Director Compensation

AvalonBay Communities • Arlington, TX

1d

About The Position

AvalonBay Communities, Inc., an equity REIT, has a long-term track record of developing, redeveloping, acquiring and managing distinctive apartment homes in some of the best U.S. markets, and delivering outsized, risk-adjusted returns to shareholders. With equal parts experience and vision, we’ve established a leadership position rooted in our purpose of creating a better way to live and that is always focused on building value for the long term. Creating a better way to live is the purpose that binds AvalonBay associates. We take that purpose seriously and expect you will as well. By focusing on collaboration, innovation, and taking ownership of our choices and actions, we act in ways that focus on creating value for our customers, investors and associates. Your positive, professional, and consistent personal interactions make AvalonBay a great place to work. The Role AvalonBay Communities is seeking a Director of Compensation to lead enterprise‑wide compensation strategy and execution. This role owns the design, governance, and delivery of all compensation programs—including executive, incentive, and broad‑based pay—and serves as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and the Board. This is a hands‑on leadership role for someone who can balance strategy and rigor with practicality, compliance, and strong business partnership.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 10–15 years of progressive compensation experience, including executive, board, incentive, and broad‑based compensation
• Deep experience with Workday HRIS; familiarity with PayScale required
• Strong expertise in job architecture, salary structures, and pay governance
• Proven executive presence with the ability to influence senior leaders and Board members
• Excellent analytical, communication, and problem‑solving skills
• Experience managing senior‑level compensation professionals
• Solid knowledge of compensation‑related laws and regulations (FLSA, wage and hour, etc.)
• Comfortable working with auditors, consultants, and external vendors

Responsibilities

• Compensation Strategy & Programs Lead the design and ongoing management of salary structures, job architecture, market pricing, and pay governance Establish clear compensation frameworks that drive consistency, internal equity, and sound pay decisions across the enterprise Partner closely with senior leaders to deliver solutions within merit and budget constraints
• Annual Compensation Cycles Own end‑to-end annual compensation planning, including merit, promotion, and variable pay cycles Develop guidance, tools, and analytics to support manager decision‑making Ensure quality control and governance across merit increases and bonus payouts Provide consultative support on offers, promotions, retention actions, and internal moves
• Job Architecture & Market Pricing Oversee job families, leveling, career paths, and role governance Manage market pricing strategy, salary ranges, and survey participation Build scalable compensation frameworks for growth roles and critical skill needs
• Analytics, Reporting & Pay Equity Lead compensation analytics and dashboards covering competitiveness, pay distribution, compression, turnover risk, and offer effectiveness Partner with HR and Legal on pay equity analyses, remediation planning, and documentation Ensure data integrity across Workday and compensation tools; strengthen controls and audit readiness
• Executive & Board Compensation Support executive compensation programs, including hiring, offers, and ongoing administration Prepare Compensation Committee and Board materials Contribute to proxy disclosures and equity‑related filings; review stock ownership guidelines and compliance documentation
• Incentive Design & Administration Design and oversee incentive plans (annual, quarterly, monthly) aligned to business objectives Lead performance metric design, modeling, and scenario analysis Govern incentive calculations, approvals, and payouts with strong controls and documentation
• Governance, Compliance & Risk Ensure compensation practices comply with federal, state, and local regulations Maintain governance around pay decisions, documentation, and approvals Manage compensation vendors, consultants, and survey partners
• Team Leadership & Partnership Lead and develop a high‑performing compensation team Serve as a strategic advisor to HRBPs and business leaders—balancing service with strong governance Build trusted partnerships across HR, Legal, Finance, and Operations

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits — health, dental and vision, 401(k) with company match, paid vacation and holidays, tuition reimbursement, an employee stock purchase plan and more.
• Growth based on achievement and promotion from within.
• Associate recognition (a company-wide recognition program that celebrates associate efforts and successes in contributing to the overall success of the organization – including destination awards, ‘AvalonBay’s Very Best’ recognition program and others!).
• A 20% discount on our incredible apartment homes.
• A culture built on purpose and our core values - A Commitment to Integrity, A Spirit of Caring, and A Focus on Continuous Improvement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees