Director, Compensation

The RealReal•Headquarters, TX

1d•$195,000 - $235,000

About The Position

We are seeking a hands-on, strategic, and analytically driven Director of Compensation to lead the design and execution of enterprise-wide compensation strategy. This includes developing and driving all aspects of Compensation, equity-based programs, variable pay, bonuses, and ensuring that our functional programs support our diverse enterprise workforce. In this critical leadership role, you will own the end-to-end strategy for compensation across base pay, equity, variable pay, bonuses, and performance-based incentive structures—ensuring alignment with business priorities, market competitiveness, and scalable growth. A core focus will be building differentiated reward frameworks that directly drive performance and improve retention across Tech, Sales, Retail, and Operations. You will partner closely with HR, Finance, Sales, Retail, Operations, Tech and Executive Leadership to architect compensation and rewards strategies that translate business objectives into measurable behaviors and outcomes. This includes developing innovative incentive models that motivate high performance, strengthen frontline engagement, and support a diverse, enterprise-scale workforce. The ideal candidate brings deep experience building and scaling compensation programs in complex organizations, with a track record of modernizing reward structures to improve performance and retention. Experience with executive compensation design and administration is highly desirable, along with exposure to public company environments and governance frameworks. You are equally comfortable operating strategically at the executive level and executing in a highly hands-on capacity. Familiarity with leveraging AI-enabled tools to enhance compensation analytics, modeling, and operational efficiency is strongly preferred. You bring strong leadership, executive communication skills, and project management discipline, and thrive in a fast-paced environment where compensation strategy is a key driver of business success.

Requirements

7+ years of progressive compensation experience with increasing scope and responsibility, including leadership of enterprise compensation strategy and execution.
Proven track record of designing, implementing, and scaling impactful compensation, incentive, and retention programs in high-growth environments, with a strong focus on sales operations and retail organizations.
Deep expertise in sales compensation design, including incentive plan architecture, and performance-based reward structures strongly preferred.
Experience in executive compensation design and administration strongly preferred.
Experience in public company environments, including exposure to compensation committee processes, governance frameworks, and regulatory considerations strongly preferred.
Experience in high-growth environments, including B2C, retail, or sales-led B2B organizations, with demonstrated ability to scale compensation programs in fast-paced, evolving business models preferred.
Strong project management skills with the ability to lead multiple complex, cross-functional workstreams simultaneously.
Strong analytical skills with expertise in data modeling, forecasting, and compensation metrics to drive insights and decision-making.
Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, with a demonstrated ability to influence and align cross-functional partners and executive leadership.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while managing multiple competing priorities with strong organizational discipline.
Comfortable operating in ambiguity, with the ability to adapt quickly to changing business needs and priorities.
Highly motivated self-starter with a strong sense of urgency and ability to deliver high-quality work under pressure.
Strong ability to develop and mentor talent
Ability to travel up to 10%.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Business, Finance, Economics, or a related field.
Deep experience in sales compensation design, including incentive plan architecture, quota setting, and performance-based reward structures strongly preferred.
Experience in executive compensation design and administration strongly preferred.
Experience in public company environments, including exposure to governance, compensation committee processes, and regulatory considerations, strongly preferred.
Experience in high-growth environments, including B2C, retail, or sales-led B2B organizations, with exposure to scaling compensation programs in fast-moving, evolving business models preferred.

Responsibilities

Evaluate current-state compensation programs, structures, in light of a fast-moving environment and evolving macro-environment. Assess and prepare for future-state needs and recommend data-driven enhancements enterprise wide.
In partnership with the VP, Total Rewards, own and evolve our compensation strategy in alignment with business priorities.
Innovate and introduce AI tools and process approaches into our compensation department that enable greater productively and/or better outcomes.
Lead compensation market analyses across the organization to ensure competitive market pricing and internal equity, informing compensation and benefits decisions.
Partner with Talent Acquisition to benchmark roles and design competitive total rewards packages.
Lead the annual rewards cycle, including merit and promotion reviews, in close partnership with FP&A on budget modeling.
Serve as a subject matter expert and consultant to business leaders on the company's total rewards philosophy.