Director of Compensation

Remote from: USA
Salary, yearly, USD: 155,000
Department: HR & Recruiting
Employment type: Full Time,
Job posted: 22 May 2026
Apply before: 22 Jun 2026
Experience level: Director
Views / Applies: 44 / 5

Putting our heart and soul into exceptional care.

AI Summary

Merakey is seeking a Director of Compensation to lead enterprise-wide compensation and total rewards programs. This remote role involves strategic leadership, program design, compliance, and team management. The position requires a Bachelor's degree, 10+ years of compensation experience, and 5+ years in leadership. Merakey offers comprehensive benefits and is an equal opportunity employer.

Job Complexity

Easy Hard

AI Insight The role requires extensive experience (10+ years) and leadership skills, plus strategic oversight of complex compensation programs, making it highly challenging but not the hardest level.

Salary Analysis

AI Insight The offered salary range of $145,000-$155,000 is competitive for a Director of Compensation role, aligning with the market median of $150,000. The lower end is slightly above market minimum, indicating a fair offer.

Key Skills

Compensation Strategy Job Architecture Market Pricing Total Rewards Compliance Data Analysis Leadership HRIS Finance Partnership Incentive Programs

Cover Letter Sample

I am excited to apply for the Director of Compensation position at Merakey. With over a decade of experience in compensation strategy and leadership, I have a proven track record of designing equitable and competitive total rewards programs. My expertise in job architecture, market pricing, and compliance aligns with the requirements of this role. I am particularly drawn to Merakey's mission-driven environment and would be honored to contribute to your team. Thank you for considering my application.

Possible Interview Questions

How would you design a compensation strategy that supports both organizational goals and employee retention?

I would start by analyzing market data and internal equity, then align compensation with business objectives. I'd involve stakeholders from Finance and HR to ensure fiscal sustainability and create a transparent communication plan.

Describe your experience with job architecture and leveling.

I have led job architecture redesigns, creating consistent job families and levels based on responsibilities and market benchmarks. This ensures clarity and equity across the organization.

How do you ensure compliance with compensation regulations?

I stay updated on federal and state laws, conduct regular audits, and partner with legal teams. I also implement policies and training to mitigate risk.

Can you provide an example of a successful incentive program you implemented?

I designed a performance-based bonus program that increased sales by 15% while controlling costs. I used metrics aligned with company goals and ensured transparency in payout calculations.

How do you handle internal equity issues?

I conduct thorough analyses to identify disparities, then recommend adjustments based on role, experience, and performance. I communicate changes sensitively to maintain trust.

Are you looking for an opportunity to advance your career while working with an extraordinary team? At Merakey, we put heart and soul into everything we do. We are seeking a Director of Compensation to join our team.

Salary range: $145,00-$155,000 depending on experience

This is a remote position available for candidates residing in PA, DE, MD, NJ, OH, FL, TX, and VA.

Position Details:

The Director of Compensation provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the organization’s enterprise-wide compensation and total rewards programs. This role designs, implements, administers, and continuously improves compensation structures, policies, and practices to support organizational strategy, workforce attraction and retention, fiscal sustainability, and regulatory compliance. The Director partners closely with Finance, People Operations, Organizational Development, and Operations to ensure compensation programs are equitable, competitive, data-driven, and aligned with business and labor objectives.

The Director of Compensation will:

Lead the organization’s compensation strategy, philosophy, job architecture, and governance framework in partnership with Executive HR leadership
Design, implement, and oversee all direct compensation programs (executive, exempt, non-exempt, incentive, and merit)
Serve as a subject matter expert and trusted advisor on complex compensation matters across all leadership levels
Manage and develop the Compensation team, including hiring, onboarding, performance management, and daily operations
Partner with Finance on compensation budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling, and workforce planning
Oversee compensation processes including annual review cycles, job leveling, market pricing, internal equity analyses, and incentive programs
Ensure compliance, manage vendor relationships, and lead compensation analytics, reporting, audits, and HR systems alignment

Benefits

Merakey offers generous benefits that promote well-being, financial security, and work-life balance, including:

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus access to healthcare advocacy support.
Retirement plan — both pre-tax and Roth (after-tax) options available for employee contributions.
DailyPay — access your pay when you need it!
On the Goga well-being platform, featuring self-care tools and resources.
Access Care.com for backup childcare, elder care, and household services.
Confidential counseling, legal, and financial services through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Tuition reimbursement and educational partnerships.
Employee discounts and savings programs on entertainment, travel, and lifestyle.
Access to Pryor Online Learning for free online personal development classes.

Learn more about our full benefits package – https://www.merakey.org/careers/benefits

About Merakey

Merakey is a non-profit provider of developmental, behavioral health, and education services. More than 8,000 employees provide support to nearly 40,000 individuals and families throughout 12 states across the country each year. Click here to watch a video about Merakey. Merakey strictly follows a zero-tolerance policy for abuse.

Merakey is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer! We deeply value diversity and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, ethnic background, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, or disability status. Moreover, we are committed to creating teams that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and encourage applicants from underrepresented backgrounds to apply. Merakey welcomes all Veterans to apply!

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Finance or related field required
10+ years compensation work experience required
5+ years leadership/managerial work experience required

The ideal candidate will possess:

SHRM or CCP certification
Work experience in a healthcare, behavioral health, and/or nonprofit setting
Experience with collective bargaining agreements and aligning compensation strategies for union and non-union employees
Multi-state and/or global compensation experience
Advanced job architecture, compensation design and market pricing expertise
Strong financial modeling and analytical skills
Proficiency in Excel and compensation modeling tools
Experience with Workday HCM platform
Strong leadership, collaboration, and influencing skills

Apply now >