Director, Compensation

United Talent Agency; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 190,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Well-being support programs

Inclusive and diverse company culture

Growth opportunities

Job summary

United Talent Agency (UTA) is looking for a strategic Director of Compensation to join their People team in Beverly Hills. You will lead compensation programs, manage annual compensation cycles, and collaborate closely with HR and senior leadership to drive effective pay-for-performance strategies.

The position requires over 10 years of experience in compensation, including a minimum of 5 years in a management capacity. A Bachelor’s degree and expertise in compensation design are essential. Join UTA and contribute to shaping their total rewards strategy.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of compensation experience, with 5+ years in management roles.
• Experience with HCM systems, preferably Workday.
• Strong analytical and data-driven skills required.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day compensation operations and strategy.
• Direct merit and bonus planning processes.
• Conduct market benchmarking to ensure pay competitiveness.

Skills

Analytical skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Compensation design

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR, Finance, Business or related field

Tools

Workday

CompAnalyst

Job description

Overview

UTA is seeking a strategic and experienced Director of Compensation to join our dynamic People team onsite in our Beverly Hills office. In this role, you will lead the design, implementation, and management of our global compensation programs, ensuring they are competitive, equitable, scalable and aligned with business goals. You will own the end-to-end annual compensation cycle, including merit, bonus, and other incentives programs, while partnering closely with HR, Finance, and senior leadership to drive pay-for-performance strategies.

This role also includes building frameworks for job architecture, salary structures, incentive programs, analyzing market data, and advising on pay equity and total rewards strategy. You will be a trusted advisor to senior leadership, contributing to both tactical execution and long-term compensation strategy. This position reports to the SVP of Total Rewards, People Systems & Operations and plays a critical role in shaping UTA’s total rewards philosophy and programs.

The salary range for this role is $190,000 - $225,000 commensurate with experience and skills.

What You Will Do

• Lead day-to-day compensation operations across our diverse business units, including market pricing, role leveling, career ladder development, and FLSA compliance reviews.
• Direct the annual merit and bonus planning process, including timeline development, system configuration, communications, and analysis of outcomes.
• Conduct ongoing market intelligence and industry benchmarking to ensure pay competitiveness, inform program enhancements, and maintain best-in-class compensation practices.
• Apply compensation philosophy and principles to design, implement, and maintain key compensation programs.
• Collaborate with Senior Leadership and the People Team to develop, pilot, and implement innovative compensation programs that support current and future business objectives.
• Lead or support cross-People Team initiatives and projects, ensuring alignment with broader People and business strategies.
• Partner with People Systems & Data Management teams on compensation systems development, implementation, and ongoing maintenance, driving data accuracy and usability.
• Work closely with stakeholders across People, Legal, Finance, and business leadership to continuously improve compensation processes with a focus on efficiency, quality, and scalability.
• Support the SVP of Total Rewards, People Systems & HR Operations in shaping the overall compensation function, including team development and process enhancements, ensuring alignment with company strategy and culture.

What You Will Need

• 10+ years of compensation experience, including 5+ years of direct management and leading project teams.
• Prior consulting experience is a plus.
• Strong analytical, modeling, and data-driven skills, with HCM experience (Workday preferred) and survey aggregators (CompAnalyst preferred). Experience with Workday Advanced Compensation module is also a plus.
• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Finance, Business, or related field; CCP or advanced degree preferred.
• Deep expertise in base and variable compensation, including managing large-scale merit and bonus cycles across diverse business units.
• Proven track record designing and rolling out compensation programs, job architectures, and salary structures that drive business results.
• Hands-on experience with market benchmarking, pay equity, and incentive program design, using insights to shape strategy and inform leadership decisions.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills — able to influence executives and translate complex concepts into clear, actionable guidance.
• Skilled in broad project management and process optimization, driving efficiency, scalability, and consistency across global teams.
• Business-savvy, with a solid understanding of financial implications and budget impact of compensation programs.
• Demonstrates initiative and a solution-oriented mindset

What You Will Get

• The unique and exciting opportunity to work at one of a leading global entertainment companies
• Access to the tools, leadership, and resources you will need to create and drive a center of excellence
• The opportunity to do the best work of your career
• Work in an inclusive and diverse company culture
• Competitive programs to support your well-being
• Experience working in a collaborative environment with room to grow

About UTA

UTA is a premier global talent agency built for the future of media and entertainment. The agency's diversified platform and best-in-class, client-first approach is innovative, collaborative, and positioned to lead in an evolving market. UTA represents the most celebrated artists, creatives, and brands, from icons and legends to next-generation talent. Its integrated capabilities span film and television, music, comedy, creators, sports, brands, news, publishing, speakers, theater, and more. It is based in Los Angeles with offices in the U.S., London, and Munich.

For more information: https://www.unitedtalent.com/about/

UTA and its Affiliated Companies are Equal Employment Opportunity employers and welcome all job seekers.

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