When a senior appointment involves relocation — domestic or international — the package extends well beyond salary. Here is what executive relocation and international assignment packages involve.
More than salary
When a senior role requires relocation, the package extends well beyond salary. Moving a leader and often their family — domestically or internationally — involves real costs, disruption, and considerations that the package must address to make the move viable and attractive. Relocation and assignment terms are a distinct and important part of senior appointments involving a move, and handling them well is part of securing the right leader and setting them up to succeed, alongside the core compensation.
Typical relocation support
Relocation packages commonly address the practical costs and support of moving — such as removal and moving costs, temporary and permanent housing support, travel, and help settling in. The aim is to remove the friction and cost of relocating so the leader can focus on the role. What is included varies by role, seniority, and circumstances, and is often negotiated. The goal is a package that genuinely supports the move and reflects what it asks of the leader and their family.
International assignment complexity
International assignments add significant complexity beyond domestic relocation — including tax across jurisdictions, immigration and work authorisation, cost-of-living and currency differences, schooling for children, healthcare, and the terms of the assignment (its length, and repatriation). These are genuinely complex and vary by country, so international packages require careful structuring and expert tax, legal, and mobility advice. Getting them right is essential both for the leader and to avoid problems, making specialist input important for international moves.
Getting it right matters
A well-structured relocation or assignment package helps attract the right leader, makes the move viable for them and their family, and sets the appointment up for success; a poorly-handled one can deter a strong candidate or sour the start. Because the specifics — especially for international moves — are complex and vary, they warrant careful attention and, where needed, professional advice. Handling relocation and assignment terms well is part of managing senior appointments that involve a move, and of a well-run offer process.
Structuring a senior appointment with relocation?
We help structure senior appointments end to end, including the package considerations that make a move work.
About Executive Compensation →Frequently asked questions
What do executive relocation and international assignment packages cover?
The support and terms that make a senior move viable — relocation and moving costs, housing, and travel, plus, for international moves, tax, immigration, cost-of-living, schooling, and assignment terms. What's included varies by role and is often negotiated.
Why are international assignment packages complex?
Because they involve tax across jurisdictions, immigration and work authorisation, cost-of-living and currency differences, schooling, healthcare, and assignment and repatriation terms — all varying by country. This complexity means international packages need careful structuring and expert tax, legal, and mobility advice.
Related: Executive Compensation Structures Explained · Negotiating an Executive Offer · Hiring Leaders for New Market Expansion
Ready to talk?
Whether you're planning a leadership search or simply exploring, we'd be glad to have a confidential, no-obligation conversation.
Get in touch
