....in companies in France, they have a salary system often based on "points". There are a range of points available for each job category, from beginneers to most experienced, etc.
The point has a value that used to be negotiated with the Unions (is it still? I think so). By multiplying the number of points by the value of the point, you get your salary. That way, personal salary increases are in the form of more points and cost of living or blanket increases are in the form of an increase in the value of the point. The "coefficient " is another way of describing this.

The employee will be in category X, with the title Y and, in the salary system, have a coefficient of Z.

Hard to translate because not part of the Anglo-Saxon culture