best network, in sectors where there is a recruitment war,” testifies Mathilde de Mareuil, manager of an agency investment company active in commodity trading in Geneva.

The bigwigs of multinationals

At the top of the remuneration of hundreds of positions listed by Michael Page, appear – unsurprisingly – those of those responsible for “private banking” in finance or the financial departments of multinationals, which exceed 300,000 francs per year to rise to 500 ‘000 francs. Before bonuses and other incentives.

At these levels, the appearance of a personnel management position stands out. The classification shows a gross salary of 300,000 francs on average – and which can rise up to 400,000 francs – for a “chief human resources”, in charge of the entire workforce of a multinational. In these large groups, an HR director fluctuates around 230,000 francs and can go up to 280,000 francs. Compared to 180,000 francs on average in an SME.

“We must not forget that for HR managers at global level – or on a continent – ​​multinationals are based on a salary scale corresponding to that of large groups listed on the stock exchange, particularly American ones, whose levels remain very high” , recalls Anne Donou, director for French-speaking Switzerland within von Rundstedt, a network of agencies specializing in human resources consulting and career management.

There is HR and HR

In reality, HR departments bring together a host of different positions, often administrative and unrelated in terms of remuneration – an HR assistant or her male colleague receives around 80,000 francs.

“In French-speaking Switzerland, in eight out of ten cases, the term HR manager still covers very operational functions, linked to recruitment, support for the employee’s life cycle, remuneration – in this case, their level of remuneration remains similar to that practiced in the past,” explains Marine Moncozet, director of Michael Page Geneva, and in charge of HR profiles.

“But you also have much more strategic positions – for example those of Chief HR Officer, reporting directly to the CEO and participating in the management committee,” continues the latter. The specialist describes “a crucial role aimed at shaping the culture of a company and optimizing talent management – ​​by developing innovative HR strategies”. At this level, “salaries can be between 250,000 and 400,000 francs, we are talking about large groups whose CEOs have understood the strength brought by such positions… which is, unfortunately, not always the case”, nuance Marine Moncozet.

Hunter of “traders”

Salaries also linked to the sector concerned. Example, in raw materials, where companies try to attract the best executives and traders from competitors. “This permanent pressure, which has reached an unprecedented level in recent years, will require having at the head of HR people who know everyone, sometimes former headhunters,” explains Mathilde de Mareuil, the director general manager of the Shipping & Trading Network agency.

The latter also cites the small world of alternative investment funds – “hedge funds”. “It remains very difficult to find such managers who, at the same time, have the experience of managing several hundred employees – from traders to port terminal technicians,” adds this headhunter, confirming the remuneration of the survey Michael Page.

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Pierre-Alexandre Sallier has been a journalist in the Economy section since 2014. Previously he worked for Timeas well as for everyday The Tribunein Paris.More info

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