Director, Compensation

Full Timejunior

United StatesPosted 5 days ago

Role Overview

Databricks is hiring a Director, Compensation. This is a full-time role in United States. posted 5 days ago. Full responsibilities, required qualifications, and the apply link are listed in the description below.

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Job description

GAQ327R302

Databricks is seeking a seasoned compensation leader to serve as a Director, Compensation, driving strategic impact across the business while leading and developing a team of client compensation partners. Reporting to the VP, Total Rewards, this role is responsible for building and delivering best-in-class compensation programs that help attract, retain, and motivate world-class talent across Databricks.

At Databricks, we don't believe compensation is just a number; it's a tool to recognize that every employee is an owner and a part of our success. We are looking for a leader who combines deep technical compensation expertise with exceptional people leadership and a passion for building scalable, equitable programs.

The impact you will have:

This is a high-impact, people leadership role that will effectively cover the below areas and the anticipated time spent on each:

Leading, coaching, and developing a team of three to four client compensation partners (25%)
Partnering with the VP Rewards and other team members to drive enterprise-wide compensation strategy, design, and program delivery (30%)
Collaboration with People team members, business leaders, and other cross-functional partners on complex, sensitive compensation matters (25%)
Operational excellence, tooling, and continuous improvement of compensation infrastructure (20%)

What we look for:

Compensation expertise

Know your craft — Deep mastery of job architecture, compensation frameworks, market pricing, year-end and midyear pay cycles, global compensation practices, and pay-for-performance design; demonstrated experience designing and scaling programs across a fast-growing, global organization
Know your data — Exceptional analytical horsepower with the ability to translate complex data into clear narratives, recommendations, and executive-ready insights; strong command of competitive trends in cash, equity, and total rewards; advanced capabilities in gSheets and Excel; proficiency in Tableau, SQL, Python, or AI-assisted analytics is a strong plus
Know the competition — Expert-level knowledge of tech compensation practices, particularly around equity strategy (new hire, refresh, and performance-based), and an ability to benchmark and evolve programs to stay ahead of the market
Be rational — Ability to hold the tension between compensation philosophy, first-principles reasoning, and pragmatic business solutioning; comfortable making and defending difficult tradeoffs in ambiguous situations

People leadership

Develop talent — Proven track record of leading, mentoring, and growing a team of compensation professionals; ability to set a clear vision, delegate with confidence, and create an environment where the team does their best work
Drive accountability — Set clear goals and expectations, create feedback loops, and hold the team to a high bar while remaining a supportive and empowering manager
Model the craft — Remain hands-on where needed; serve as a thought partner and technical escalation point for your team on complex or high-stakes compensation decisions

Operational and partnership excellence

Build innovatively & scale effectively — Architect frameworks and solutions that address today's challenges while anticipating the needs of a rapidly scaling organization; champion consistency and repeatability without sacrificing flexibility
Leverage AI and automation — Define and execute a roadmap for next-generation compensation tooling and data infrastructure; actively leverage AI to improve market pricing, decision quality, manager enablement, and workflow efficiency; champion a culture of continuous improvement through technology
Operational capability — Connect the dots across systems, stakeholders, and programs to deliver compensation products and cycles with precision and at scale; ensure data, workflows, and governance are built to support compliant, scalable execution
Savvy collaborator — Partner closely with People Business Partners, Finance, Legal, and senior business leadership to understand, anticipate, and solve complex talent and business needs; navigate competing priorities and organizational dynamics to drive the best outcomes; serve as the compensation lead on M&A diligence and integration activities
Trusted advisor — Serve as a credible, senior voice on the most sensitive and consequential compensation decisions across the company, including executive offers, critical retention situations, organizational restructuring, and cross-functional pay equity matters; bring sound judgment and data-backed recommendations every time

What you'll bring

10+ years of progressive compensation experience, with at least 3 years in a people management role leading a team of compensation professionals
Deep experience in the tech sector — preferably at a high-growth private or pre-IPO company — with a strong grasp of how compensation strategy evolves across different stages of scale
Proven ability to design and deliver enterprise-wide compensation programs (year-end cycles, midyear, equity refresh, promotions) across a global, distributed workforce
Track record of operating as a senior business partner to founders, executives, and People leadership on high-stakes, time-sensitive compensation decisions
Demonstrated experience using data and analytics to drive compensation decisions; comfort with tools like gSheets, Excel, and ideally Tableau, SQL, or Python

Pay Range Transparency

Databricks is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The pay range(s) for this role is listed below and represents the expected base salary range for non-commissionable roles or on-target earnings for commissionable roles. Actual compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to job-related skills, depth of experience, relevant certifications and training, and specific work location. Based on the factors above, Databricks anticipated utilizing the full width of the range. The total compensation package for this position may also include eligibility for annual performance bonus, equity, and the benefits listed above. For more information regarding which range your location is in visit our page here.

Zone 1 Pay Range

$218,100—$299,850 USD

Zone 2 Pay Range

$196,200—$269,850 USD

Zone 3 Pay Range

$185,400—$254,850 USD

Zone 4 Pay Range

$174,500—$239,900 USD

About Databricks

Databricks is the data and AI company. More than 10,000 organizations worldwide — including Comcast, Condé Nast, Grammarly, and over 50% of the Fortune 500 — rely on the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform to unify and democratize data, analytics and AI. Databricks is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices around the globe and was founded by the original creators of Lakehouse, Apache Spark™, Delta Lake and MLflow. To learn more, follow Databricks on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Benefits

At Databricks, we strive to provide comprehensive benefits and perks that meet the needs of all of our employees. For specific details on the benefits offered in your region click here.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

At Databricks, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture where everyone can excel. We take great care to ensure that our hiring practices are inclusive and meet equal employment opportunity standards. Individuals looking for employment at Databricks are considered without regard to age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other protected characteristics.

Compliance

If access to export-controlled technology or source code is required for performance of job duties, it is within Employer's discretion whether to apply for a U.S. government license for such positions, and Employer may decline to proceed with an applicant on this basis alone.

About Databricks

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for the Director, Compensation position at Databricks?

Use the Apply button above to submit your application directly to Databricks. Most applications take less than 5 minutes if your resume and contact details are ready, and you'll be routed to the employer's official application system to finish.

Where is the Director, Compensation position at Databricks located?

This position is based in United States. Databricks has not indicated remote or hybrid options for this role, so candidates should plan for on-site work.

What does a Director, Compensation at Databricks earn?

Databricks has not disclosed a salary range in this posting. Many employers share specifics later in the interview process; you can also ask during a recruiter screen if compensation transparency is important to you.

When was the Director, Compensation role at Databricks posted?

This role was posted on July 18, 2026 (5 days ago). It's still listed as actively hiring; we re-confirm openings against the source system multiple times per day and remove closed roles.

Is the Director, Compensation role at Databricks entry-level?

Yes. This is an entry-level position. Strong candidates typically have 0-2 years of relevant work experience, internships, or significant project work. Read the full description for any specific qualification requirements Databricks has listed.