Compensation and Reward Lead

AWE; Reading; On-site; GBP 61,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

9-day working fortnight

Pension scheme (contributory)

Maternity Leave - 39 weeks full pay

Paternity Leave - 4 weeks full pay

Professional development funding

Employee Assistance Programme

Life Assurance 4x salary

Discounts on everyday spending

Special Leave Policy

Hybrid working

Job summary

AWE is recruiting for a Compensation Lead to join the business in Reading. You will lead the compensation function and deliver the pay, allowances and incentives within the reward strategy.

Reporting to the Head of Reward, you will manage up to four Reward analysts, drive benchmarking, policy communications and annual pay reviews while ensuring compliance and governance across the organisation. The role offers a 9-day working fortnight, flexible patterns, and a strong benefits package including

Qualifications

• Significant experience in compensation, reward or total reward in a complex organisation.
• Proven ability to design, implement and manage compensation programmes.
• Strong analytical, negotiation and influencing skills.

Responsibilities

• Maintaining and improving base pay, allowances and incentives frameworks.
• Benchmarking and market analysis to ensure competitive offerings.
• Communicating compensation programmes across the business and with management.
• Overseeing annual pay review and staff incentive distributions.
• Leading and developing up to four Reward analysts.

Skills

Compensation design

Reward management

Analytics

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Communication

Tools

HR software

Job description

AWE is recruiting for a Compensation Lead to join the business.

Location: Located in Reading, with free onsite parking.

Package: Starting from £61,040 - £90,000 (depending on your suitability, qualifications, and level of experience)

Working pattern: AWE operates a 9-day working fortnight. We will consider flexible working requests so that your work may fit in with your lifestyle. Just let us know your preferred working pattern on your application.

Ready to play your part?

At AWE, it's not just a job, it's far more than that. Our shared purpose is to help keep the nation safe. Could this role be the opportunity for you to play your part?

Reporting into the Head of Reward, the Compensation Lead will be responsible for delivering the compensation components of the reward strategy. They will also manage the operational delivery of compensation, including pay, allowance and incentive structures and communications. This role will include task management of up to four Reward analysts to support effective delivery.

In the role, your key accountabilities will be:

• Maintaining all compensation frameworks, including base pay, allowances, and incentives.
• Monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of compensation programmes, with recommendations based on business input, professional insight, and data.
• Conducting regular benchmarking and market analysis to ensure competitive compensation offerings.
• Collaborating with HR and management to ensure compensation programmes are well-communicated and understood.
• Ensuring compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and any delegated authority or pay freedoms granted by the government.
• Meeting all internal and external audit requirements related to compensation.
• Providing expert advice and support to managers on compensation-related matters.
• Managing the annual pay review process and staff incentive distribution.
• Offering professional guidance, leadership, and direction to reward professionals assigned to or reporting within this area.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of compensation programmes and make recommendations for change based upon business input, professional insight, knowledge and data.

Responsibilities in the role include:

• Maintaining and communicating pay ranges, allowances, and variable pay arrangements.
• To build strong relationships with senior leaders, HR Business Partners, Finance and Industrial Relations colleagues to deliver effective compensation solutions across the business.
• Producing statutory reports, including gender pay gap analysis, with compensation insights and commentary.
• Advising on pay agreements across the business, acting as a subject matter expert and supporting the Industrial Relations lead in Trade Union discussions or negotiations.
• Generating and providing compensation-related data, including key performance indicators.
• Liaising with HR to ensure effective and compliant compensation uploads into payroll, offering oversight and guidance.
• Act as the focal point for all compensation-related internal and external audits, conducting internal checks and monitoring to proactively resolve issues.
• Manage reward professionals providing professional development and holding to account for delivery
• Providing professional guidance and share knowledge with reward colleagues.
  

We'd like you to have experience in some of the following:

• Significant experience in compensation, reward or total reward, with a successful track record of designing, implementing and managing compensation frameworks in a complex organisation.
• Strong knowledge of compensation and benefits practices, laws and regulations.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively with all levels of the organisation.
• Proficiency in HR software and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills.
• Management and leadership of small teams.

Some reasons we think you'll love it here:

AWE has wide range of benefits to suit you. These include:

• 9-day working fortnight - meaning you get every other Friday off work, in addition to 270 hours of annual leave.
• Market leading contributory pension scheme (we will pay between 9% and 13% of your pensionable pay depending on your contributions).
• Family friendly policies: Maternity Leave - 39 Weeks Full Pay and Paternity Leave - 4 Weeks Full Pay.
• Opportunities for Professional Career Development including funding for annual membership of a relevant professional body.
• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services.
• Life Assurance (4 x annual salary).
• Discounts - access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending.
• Special Leave Policy including paid time off for volunteering, public service (including reserve forces) and caring.

The 'Working at AWE' page on our website is where you can find full details in the 'AWE Benefits Guide'.

Hybrid working is available for this role on an informal, non-contractual basis. Typically, 3 days on site per week.