Principal Compensation Partner

Cars Commerce

Principal Compensation Partner designing executive, equity, and pay programs for Cars Commerce, an automotive technology platform. Building scalable compensation analytics, job architecture, and salary structures.

Posted 8/13/2026full-timeRemote • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $135,300 - $169,150 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

Use this summary to align your resume positioning with the role.

Demonstrates extensive experience in executive compensation program design, equity administration, and compensation analytics. Proven ability to develop and implement compensation processes, market pricing methodologies, and job architecture frameworks while providing strategic consultation to senior leadership.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Executive Compensation ExperienceEquity AdministrationCompensation Program DevelopmentFinancial Modeling SkillsCompensation Analytics Platform Design

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Compensation Program DevelopmentEquity AdministrationFinancial ModelingMarket Pricing MethodologySalary Structure DevelopmentAnalytical SkillsJob Architecture DesignPay Equity ProcessesMerit Cycle DesignBonus/Incentive Plan Design

Soft Skills

Clear CommunicationStrategic ConsultationProblem-Solving

Tools & Technologies

WorkdayRadford/AonMerrill LynchCartaPaveCompa

Industry Keywords

Compensation CommitteeExecutive Pay DisclosureGovernance ProcessCareer LaddersGeographic Differential

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Support executive compensation programs, including base salary, annual incentive, and long-term incentive design and benchmarking
Prepare analyses and materials for Compensation Committee meetings and executive offer/promotion decisions
Lead the design and ongoing refinement of merit cycles, bonus/incentive plans, promotion guidelines, and pay equity processes
Own end-to-end equity program administration, including grant modeling, vesting schedules, dilution/burn rate analysis, and reconciliation with equity management systems
Provide strategic consultation for HR partners and senior leaders
Design and build a streamlined compensation analytics platform with reusable models, dashboards, and QA processes
Help establish the company’s job architecture, including job families, levels, and career ladders, and build its governance process
Develop market pricing methodology, salary structure, and geographic differential approach
Develop comprehensive training and enablement programs
Report to the Sr. Director of Total Rewards

Requirements

What you’ll need

8+ years of progressive compensation experience, including direct exposure to executive compensation, equity administration, and compensation program development and execution
Track record of independently owning and building compensation processes
Ability to turn ambiguous requests into repeatable, well-documented programs
Strong Excel and financial modeling skills
Comfort working directly with senior leadership and potentially preparing Compensation Committee materials
Strong analytical rigor
Clear written and verbal communication
Preferred: Experience with compensation or equity systems such as Workday, Radford/Aon, Merrill Lynch, Carta, Pave, Compa, or similar
Preferred: Experience partnering with Legal and Finance on executive pay disclosure requirements such as CD&A
Preferred: Prior experience building or scaling job architecture from the ground up
Preferred: Prior experience supporting equity administration
Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States
Cars Commerce is unable to sponsor employment visas at this time

Benefits

Comp & perks

Bonus and/or equity programs, depending on level and role
Comprehensive benefits package for regular full-time positions
Medical, Dental & Vision Healthcare Plans
New Hire Stipend for Home Office Set-Up
Generous PTO
Paid Holidays
Floating Holiday
Volunteer Day
Recharge Day
Exciting training and development opportunities