Director, Global Compensation
$205k - $241k USD
About Coursera
Coursera was launched in 2012 by Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller with a mission to provide universal access to world-class learning. Today, it is one of the largest online learning platforms in the world, with 197 million registered learners as of December 31, 2025.
Coursera partners with over 375 leading university and industry partners to offer a broad catalog of content and credentials, including courses, Specializations, Professional Certificates, and degrees. Coursera’s platform innovations — including generative AI-powered features like Coach, Role Play, and Course Builder, and role-based solutions like Skills Tracks — enable instructors, partners, and companies to deliver scalable, personalized, and verified learning.
Institutions worldwide rely on Coursera to upskill and reskill their employees, students, and citizens in high-demand fields such as GenAI, data science, technology, and business, while learners globally turn to Coursera to master the skills they need to advance their careers. Coursera is a Delaware public benefit corporation and a B Corp
Why Join Us
At Coursera, we’re looking for inventors, innovators, and lifelong learners ready to shape the future of education. You’ll help build global programs and tools that power online learning for millions turning bold ideas into real impact. People who thrive here are customer-first builders who move fast, simplify ruthlessly, and iterate relentlessly on the metrics that matter.
We’re a globally distributed team and let you choose the best way you work, whether it's from home, a Coursera hub, or a co-working space near you. Our virtual hiring and onboarding make it easy to join us and start making an impact from anywhere. If you’re ready to make a global impact, scale unique products exclusive to Coursera, and expand your career horizons, apply below.
Job Overview
The People team at Coursera is responsible for building high-performing global teams, retaining exceptional talent, and developing programs that foster community, growth, and an outstanding employee experience. As Coursera continues to scale as a mission-driven, global organization, the People team is strengthening our operating model, systems, and programs to support sustainable growth.
As the Director, Global Compensation, you will lead the end-to-end design, execution, and governance of Coursera’s global compensation programs across the Americas, EMEA, and APAC. Reporting to the VP, Global Total Rewards & Operations, you will partner closely to shape and operationalize Coursera’s global compensation strategy. You will translate strategic direction into scalable programs, strong governance, and consistent practices that ensure fairness, competitiveness, and alignment with Coursera’s workforce and business needs.
This role leads a growing compensation team and plays a key leadership position within the broader People Operations organization. You will oversee global compensation cycles, benchmarking, job architecture, pay structures, decision frameworks, compliance, and analytics. You will work cross-functionally with Finance, Talent Acquisition, People Partners, and senior business leaders to ensure that compensation programs support Coursera’s goals and scale effectively.
Responsibilities
Compensation Strategy & Leadership
- Partner with the VP, Global Total Rewards & Operations to co-develop and refine Coursera’s global compensation strategy, guiding principles, and governance model
- Lead the compensation team in implementing and optimizing global compensation programs, including salary structures, variable pay, equity guidelines, and job architecture
- Provide thought leadership and recommendations on market trends, competitive practices, and emerging compensation needs as the business evolves
- Partner with the VP, Global Total Rewards & Operations on executive compensation programs, including benchmarking, modeling, and preparing materials for senior leadership and the Compensation Committee
Program Design, Execution & Governance
- Own the design, administration, and continuous improvement of all compensation programs and processes, including annual compensation reviews, market benchmarking, leveling/slotting, and pay decision frameworks
- Establish and maintain global compensation policies, governance protocols, and documentation to ensure consistency, fairness, and compliance
- Partner with Legal and regional HR partners to ensure practices align with global regulatory requirements
Market Competitiveness & Analytics
- Lead global benchmarking to maintain competitive and equitable pay structures across geographies and job families
- Build compensation analytics, dashboards, and financial models to support decision-making for HR, Finance, and business leaders
- Monitor internal pay equity and provide insights and recommendations to leadership to support an equitable compensation environment
Cross-Functional Partnership
- Collaborate closely with People Partners, Talent Acquisition, Finance, Legal, and Revenue to align compensation programs with business needs
- Support preparation of materials, analysis, and recommendations for senior leadership and the Compensation Committee
- Advise Talent Acquisition on competitive offers and evolving market conditions
Team Leadership
- Lead and develop a high-performing compensation team, fostering a culture of analytical rigor, operational excellence, and innovation
- Build team capacity and capabilities as Coursera scales globally
- Provide coaching, guidance, and oversight to ensure consistent quality and alignment with compensation strategy
Basic Qualifications
- Public company experience required, with 8+ years of global HR, Total Rewards, or Compensation experience in high-growth environments
- At least 5 years of progressively responsible compensation leadership experience, ideally in SaaS or technology
- Deep expertise designing, implementing, and overseeing global compensation programs
- Strong proficiency with Workday Advanced Compensation and compensation analytics tools
- Demonstrated ability to communicate complex concepts clearly and persuasively to leadership
- Experience supporting diverse global markets and employee segments
- Proven ability to influence cross-functionally and drive alignment across teams
Nice to Haves
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to engage senior executives and prepare materials for Compensation Committees
- Demonstrated leadership capability, including building and managing high-performing teams
- Exceptional analytical and modeling skills with high attention to detail
- Up-to-date understanding of compensation trends, market practices, and global regulatory requirements
- Experience partnering with Compensation Committees is a plus
Compensation
This role is available in the following US Pay Zones:
US Zone 1: $204,701 - $240,825
US Zone 2: $195,818 - $230,375
US Zone 3: $181,687 - $213,750
US Zone 4: $169,171 - $199,025
At Coursera, we offer competitive, zone-based pay aligned to your location, experience, and role level across four U.S. pay zones. Our total rewards package goes beyond salary, with comprehensive health and wellness benefits, bonus and RSU equity programs, and global perks designed to help you grow and thrive wherever you are.
US Pay Zones
US-Z1: San Francisco Bay Area
US-Z2: NYC and Seattle Metro
US-Z3: CA, WA, NY, NJ, CO, CT, DC, GA, IL, MA, MD, OR, RI, TX, VA
US-Z4: AK, AZ, DE, FL, HI, ID, IN, IA, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, NV, NH, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, UT, VT, WI
Keep Learning
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Coursera is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to building a welcoming and inclusive workplace. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to legally protected characteristics and provide reasonable accommodations upon request at accommodations@coursera.org. Learn more in our CCPA Applicant Notice and GDPR Recruitment Notice.
To protect against recruitment fraud, please note that Coursera recruiters will only communicate with candidates using official coursera.org email addresses. We do not conduct interviews or negotiate offers via personal or non-coursera.org accounts.