Vice President, Compensation

Company introduction:

Compass Pathways plc (Nasdaq: CMPS) is a biotechnology company dedicated to unlocking urgently needed new treatment options in mental health care. 

The Company is headquartered in London, UK, with a U.S. office in New Jersey. We believe mental health patients deserve the possibility of a better future. Our initial focus is developing COMP360 psilocybin, a proprietary, investigational, synthetic psilocybin treatment under evaluation for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). COMP360 is a potentially first-in-class treatment and has Breakthrough Therapy designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as well as Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway (ILAP) designation in the UK for TRD. 

We are leading the world’s largest classic psychedelic clinical program in TRD, and building upon that robust foundation, we are executing a late-stage trial evaluating COMP360 for PTSD, another condition with high unmet need. Our goal is to advance treatments that move the field of psychiatry towards treatment options that offer rapid onset and sustained durability with infrequent dosing. - Compass Pathways

Job overview:  

The Vice President, Compensation is a strategic leadership role responsible for developing and executing the company’s compensation strategy, with primary responsibility for executive compensation and oversight of the company’s broader compensation philosophy, structures and programs.

Reporting to the Chief People Officer, this role will design and govern competitive, equitable and performance-driven compensation programs that attract, retain and motivate exceptional talent while supporting the company’s business strategy and long-term growth.

The VP, Compensation will serve as a trusted adviser to the executive leadership team and Board of Directors, partnering closely with the Compensation Committee, Legal, Finance and external advisers. The role will shape executive pay philosophy, incentive and equity programs, compensation governance and disclosure, balancing talent priorities, market competitiveness, financial considerations and shareholder interests.

Location: Remote, US.

Reports to: Chief People Officer.

Roles and responsibilities

(Include but are not limited to):

• Develop and lead the company’s executive compensation strategy, including base salary, annual and long-term incentives, equity awards and retention arrangements, ensuring alignment with business objectives, shareholder interests and long-term value creation
• Advise the Chief People Officer, CEO and executive leadership team on executive pay, incentive design, compensation governance and emerging market practices
• Partner with the Chief People Officer, CEO, Legal and external advisers to prepare recommendations and materials for the Board of Directors and Compensation Committee
• Oversee executive compensation benchmarking, annual reviews, pay recommendations and incentive outcomes
• Lead the company’s equity compensation strategy, including stock option and RSU awards, equity dilution and share usage
• Oversee executive compensation disclosures and proxy statement preparation in partnership with Legal and external advisers
• Establish and evolve the company’s broader compensation philosophy, salary structures, job architecture and market-benchmarking frameworks
• Oversee annual compensation planning, including merit increases, promotions, market adjustments and pay equity assessments
• Partner with Finance on compensation budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling and the financial impact of compensation programs
• Monitor market, regulatory, governance and investor developments, ensuring compensation programs remain compliant, competitive and aligned with shareholder expectations
• Provide clear, data-driven compensation insights and recommendations to senior leaders, using market data, analytics and industry trends 

Candidate Profile:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance, Economics or a related discipline required; MBA or relevant master’s degree preferred
• Significant progressive compensation experience, with substantial expertise in executive compensation strategy, program design and governance
• Demonstrated experience advising CEOs, executive leadership teams, Boards of Directors and Compensation Committees on executive pay strategy, reviews and governance
• Proven expertise in equity compensation, including stock options, RSUs and performance-based long-term incentive programs
• Strong experience in executive benchmarking, annual incentive design, compensation modeling and pay governance
• Experience supporting a US commercial-stage organization, ideally within biotechnology, pharmaceuticals or the broader life sciences industry, strongly preferred
• Experience within a publicly traded company highly desirable, including knowledge of SEC reporting, proxy statement requirements and executive compensation disclosure
• Deep understanding of compensation market practices, regulatory requirements, tax considerations and compensation accounting principles
• Advanced analytical and financial modeling skills, with the ability to assess incentive outcomes, equity implications and pay positioning
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex compensation matters into clear recommendations for senior leaders and Board members
• Strong influencing, negotiation and stakeholder-management capabilities, with the credibility to operate effectively at executive and Board level
• Strategic, commercially minded and solutions-oriented, with the ability to balance talent priorities, financial considerations and shareholder interests
• Demonstrates discretion, sound judgment and integrity when handling highly confidential and sensitive compensation matters

Compensation Description (annually):

Our compensation package for permanent hires includes base salary, discretionary bonus, and equity, alongside our comprehensive benefits offering.

Please note that the base salary range is a guideline, and individual total compensation will vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies, and work location.

Base salary per annum:

$300,000—$365,000 USD

Benefits:

For an overview of our benefits package and compensation information, please visit  "Joins us - Our Benefits ".

These include flexibility & generous time off, parental & reproductive support, health & medical, mental health & wellbeing and Financial health.

Equal opportunities: 

Reasonable accommodation

We are committed to building a workplace where everyone’s wellbeing matters. If you need reasonable accommodation during the interview process to be at your best, please let our recruiting team know. 

UK applicants

We are proud of our commitment to diversity and equality (pursuant to the Equality Act 2010). We do not discriminate based upon race, religion or belief, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, gender, pregnancy or maternity, marital or civil partner status, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, age or disability.

US applicants

Compass Pathways is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, military service, genetic information, familial or marital status, or any other status, category, or characteristic protected by applicable law.

Sponsorship:

Unfortunately, we cannot sponsor employment visas and can only accept applications if you have employment rights in the country to which you are applying.

Data Privacy:

All data is confidential and protected by all legal and data privacy requirements, please see our recruitment Privacy Notice to learn more about how we process personal data.