Director, Global Compensation

📋 Description

• • As the Director, Global Compensation at Coursera, you will be instrumental in shaping and executing the company's global compensation strategy, ensuring it aligns with our mission to provide universal access to world-class learning and supports our continued growth as a leading online education platform. This pivotal role within the People team is responsible for the end-to-end design, implementation, and governance of all compensation programs across the Americas, EMEA, and APAC, playing a key leadership position in the broader People Operations organization. You will translate strategic objectives into scalable, equitable, and competitive compensation practices that attract, retain, and motivate top talent worldwide, directly contributing to Coursera's ability to scale its operations and impact.
• • Your day-to-day responsibilities will encompass a wide range of critical functions. You will partner closely with the VP, Global Total Rewards & Operations to co-develop and refine Coursera’s global compensation strategy, guiding principles, and governance model, providing essential thought leadership on market trends, competitive practices, and emerging compensation needs as the business evolves. A significant part of your role will involve leading the compensation team in implementing and optimizing global compensation programs, including salary structures, variable pay, equity guidelines, and job architecture. You will own the design, administration, and continuous improvement of all compensation programs and processes, such as annual compensation reviews, market benchmarking, leveling/slotting, and pay decision frameworks. Furthermore, you will establish and maintain global compensation policies, governance protocols, and documentation to ensure consistency, fairness, and compliance, working in tandem with Legal and regional HR partners to ensure practices align with global regulatory requirements. You will also lead global benchmarking efforts to maintain competitive and equitable pay structures across diverse geographies and job families, building robust compensation analytics, dashboards, and financial models to support informed decision-making for HR, Finance, and business leaders. A crucial aspect of your work will involve monitoring internal pay equity and providing actionable insights and recommendations to leadership to foster an equitable compensation environment. You will also advise Talent Acquisition on competitive offers and evolving market conditions, ensuring our recruitment efforts are supported by sound compensation strategies.
• • You will be joining Coursera's dynamic People team, a group dedicated to building high-performing global teams, retaining exceptional talent, and developing programs that foster community, growth, and an outstanding employee experience. As Coursera continues its rapid scaling as a mission-driven, global organization, the People team is actively strengthening its operating model, systems, and programs to support sustainable growth. This role offers the opportunity to work within a globally distributed team, embracing flexible work arrangements whether from home, a Coursera hub, or a co-working space. Our virtual hiring and onboarding processes are designed to make joining Coursera seamless, allowing you to start making an impact from anywhere. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional partners including Finance, Talent Acquisition, People Partners, and senior business leaders, ensuring that compensation programs effectively support Coursera’s overarching goals and scale efficiently with the company's expansion.
• • In this role, you will have the opportunity to significantly influence the future of compensation at a globally recognized leader in online education. You will gain invaluable experience in developing and executing a comprehensive global compensation strategy for a rapidly growing, public benefit corporation. You can expect to deepen your expertise in executive compensation, working closely with senior leadership and preparing materials for the Compensation Committee. This position offers substantial opportunities for professional development through leading and mentoring a growing compensation team, fostering a culture of analytical rigor, operational excellence, and innovation. You will build team capacity and capabilities as Coursera scales globally, providing coaching and guidance to ensure consistent quality and strategic alignment. By driving impactful compensation initiatives, you will directly contribute to Coursera's mission and expand your career horizons in a dynamic and rewarding environment.
• • The Director, Global Compensation will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of Coursera's compensation programs, ensuring they are competitive, equitable, and aligned with business objectives. This includes leading the annual compensation review process, managing market benchmarking studies, developing and maintaining job architecture and pay structures, and establishing clear pay decision frameworks. A key focus will be on ensuring compliance with global regulations and fostering internal pay equity through rigorous analysis and proactive recommendations. The role demands strong collaboration with various departments, including Finance for budgeting and modeling, Talent Acquisition for offer strategies, and People Partners for program implementation and employee support. You will also play a crucial role in preparing executive compensation materials for senior leadership and the Compensation Committee, requiring a high degree of accuracy, strategic insight, and persuasive communication. The leadership aspect of this role involves managing and developing a team of compensation professionals, nurturing their growth and ensuring the team's capacity to support Coursera's global expansion. This includes building a strong team culture focused on data-driven insights, operational efficiency, and continuous improvement in compensation practices. Ultimately, this position is about driving strategic compensation initiatives that support Coursera's mission and its commitment to its employees, ensuring that compensation remains a key lever for attracting and retaining the talent needed to achieve its ambitious goals.