Director - Compensation
Overview:
Responsible for leading the Enterprise Broad-based Compensation function, ensuring compensation programs—including base pay, and short- and long-term incentives—support the Bank’s strategic objectives and align with its pay-for-performance philosophy. Provides enterprise-wide governance and oversight of compensation programs through the development, execution, and optimization of the Bank’s Compensation strategy. Oversee a centralized incentive team responsible for the design, administration, and ongoing management of incentive programs, ensuring consistency, compliance, and scalability across the organization. Contributes to the strategic direction of the Bank’s Total Rewards function through enterprise-focused program design, risk-aware decision-making, and partnership with senior leaders to drive performance and talent outcomes.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Lead the enterprise governance, design, and ongoing evolution of broad-based compensation programs, including variable pay, incentive plans, and non-cash reward and recognition programs. Provide centralized oversight through a dedicated incentive team to ensure consistent frameworks, competitive positioning, and scalable administration across corporate and business units, while supporting the Bank’s pay-for-performance philosophy.
- Manage the evaluation of existing programs on a regular basis to ensure they are market competitive, internally equitable, compliant, and consistent with the Bank’s goals and objectives.
- Oversee the annual compensation planning process, compensation actions that are outside of the normal planning cycle, and related executive management reporting.
- Provide counsel and recommendations to executive management regarding annual salary increase budgets, compensation guidelines, and salary structure adjustments; use internal and external data to support informed decision-making.
- Advocate for transparency; oversee the communication of compensation policies and practices to management and employees to educate while maintaining uniform understanding and application.
- Responsible for meeting regulatory compliance requirements, including but not limited to, Sarbanes-Oxley, Regulation R, and Fair Labor Standards Act. Review and complete quarterly audit documentation surveys demonstrating compliance.
- Manage and direct all annual and periodic compensation processes throughout the year, ensuring all incentive programs have the appropriate risk management and governance. Manage and direct the regulatory review of M&T Bank Corporation’s incentive compensation practices consistent with the Federal Reserve Board’s Guidance on Sound Incentive Compensation Practices and any other pertinent regulatory requirements, including ensuring that all incentive plans are appropriately risk balanced.
- Serve as primary liaison with external consultants to design and implement various Human Resources plans and programs.
- Partner with senior leadership of other Centers of Expertise (COEs) across Human Resources to ensure proper support of the Bank’s various departments; ensure close relationship with Payroll to ensure timely processing of payments, identification/resolution of misclassified entries, and sound control procedures.
- Exercise usual authority of a manager concerning budgets, staffing, performance appraisals, promotions, salary recommendations, performance management and terminations.
- Adhere to applicable compliance/operational risk controls in accordance with Company or regulatory standards and policies.
- Promote an environment that supports belonging and reflects the M&T Bank brand.
- Maintain M&T internal control standards, including timely implementation of internal and external audit points together with any issues raised by external regulators as applicable.
- Complete other related duties as assigned.
Scope of Responsibilities:
The position has overall responsibility for the Broad-based Compensation function and is accountable for the effective design and operation of all Bank salary administration and incentive programs.
Managerial/Supervisory Responsibilities:
The position oversees a staff of compensation managers and analysts.
Education and Experience Required:
- Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree plus a minimum of 13 years’ related work experience, or in lieu of a degree, a combined minimum of 17 years’ higher education and/or work experience, including a minimum of 13 years’ related work experience
- Minimum of 6 years’ managerial and/or leadership experience
- Excellent knowledge of personal computers and pertinent specialized software
- Solid knowledge of the Bank’s HR system
Education and Experience Preferred:
- Advanced degree
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to interact with all levels of personnel
- Excellent reporting skills
- Excellent analytical skills utilizing complex data