Compensation and Reward Lead

Reading, Berkshire

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Compensation & Reward Lead

Location: Reading (2–3 days per week onsite)

Contract: 12 months

Rate: Competitive

The Role

We are seeking an experienced Compensation & Reward Lead to join our client's team on a 12-month contract. This is an opportunity to take ownership of compensation frameworks and operational reward delivery within a complex organisation.

Reporting to the Head of Reward, you will lead the delivery of compensation programmes, covering base pay, allowances, incentives and domestic and international mobility services. You will use market insight, benchmarking and data to ensure reward offerings remain competitive, compliant and aligned with business needs.

The role also involves managing the annual pay review process, advising senior stakeholders and providing leadership to reward professionals within the team.

Key Responsibilities

Maintain and develop compensation frameworks covering base pay, allowances and incentive schemes.
Monitor the effectiveness of reward programmes, using data and stakeholder feedback to recommend improvements.
Lead domestic and international mobility services, ensuring they meet business requirements and remain competitive.
Conduct market analysis and benchmarking to inform compensation decisions.
Manage the annual pay review process and the distribution of staff incentives.
Provide expert advice and guidance to managers on compensation-related matters.
Work closely with HR and business leaders to communicate reward programmes effectively.
Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, regulations and delegated pay authorities.
Maintain compliance with internal and external audit requirements.
Oversee employee mobility and deployment to domestic and overseas locations.
Provide leadership and direction to reward team members, including direct line management responsibility and coordination of analysts or coordinators.

About You

You will be an experienced compensation and reward professional with a strong understanding of reward frameworks and their operational delivery.

You will ideally bring:

Proven experience managing compensation and reward programmes.
Strong knowledge of base pay, allowances, incentive structures and annual pay review processes.
Experience in salary benchmarking, market analysis and data-led decision-making.
An understanding of domestic and international employee mobility.
Knowledge of relevant employment legislation, regulatory requirements and pay governance.
The ability to advise and influence senior stakeholders and managers.
Experience leading or coordinating a team.
Strong analytical, communication and stakeholder management skills.

Experience within a large, complex or regulated organisation would be advantageous.

Additional Information