Author: Naviga Recruiting

When you’re hiring in a competitive market, it’s easy to focus on the end goal—making the right hire. But the true strength of a recruiting function comes from what happens long before the offer letter. Whether you’re managing an internal Talent Acquisition team or partnering with an external search firm,

When it comes to attracting and retaining top talent, understanding the difference between base salary and total compensation is critical. What Is Total Compensation? A base salary is what an employee earns on a biweekly or monthly basis. Total compensation  encompasses much more: It includes base salary plus any incentives,

Purpose A clear, metrics-based compensation plan motivates Operations teams, improves efficiency, quality, and customer satisfaction, and drives measurable cost savings. Poorly designed plans can lead to errors, high inventory costs, supply chain disruptions, turnover, and lower profits. Key Principles Roles & Compensation Role Base vs. Variable Key Focus Technicians/Specialists 90–95%

Purpose Motivate and retain top Executive Operations leaders by linking pay to long-term enterprise efficiency, risk mitigation, and shareholder value. Poorly designed plans can drive short-term cost-cutting, inefficient capital allocation, and weak operations culture. Key Principles Roles & Compensation Role Base / Variable Focus VP/Director of Operations 65% / 35%

Purpose Goal: Attract and retain the first US-based executive.Focus: Align pay with US market expectations, legal compliance, and multi-year success.Risks of Poor Design: Turnover, non-compliance, and slow scaling. Key Principles Roles & Compensation Role Base / Variable Focus First US VP / General Manager 60% / 40% Bonus for setup,

Purpose Goal: Attract and retain an executive to lead a critical function or region.Focus: Align pay with functional excellence, strategic outcomes, and organizational acceleration.Risks of Poor Design: Signals lack of strategic vision, slower organizational progress, inability to hire top talent. Key Principles Roles & Compensation Role Base / Variable Focus