Head of Reward and Benefits

Reward & Benefit Consultant (12 Month FTC)

UK based with travel - Belfast, Bristol, Methil

Fixed Term Contract (12 months)

Reporting to: Head of Reward

Shape reward strategy where it really matters. We're looking for an experienced Reward Consultant to join our UK People team on a 9-12 month fixed term contract. This is a high impact role where you'll design and deliver reward solutions that directly support project delivery, talent attraction, and long term business performance across multiple UK sites. If you enjoy combining commercial thinking, data led insight, and stakeholder influence-and want to see your work make a tangible difference-this could be a great fit.

The Role

You'll take ownership of compensation and benefits strategy, partnering closely with HR, Finance, Talent Acquisition, and senior leaders to ensure reward frameworks are competitive, fair, compliant, and aligned with both business needs and regulatory/union environments. Your work will help ensure we attract and retain critical skills, motivate performance, and support complex, project led delivery.

What You'll Be Doing Reward Strategy & Market Insight

• Lead market pricing and job benchmarking activities
• Design salary structures, job levelling, and geographic differentials for multi site UK operations
• Develop job architecture, career paths, and competency frameworks
• Advise on pay positioning for scarce and critical skillsets
• Benchmark and review variable pay, allowances, overtime and shift premiums

Pay Governance & Operational Delivery

• Deliver annual pay review and bonus cycles end to end
• Maintain pay ranges, grades, and alignment with recognised external frameworks
• Ensure compliance with UK reward legislation (HMRC, IR35, NMW, Working Time, Gender Pay)
• Design and maintain recognition schemes aligned to performance and safety outcomes

Equity, Risk & Employee Relations

• Lead pay equity analysis and remediation planning
• Assess and advise on retention awards and scarcity allowances with clear ROI
• Support union negotiations and site specific pay frameworks

Incentives & Project Linked Rewards

• Design short term incentive plans and bonus scorecards
• Develop project based, milestone driven incentive frameworks

Benefits & Reward Communication

• Support benefits reviews and supplier management
• Create clear, engaging reward communications for leaders and employees

Analytics & Stakeholder Advisory

• Build reward dashboards (pay mix, compa ratios, range penetration, flight risk)
• Provide expert advice on offers, promotions, and retention cases

What We're Looking For Experience & Qualifications

• 5+ years' experience in Reward / Compensation & Benefits
• Background in engineering, manufacturing, energy or defence environments preferred
• Strong market pricing and job evaluation experience (e.g. WTW)
• Proven delivery of annual reward cycles and incentive design
• Solid knowledge of UK reward compliance (global exposure a bonus)
• Advanced Excel modelling skills; experience with HRIS and analytics tools
• Degree, CIPD, or Reward/C&B qualification desirable

Skills & Behaviours

• Commercial and pragmatic mindset
• Strong analytical capability with clear data storytelling
• Confident stakeholder influencer, credible with senior leaders
• Highly organised and resilient under pressure
• Trusted with confidential and sensitive data