Director, Compensation

Leads the strategy, design, governance, and execution of enterprise-wide compensation programs in a highly matrixed, complex organization. This role is responsible for end-to-end compensation operations, including annual pay planning, incentive programs, job architecture, market benchmarking, and compensation systems administration with a strong emphasis on Workday optimization and operational excellence. The Director, Compensation serves as a strategic advisor to HR and business leadership, ensuring compensation programs support business growth, talent strategy, compliance requirements, and organizational effectiveness across a large-scale enterprise environment. ResponsibilitiesGlobal Compensation StrategyLead the development and execution of enterprise compensation strategies aligned with business objectives, workforce planning, and talent priorities Direct all compensation operations and core programs, including annual merit planning, promotions, bonus administration, market pricing, salary structures, off-cycle compensation actions, M&A due-diligence and harmonization Oversee enterprise-wide compensation governance to ensure consistency, scalability, competitiveness, and compliance across business units and functions Serve as the organization’s subject matter expert on compensation programs, including short-term incentive plans, recognition programs, and specialized compensation structures Partner with executive leadership and HR stakeholders to support compensation decision-making for key talent, critical roles, and organizational changes Support executive compensation processes and collaborate with senior leadership on compensation committee materials, analyses, and reporting as needed Job Architecture & Organizational EffectivenessLead the design, implementation, and ongoing evolution of the company’s job architecture, leveling framework, and career progression models Ensure alignment between compensation structures, job families, career paths, and workforce planning initiatives Drive consistency and governance across job evaluations, leveling decisions, and organizational design changes in a highly matrixed environment Partner with Talent Acquisition, HR Business Partners, Total Rewards Partners and Enablement and business leaders to support competitive and equitable hiring and internal mobility practices Compensation Operations & SystemsOwn compensation systems strategy and administration with deep operational expertise in Workday compensation modules and related HR technologies Lead system configuration, process optimization, testing, reporting, and enhancements related to compensation programs and annual pay cycles Partner with HRIS, Finance, Payroll, and HR System teams to ensure data integrity, process efficiency, and scalable compensation operations Develop and maintain dashboards, analytics, and reporting capabilities to support business insights and compensation governance Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local pay regulations, pay transparency requirements, and audit standards Market Intelligence & AnalyticsAnalyze market trends, industry benchmarks, and competitive pay practices to provide strategic recommendations to leadership Conduct complex compensation analyses to support workforce planning, retention strategies, pay equity initiatives, and business transformation efforts Translate data and insights into clear, actionable recommendations for senior leaders and cross-functional stakeholders Lead compensation-related due diligence and integration support for mergers, acquisitions, and organizational restructuring initiatives Leadership & Cross-Functional PartnershipBuild strong partnerships across HR, Finance, Legal, Talent Acquisition, and business leadership teams to drive effective compensation outcomes Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing compensation team, fostering operational excellence, strategic thinking, and strong internal client support Influence and drive alignment across diverse stakeholder groups within a highly collaborative and matrixed enterprise environment Develop communication strategies and materials that help employees and leaders understand compensation programs and pay decisions QualificationsRequired ExperienceBachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or related field; advanced degree preferred combined with 12+ years of related experience.Extensive progressive compensation experience, including leadership responsibility within large, complex, highly matrixed organizations Deep expertise in compensation operations, annual pay planning, job architecture, salary administration, and incentive programs Strong experience leading compensation programs in enterprise environments with complex organizational structures and multiple business units Hands-on experience administering and optimizing compensation processes within Workday Demonstrated success leading compensation transformations, process improvements, and scalable program implementations Experience supporting executive compensation processes and senior leadership decision-making Knowledge, Skills & AbilitiesStrong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with the ability to synthesize large data sets into strategic recommendations Deep understanding of compensation regulations, market practices, and pay equity principles Exceptional communication and presentation skills with the ability to influence senior leaders and cross-functional stakeholders Proven ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, dynamic environments while managing competing priorities Strong business acumen and ability to align compensation strategy with organizational objectives Demonstrated leadership experience managing and developing high-performing teams Advanced proficiency in compensation analytics, reporting tools (Microsoft Excel and Power BI) Preferred QualificationsCertified Compensation Professional (CCP) designation Experience within government contracting, defense, aerospace, engineering, or similarly complex regulated industries Experience supporting geographically dispersed and hybrid workforces Familiarity with compensation practices related to cleared talent populations and technical labor markets If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.Original Posting:July 23, 2026For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.Pay Range:Pay Range $139,100.00 - $251,450.00The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.SummaryLocation: Reston, VAType: Full time