Senior Director, Total Rewards

Company Description

Etsy is the global marketplace for unique and creative goods. We build, power, and evolve the tools and technologies that connect millions of entrepreneurs with millions of buyers around the world. As an Etsy employee, you will tackle unique, meaningful, and large-scale problems alongside passionate coworkers, all the while making a rewarding impact and Keeping Commerce Human.

Company Description

Etsy is the global marketplace for unique and creative goods. We build, power, and evolve the tools and technologies that connect millions of entrepreneurs with millions of buyers around the world. As an Etsy employee, you will tackle unique, meaningful, and large-scale problems alongside passionate coworkers, all the while making a rewarding impact and Keeping Commerce Human. We believe exceptional companies are built by exceptional teams, and we're intentional about it. That means hiring great people, setting them up for success from day one, and giving them real reasons to grow their careers here. We invest in development that goes beyond promotions, and we foster the trust and relationships that help people do their best work together.

What's the role?

We're looking for a Senior Director of Total Rewards to set the strategy, lead the team, and own outcomes for how Etsy rewards its people.

You’ll lead a team that includes a Director of Compensation and a Senior Manager of Benefits who run their functions wholly. Your job is to set a clear Total Rewards philosophy, make sure comp and benefits work together as a unified strategy, and be the voice of Total Rewards to senior leadership and the board.

This role requires a genuine understanding of how Etsy’s business works. Not as background context - as the starting point for every decision. You need to understand our marketplace model, our talent market, and what it actually takes to attract and retain the people who work here. From there, you’ll build Total Rewards programs that reflect that reality, not programs imported from a playbook. We work in plain language, move fast, and hold ourselves to outcomes, not activity.

You’re coming in at a moment when both functions are being brought closer together to create one system. What’s needed is senior judgment to drive it to completion, and a clear point of view on where Etsy’s Total Rewards strategy should go over the next three to five years.

You’ll report to the Head of People & Workplace, and partner closely with Finance, Legal, and the compensation committee of the Board.

What does the day-to-day look like?

Set strategy rooted in business understanding

• Build and articulate Etsy’s Total Rewards philosophy — one that reflects how our business actually works, not generic market practice.
• Translate Etsy’s business strategy and performance philosophy into a comp and benefits approach that rewards the right behaviors and supports a high-performing culture.
• Anticipate where the market is moving (inclusive of tech best practices) and keep Etsy’s programs ahead of it.
• Make the high-stakes calls (merit matrix design, benefits architecture, equity program structure, executive comp positioning) and be accountable for their business impact.

Apply outcome-based thinking, not just rules

• Use market data, principles, and business context together to make decisions; resist the pull toward rule-following when the rule doesn’t serve the outcome.
• Treat employee equity as a real standard and design programs that hold up to that bar across the full workforce.
• Build a business case when you need to push back on constraints; know when to hold and when to adapt.

Drive continuous improvement

• Show up each day asking “what can we do better?” “What’s the next problem to solve in how we attract and retain talent?”
• Identify creative options within real constraints rather than defaulting to what’s been done before.
• Finalize the benefits strategy redesign, including key vendor decisions and a sustainable benefits portfolio.
• Complete the compensation strategy revamp aligned to Etsy’s updated performance philosophy, including merit differentiation and equity program design.

Lead through leaders

• Manage and develop a Director of Compensation and a Senior Manager of Benefits, alongside their teams.
• Set the standard for how the function operates, including with rigor, through clear communication, and prioritizing outcomes over activity.
• Partner with People Systems, People Operations, and HRBPs to ensure programs are accurately reflected in systems and smoothly administered.

Own executive and board relationships

• Lead preparation of compensation committee materials alongside external advisors; present recommendations directly to the compensation committee.
• Communicate Total Rewards strategy and changes to executives and, when needed, to the broader workforce, in plain language that people can act on.

Stay ahead on technology

• The Total Rewards space is changing fast. AI is reshaping how companies benchmark pay, identify equity gaps, model scenarios, and personalize benefits. We expect you to have a point of view on where technology adds real value, evaluate new tools with appropriate skepticism, and build a team that works smarter because of the tools they use.
• Of course, this is just a sample of the kinds of work this role will require. You should assume that your role will encompass other tasks, too, and that your job duties and responsibilities may change from time to time at Etsy’s discretion, or otherwise applicable with local law.

Required Experience

• 12+ years in total rewards, with meaningful expertise across both compensation and benefits.
• Experience leading senior practitioners - directors or senior managers who themselves run programs and teams.
• A track record of setting and executing Total Rewards strategy, not just administering programs.
• Comfort at the executive level - advising a CHRO or CFO, presenting to a board compensation committee, making recommendations that involve real tradeoffs.
• Strong financial fluency. You can build a business case, pressure-test assumptions, and hold your own in a budget conversation.
• Experience at a public company with equity program complexity (RSUs, equity plan management, SEC disclosure familiarity).

Strong Preferences

• Experience leading a function through active redesign — benefits strategy, comp philosophy overhaul, or both.
• Background in tech or a similarly dynamic, distributed workforce environment.
• Familiarity with Workday or comparable HRIS (Human Resources Information System) at a strategy level.

Compensation & Benefits

In addition to salary, you’ll be eligible for an equity package, an annual performance bonus, and our competitive benefits that support you and your family. Base salary is determined by your location, skills, and experience.

Etsy uses two geographic pay zones to reflect the labor markets where we compete for talent: one called Geo-1, covering the New York City metropolitan area, San Francisco Bay Area, and Seattle metropolitan area, and one called Geo-2, covering all other U.S. locations. Salary ranges for this role vary by zone and are listed below.

Location

We prioritize candidates based within commutable distance of Etsy’s Brooklyn Office. Depending on proximity, we ask team members to come in once or twice per week. Remote candidates outside commutable distance may be considered on a case‑by‑case basis, with the expectation of occasional travel to the office. Learn more details about our work modes and workplace safety policies here.

Salary Range

• Geo-1: 240,000.00 - 324,000.00 USD Annual
• Geo-2: 216,000.00 - 292,000.00 USD Annual

Our Promise

At Etsy, we believe that a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace furthers relevance, resilience, and longevity. We encourage people from all backgrounds, ages, abilities, and experiences to apply. Etsy is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, national origin, religion or creed, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, citizenship or immigration status, marital or familial status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. If, due to a disability, you need an accommodation during any part of the interview or hiring process, please let your recruiter know and we will work with you to meet your needs. While Etsy supports visa sponsorship, sponsorship opportunities may be limited to certain roles and skills.