Senior Manager, Sales Incentives & Goals
Vanguard Open · verified Oct 25, 2026 At a glance
Senior Sales Leadership role at Vanguard. Malvern · full-time · no salary stated · we estimate $135,000–$192,000 across the United States.
Vanguard has not published a salary for this role. The figure below is our estimate, not theirs.
growthroles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Build yearly incentive plans that balance straightforward design with competitive rewards and strategic priorities
- Set sales targets for each segment, territory and role using capacity models, past results and growth objectives
- Run approval and payout controls, checking accuracy and compliance with internal and regulatory standards
- Coordinate with Finance, HR, Legal and Distribution leaders to make plans workable, compliant and financially sound
- Track goal attainment and plan results, then recommend changes informed by performance data and market benchmarks
What you bring
- At least ten years in sales compensation strategy, incentive design or distribution planning
- You have designed and governed incentive plans for complex sales organizations spanning multiple channels
- You bring strong analytical skills, including capacity modeling, goal setting and payout accuracy
- You understand regulatory and compliance standards for incentive programs
Who this fits
You’ll lead a team focused on sales goals, incentive plans and payout governance, reporting to the Head of Distribution Strategy & Planning. This senior role suits someone who can influence Finance, HR, Legal and Distribution leaders. The position is based in Malvern, and visa sponsorship is unavailable.
From the employer
Senior Manager, Sales Incentives & Goals
At Vanguard, we are transforming our distribution ecosystem—and aligning incentives to drive performance is a critical part of that journey. As the Senior Manager, Sales Incentives & Goals for our Financial Advisor Services (FAS) business, you will design and govern the frameworks that motivate our sales teams, ensuring clarity, fairness, and alignment with strategic priorities.
This role reports to the Head of Distribution Strategy & Planning and leads a team responsible for:
Annual Goal Setting: Establishing sales targets by segment, territory, and role
Incentive Plan Design: Creating incentive structures that reward behaviors aligned to strategic outcomes
Payouts & Governance: Managing payout processes, compliance, and governance routines
With over $4 trillion in assets under management across our intermediary channel, Vanguard’s FAS division is a market leader. This role is critical to ensuring our sales force is motivated and rewarded in ways that drive growth, deepen advisor relationships, and reinforce Vanguard’s mission.
Responsibilities
Design Incentive Strategy: Develop annual incentive plans that balance simplicity, competitiveness, and alignment with strategic priorities.
Set Clear Goals: Define annual sales targets by segment, territory, and role—anchored in capacity models, historical performance, and growth objectives.
Govern with Discipline: Establish governance routines for plan approval, payout accuracy, and compliance with regulatory and internal standards.
Partner Cross-Functionally: Work with Finance, HR, Legal, and Distribution leadership to ensure incentive plans are financially sound, legally compliant, and operationally executable.
Measure and Optimize: Monitor incentive effectiveness and goal attainment; recommend adjustments based on performance insights and market benchmarks.
The Ideal Candidate
You are a strategic thinker with deep expertise in sales incentives design and governance. You understand the dynamics of advisor-facing distribution teams and know how to create incentive structures that drive the right behaviors.
You will bring:
10+ years of experience in sales compensation strategy, incentive design, or distribution planning
Proven ability to design and govern incentive plans for complex, multi-channel sales organizations
Strong analytical skills and experience with capacity modeling, goal setting, and payout accuracy
Familiarity with regulatory requirements and compliance standards for incentive programs
Executive presence and ability to influence across Finance, HR, Legal, and Distribution leadership
Special Factors
Sponsorship
Vanguard is not offering visa sponsorship for this position.About Vanguard
At Vanguard, we don't just have a mission—we're on a mission.
To work for the long-term financial wellbeing of our clients. To lead through product and services that transform our clients' lives. To learn and develop our skills as individuals and as a team. From Malvern to Melbourne, our mission drives us forward and inspires us to be our best.
How We Work
Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection. We believe our mission-driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long-term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.
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