Compensation Lead

About the Position

We are hiring a Compensation Lead to build Perplexity's compensation function and own its day-to-day execution. You'll build the programs and processes that support how we hire, recognize, and retain people.

Responsibilities

• Build the compensation foundation. Assess existing practices, data, and tools; prioritize the gaps; and develop recommendations on compensation philosophy, market positioning, and cash and equity guidelines.
• Develop salary ranges and market benchmarks. Establish a consistent approach to pricing roles across functions and locations. Partner with People and business leaders on job scope and leveling, and explain where market data is useful or incomplete.
• Own day-to-day compensation decisions. Be the primary partner for offers, promotions, pay adjustments, and compensation questions. Evaluate recommendations against market data, internal equity, and budget, with clear approval paths for exceptions.
• Design and run compensation reviews. Build the calendar, planning models, manager guidance, and approval process. Coordinate with Finance, People Operations, Payroll, and equity partners to carry decisions through to accurate implementation.
• Inform leadership decisions. Model the cost and employee impact of proposed changes to salary and equity programs. Present a recommendation and its trade-offs, then own execution once approved.
• Identify and address inconsistencies. Assess pay compression and potential inequities across teams, levels, and locations. Partner with People leadership and Legal on appropriate reviews and recommend actions.
• Build processes people can use. Establish decision records, recruiter and manager guidance, and clear explanations of compensation programs. Improve recurring workflows so consistent decisions don't depend on individual knowledge or one-off conversations.
• Own the data and tools behind the work. Establish reliable compensation records, select and manage benchmarking resources, and improve reporting and quality checks. Use approved automation and AI tools where they help, with appropriate protection for employee information and verification of results.

Requirements

• Experience building compensation programs: You've established or substantially rebuilt compensation frameworks and processes with limited infrastructure, and stayed accountable for running them after launch.
• Technical compensation depth: Hands-on experience with market pricing, salary ranges, cash and equity programs, compensation reviews, and individual pay recommendations.
• Strong analytical judgment: You can build and audit models, reconcile imperfect data, and explain your assumptions. You know when a benchmark is a useful comparison and when it misses the role.
• Ability to influence decisions: You can turn analysis into a clear recommendation, discuss trade-offs with leadership, and constructively challenge an approach that isn't working.
• Independent, hands-on execution: You can set priorities, build a workable process, and manage urgent requests without losing progress on longer-term work. You're comfortable being both the person designing the program and the person checking the data.
• Discretion and clear communication: You handle sensitive information carefully and explain compensation decisions in language that recruiters, managers, and employees can understand.

Compensation

• $150K – $230K • Offers Equity

We Offer

• Comprehensive benefits program including equity, health, dental, vision, retirement, fitness, commuter and dependent care accounts, and more.

About the Company

Join Perplexity and help us build and manage a compensation function that supports our mission to hire, recognize, and retain top talent.

Locations: San Francisco, California, United States | New York City, United States

Employment Type: Full-time

Work Location Type: Hybrid