Compensation Consultant

POLITICO is seeking an experienced Compensation Consultant to oversee and enhance our compensation strategies across our North America operations.

Based in Arlington, VA, this role will be critical in ensuring our practices align with local labor laws, market trends, and our organizational objectives, while supporting talent attraction, retention, and engagement. As a trusted advisor, the Consultant will provide strategic and operational expertise in the design, implementation, and evaluation of compensation programs, ensuring competitive positioning across the North America region.

What You'll Do:

In coordination with EU operations, design, implement, and manage compensation structures, including salary benchmarking, job grading, and pay scales to align with local market practices

Conduct regular market analyses to ensure the organization remains competitive in attracting and retaining talent

Provide expertise on annual salary reviews, merit increases, and bonus plan administration

Oversee compliance with local and regional labor regulations regarding minimum wages, pay equity, and compensation reporting requirements

Ensure compliance with US and state-specific labor laws, tax regulations, and reporting requirements related to compensation

Maintain and update compensation policies, ensuring they are consistent with best practices and organizational objectives

Serve as the primary point of contact for audits, regulatory filings, and internal reviews related to compensation

Partner with HR, Finance, and leadership teams to align compensation programs with broader business strategies

Provide guidance to managers and employees on compensation policies, practices, and issues

Deliver training and communication materials to employees regarding compensation programs

Process Optimization and Reporting

Streamline compensation processes to enhance efficiency and accuracy

Organize compensation data and enhance reporting and analytical capabilities

Leverage HRIS and other tools to maintain accurate employee data and generate insightful analytics

Prepare reports and presentations for leadership, including recommendations for program improvements

What You'll Need:

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field; a Master’s degree is preferred

Minimum of 3-5+ years of experience in compensation, with a focus on US markets

Strong knowledge of US labor laws and regulations

Experience with salary benchmarking tools (e.g., Mercer, Korn Ferry, or Radford)

Proven ability to manage multiple projects and stakeholders in a fast-paced, dynamic environment

Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with a high level of attention to detail

Strong interpersonal and communication skills

Preferred Qualifications:

Certification in Compensation and Benefits (e.g., CCP, GRP, or similar) is a strong advantage

Experience with Workday or similar HRIS platforms

Background in media, publishing, or related industries

We are driven by our values. We are relentless contributors, disruptors of the status quo, collaborators, talent cultivators and DEI stewards. Our culture is defined by grit, total integrity and a prioritization on innovation.

We value our people. Click here for more on what we offer and what it’s like to work for POLITICO.

Let’s keep in touch. You can view our list of open positions here and email us . We hope to see your application soon!