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Compensation Lead

Compensation Lead

CompanySierra
LocationSan Francisco, CA, USA
Salary$200000 – $275000
TypeFull-Time
Degrees
Experience LevelSenior, Expert or higher

Requirements

  • 7+ years of experience in compensation, total rewards, or related roles, preferably in high-growth startups or fast-paced environments.
  • Strong knowledge of compensation structures, incentive design, and equity programs; experience with benchmarking tools such as Radford, Pave, or Mercer a plus.
  • Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret compensation data to drive insights and decision-making.
  • Experience partnering with executives, Finance, and HR teams to align compensation strategies with company goals.
  • Ability to distill complex compensation concepts into clear, actionable insights for stakeholders at all levels.
  • Comfortable navigating ambiguity, taking ownership, and building scalable compensation solutions in a dynamic startup environment.

Responsibilities

  • Design and implement scalable compensation structures, tailored to different teams and functions.
  • Support the development and management of commission structures, quota-based incentives, and other variable compensation plans to drive performance in Sales and GTM teams.
  • Oversee and optimize our equity compensation strategy, including stock option planning, grant administration, and employee education on equity value.
  • Conduct competitive analysis using market data to ensure compensation remains aligned with industry trends and company objectives.
  • Partner with Finance, People, and leadership teams to align compensation strategies with broader business goals, budgeting, and forecasting.
  • Work closely with leadership to educate and advise on compensation best practices, helping to drive data-driven decisions.
  • Build and refine processes, manage tools, and optimize systems for compensation reviews, salary band creation, and incentive plan effectiveness assessments.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience designing and implementing sales and GTM compensation plans.
  • Familiarity with AI, SaaS, or high-growth tech environments.
  • Knowledge of global compensation practices, particularly in the UK and EU.
  • Passion for leveraging data and technology to optimize compensation processes.