Position Type: Full time
State: VA
City: Arlington
Zip Code: 22203

Overview

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.

What You’ll Do

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

What We’re Looking For

Experience & Education

• 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

Skills & Capabilities

• 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

How AvalonBay Supports You

Additional Info

AvalonBay is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an inclusive and diverse work environment free of discrimination and harassment.  We believe that in order to achieve our purpose of creating a better way to live, we must recruit, develop and retain associates with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives and create an environment that encourages all voices to be heard, understood and appreciated. With this we know we can do great things.

AvalonBay makes employment decisions without regard to a person’s race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation or related medical conditions), age, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including characteristics or testing), citizenship status, military or veteran status, or any other status protected by the law.

For California residents, if you elect to apply to AvalonBay you accept the AvalonBay California Personnel Privacy Notice (https://www.avaloncommunities.com/california-personnel-privacy-notice/)

Job ID JR106583