
Director of Compensation
United Talent Agency
Los Angeles, CAThis is a Full Time Job
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.
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.
Salary/Benefits
$190,000 - $225,000 /year USD
commensurate with experience and skills
Benefits
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k)
• Paid time off (PTO)
Perks
• Inclusive and diverse company culture
• Competitive programs to support well-being
• Collaborative environment with room to grow
Additional Information
UTA is a premier global talent agency built for the future of media and entertainment. The agency's diversified platform and client-first approach are innovative and collaborative, positioning it to lead in an evolving market. UTA represents 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. UTA is based in Los Angeles with offices in the U.S., London, and Munich.