Director, Compensation

Established in 2021, Independence Pet Holdings is a corporate holding company that manages a diverse and broad portfolio of modern pet health brands and services, including insurance, pet education, lost recovery services, and more throughout North America.

We believe pet insurance is more than a financial product and build solutions to simplify the pet parenting journey and help improve the well-being of pets. As a leading authority in the pet category, we operate with a full stack of resources, capital, and services to support pet parents. Our multi-brand and omni-channel approach include our own insurance carrier, insurance brands and partner brands. 

Job Summary

We are seeking a strategic and hands-on Director, Compensation to join our Total Rewards team. This role is responsible for leading compensation strategy, programs, and operations while developing a high-performing team of compensation professionals.

The Director, Compensation serves as a trusted advisor to HR leaders, business executives, and senior leadership, providing expertise across market pricing, job architecture, executive compensation support, incentive design, compensation consulting, and enterprise compensation programs. This leader will play a key role in building and enhancing compensation frameworks, governance, processes, and tools that support the organization's continued growth and evolution.

The ideal candidate combines strong leadership capabilities, business acumen, executive presence, and deep technical compensation expertise. This individual must be comfortable operating both strategically and tactically while partnering with stakeholders across all levels of the organization.

Essential Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of compensation professionals, creating a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

• Serve as the organization's subject matter expert and strategic advisor on compensation-related matters.

• Partner with HR Business Partners, Talent Acquisition, Finance, and business leaders to provide compensation consultation and recommendations.

• Oversee market pricing, benchmarking, and competitive compensation analyses to support pay decisions and workforce planning.

• Lead enterprise job architecture initiatives, including job families, job leveling, career frameworks, and organizational design support.

• Manage compensation recommendations for new hires, promotions, transfers, retention actions, and executive-level offers.

• Direct annual compensation processes, including merit planning, salary structure reviews, bonus administration, and incentive programs.

• Support executive compensation analyses and recommendations in partnership with senior HR leadership.

• Lead pay equity analyses and compensation governance initiatives to ensure consistency, competitiveness, and compliance.

• Develop and enhance compensation policies, processes, reporting, and analytical tools.

• Support strategic projects including M&A integrations, organizational transformations, and compensation program enhancements.

• Deliver compensation insights and recommendations through presentations and executive-level communications.

• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency and scalability across compensation programs.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, Economics, or a related field.

• 10+ years of progressive compensation experience, including leadership responsibility.

• Demonstrated success leading and developing compensation teams.

• Deep expertise in compensation program design, compensation operations, market pricing, salary administration, and incentive programs.

• Experience advising senior leaders and executives on compensation-related decisions.

• Strong knowledge of job architecture, career frameworks, and job evaluation methodologies.

• Advanced proficiency with Workday Compensation.

• Advanced Excel and analytical capabilities.

• Strong executive presence with the ability to influence and build credibility across all organizational levels.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.

• Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance, or related field.

• Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) designation.

• Insurance industry experience.

• Experience with Willis Towers Watson and/or Radford compensation methodologies.

• Experience supporting complex, matrixed, or global organizations.

• Experience with mergers, acquisitions, and organizational integration initiatives.

Why Join Us

This is a unique opportunity to lead and influence compensation strategy at an enterprise level while building scalable programs that support business growth, talent attraction, retention, and organizational effectiveness. The role offers significant visibility and partnership with senior leadership while providing the opportunity to shape the future of compensation within the organization.

Location: Chicago Hybrid (2 days per week) or Remote

Compensation:
Base pay range: $180,000 – $215,000 per year.

This is the range we reasonably expect to pay at hire. Placement within the range depends on job-related factors such as experience, skills, and certifications.
This position is eligible for an annual bonus.
This position may be eligible for a sign-on bonus.

All of our jobs come with great benefits including healthcare, parental leave and opportunities for career advancements. Some offerings are dependent upon the location of where you work and can include the following:

• Comprehensive full medical, dental and vision Insurance

• Basic Life Insurance at no cost to the employee

• Company paid short-term and long-term disability

• 12 weeks of 100% paid Parental Leave

• Health Savings Account (HSA)

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

• Retirement savings plan

• Personal Paid Time Off

• Paid holidays and company-wide Wellness Day off

• Paid time off to volunteer at nonprofit organizations

• Pet friendly office environment

• Commuter Benefits

• Group Pet Insurance

• On the job training and skills development

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Interview Technology Notice:

Please note that phone and video interviews or screenings may be recorded and transcribed using interview technology to support our recruitment process.

By continuing with the interview, you consent to this use.

Text Messaging Notice:

If you provide a mobile phone number, you may receive job-related communications via text message. Message and data rates may apply.

You may opt out of text communications at any time by replying “STOP.”