DAWN R. EDWARDS
BROOKLYN
Summary
Dynamic Senior Director of Compensation with a proven track record at CIRCANA, adept at strategic planning and optimizing compensation strategies. Expert in wage compliance and data analytics, successfully streamlined processes, enhancing accuracy and efficiency. Recognized for reducing attrition by 20% through effective executive collaboration and innovative compensation solutions.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Director of Compensation
CIRCANA
New York
01.2025 - Current
- Originally recruited to direct, assess, administer and optimize effectiveness of company's broad-based compensation and incentives to maintain competitive advantage, advance business priorities, and comply with relevant laws and regulations.
- Assumed additional responsibility for incentive planning system vendor management and FLSA compliance.
- Lead, mentor, and develop compensation analyst.
- Provide executive compensation support in crafting offers for talent acquisitions, determining annual salary increases and bonus awards as determined by the Board of Directors.
- Prepare and present reports on compensation trends and program effectiveness to senior management.
- Manage compensation budget.
- Developed, implemented, and aligned compensation strategies with company's strategic goals and market trends.
- Established Standard Operating Procedures for compensation programs that streamlined processes and improved accuracy.
- Lead the ongoing assessment of HCM system that resulted in the development of accurate reporting of global data for employees in 20 countries.
- Supported the merger & acquisition efforts of 2 new entities totaling 2,000+ employees.
- Oversaw the elimination of FLSA compliance inconsistencies across exempt and non-exempt employees in the Americas.
- Lead third-party vendor in ensuring the accuracy processing of annual incentives and salary actions in the planning system.
Director, Compensation
IPG HEALTH
New York
01.2024 - 01.2025
- Recruited to provide subject matter expertise on all global compensation matters in support of 10,000 employees with direct responsibility for 3,500 employees in North and Latin America, encompassing job evaluation, annual incentive planning, market pricing/survey participation, job architecture, salary range development, and wage compliance.
- Administered executive compensation programs and equity-based incentives in collaboration with executive leadership and corporate leaders.
- Evaluated effectiveness of compensation programs for Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Portugal, Spain, and United Kingdom.
- Played significant role in the transition from HCM to Workday.
- Led the annual incentive planning strategy for managers and executives in partnership with finance.
- Designed and delivered training to leaders, employees, managers, talent acquisition, and HR business partners on changing compensation landscape.
- Established tools and resources to empower HR business partners and talent acquisition in formulating compensation decisions aligned with corporate compensation strategy.
- Consulted with and provided expertise to key stakeholders on handling exceptions, applying policy, identifying alternative solutions, and diagnosing challenges.
Senior Manager, Compensation & Benefits (Contract Position)
BULGARI INCORPORATED
New York
01.2023 - 01.2024
- Retained for interim role as the sole compensation leader providing broad-based support to 500 employees based throughout North and South America.
- Liaised with Louis Vuitton parent company in administering merit increases, short-term incentives, and commission awards.
- Established and monitored merit and bonus budgets.
- Collaborated with Finance to ensure budget adherence for compensation cycles.
- Managed payroll manager and benefits specialist.
- Managed the processing of annual incentive and bonus plans for eligible populations in partnership with finance team, Chief Financial Officer, and Assistant Vice President of Total Rewards.
- Led the calculation and processing of commissions for field sales in collaboration with finance team and sales management.
- Worked with payroll specialist in resolving compensation discrepancies on multiple systems for new employees globally.
- Conducted market analyses to strengthen competitive positioning.
- Engaged senior leadership and key stakeholders in identifying opportunities to streamline and automate processes.
Senior Manager, Compensation
VERIZON MEDIA NETWORKS / YAHOO
New York
01.2019 - 01.2023
- Recruited as the first compensation resource in New York to provide dedicated support to 2,000 employees across corporate functions, and the Consumer Group Division in multiple US states, Canada, Brazil, and the UK.
- Retained following acquisition by Apollo to align compensation strategies and programs with business goals of recruiting, recognizing, promoting, and retaining talent.
- Lead annual review cycles, employee recognition initiative, and technology progression program.
- Managed a senior compensation analyst and compensation analyst, and served as strategic partner to executives in developing solutions to complex issues.
- Introduced compensation methodologies and built trusted relationships and transparency with senior leaders that contributed to reducing attrition by 20%.
- Collaborated with human resources leadership and legal in supporting the contract mediation efforts for 600 union employees.
- Developed the governance structure for recognition awards that mitigated financial risk.
- Served as a key leader in implementing new Human Capital Management System following acquisition.
Senior Compensation Consultant - A&E Networks, Sesame Workshop, Madison Square Garden
INDEPENDENT CONSULTING SERVICES
New York
01.2017 - 01.2019
- Provided the expertise to senior vice presidents and vice presidents in analyzing, developing, and aligning compensation for up to 3,000 employees with market and regulatory requirements.
- Supported human resources in administering compensation programs for domestic and international populations.
- Partnered with senior management in resolving compensation matters.
- Held critical role in building structures and processes for A&E Networks that improved responsiveness to attrition.
- Conducted a company-wide compensation salary structure assessment for Sesame Workshop to improve recruitment and retainment of talent.
- Partnered with Madison Square Garden's finance and compensation leaders to prepare and communicate potential sales plan earnings to 300 employees.
Senior Manager, Compensation - MTV Networks
VIACOM / VIACOM MEDIA NETWORKS
New York
01.2006 - 01.2017
- Advanced to manage and optimize effectiveness of compensation programs to meet the needs of 8 Divisions in the United States, Brazil, and Europe.
- Collaborated with human resources, finance, executive, and business teams to manage annual merit, bonus, and long-term incentives processes for 3,500 contractual and at-will employees.
- Conducted financial modeling and benchmarking analyses to determine annual employee merit, bonus, and promotion budgets.
- Led high-profile succession planning initiative for senior executive roles.
- Conducted market analyses using entertainment-specific data sources to benchmark compensation against peer studios, networks, and production companies.
- Developed and executed the strategy to convert 1,000 freelance and project-based employees to staff.
Manager, Compensation - MTV Networks
VIACOM / VIACOM MEDIA NETWORKS
New York
01.2003 - 01.2006
- Promoted to develop, analyze, plan, implement, administer, govern, and adjust compensation programs to attract, retain, and motivate 2,500 employees geographically dispersed throughout the US, Brazil, and Europe.
- Partnered with human resources generalists to provide analytical support, direction, and guidance to senior management of domestically and internationally-based client groups.
- Served on leadership committee for enterprise initiative to ensure compliance with new Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) wage and labor laws.
- Developed the Advertising sales commission educational tools that educated the human resources community on the fundamentals of commission plans.
Compensation Analyst - Viacom Corporate
VIACOM / VIACOM MEDIA NETWORKS
New York
01.1998 - 01.2003
- Contributed to analyzing, designing, and administering compensation programs for 300 employees across multiple corporate functions.
- Conducted market analyses to maximize the equity and competitiveness of compensation packages, and support the recruitment and retainment of critical talent.
Compensation Assistant - Viacom Corporate
VIACOM / VIACOM MEDIA NETWORKS
New York
01.1997 - 01.1998
- Facilitated preparation of presentations for executive briefings and reports.
- Tracked project deadlines and deliverables to support efficient management.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to enhance workflow processes.
- Coordinated scheduling of meetings across multiple departments to optimize collaboration.
- Entered data accurately into databases, ensuring operational efficiency.
- Organized meetings, appointments, and travel arrangements for staff members.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Clothing & Textiles
STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
Oneonta, NYAssociate of Applied Science - Advertising & Communications
FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
New York, NYSkills
- Strategic planning and leadership
- Compensation strategy and salary planning
- Market pricing and research
- Performance management
- Succession planning
- Trend analysis
- Team leadership
- Process optimization and automation
- Executive collaboration
- Cross-functional partnerships
- Wage compliance and FLSA compliance
- Data analysis and analytics
- Vendor management
- Project management
Affiliations
- New York Compensation Association
- Society for Human Resources Management
- World at Work
Websites
Accomplishments
2020 Verizon Purpose Coin Award - 2020 Verizon Media Builder Culture Award
Timeline
Senior Director of Compensation
CIRCANA
01.2025 - Current
Director, Compensation
IPG HEALTH
01.2024 - 01.2025
Senior Manager, Compensation & Benefits (Contract Position)
BULGARI INCORPORATED
01.2023 - 01.2024
Senior Manager, Compensation
VERIZON MEDIA NETWORKS / YAHOO
01.2019 - 01.2023
Senior Compensation Consultant - A&E Networks, Sesame Workshop, Madison Square Garden
INDEPENDENT CONSULTING SERVICES
01.2017 - 01.2019
Senior Manager, Compensation - MTV Networks
VIACOM / VIACOM MEDIA NETWORKS
01.2006 - 01.2017
Manager, Compensation - MTV Networks
VIACOM / VIACOM MEDIA NETWORKS
01.2003 - 01.2006
Compensation Analyst - Viacom Corporate
VIACOM / VIACOM MEDIA NETWORKS
01.1998 - 01.2003
Compensation Assistant - Viacom Corporate
VIACOM / VIACOM MEDIA NETWORKS
01.1997 - 01.1998
Bachelor of Science - Clothing & Textiles
STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
Associate of Applied Science - Advertising & Communications
FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY