Compensation and Reward Lead

Proftech Talent; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

[Client] in Reading is seeking a Compensation & Reward Lead on a 12-month contract to own compensation frameworks and reward delivery. You will manage base pay, allowances, incentives and mobility services, using market data to stay competitive and compliant.

You will report to the Head of Reward and lead a team of rewards professionals, overseeing annual pay reviews and stakeholder advisory across the business.

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing compensation and reward programmes.
• Strong knowledge of base pay, allowances, and incentives.
• Experience with annual pay reviews and benchmarking.
• Understanding of domestic and international mobility.
• Familiarity with pay governance and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and develop compensation frameworks for base pay, allowances and incentives.
• Monitor effectiveness of reward programmes using data and stakeholder feedback.
• Lead domestic and international mobility services to meet business needs.
• Conduct market analysis to inform compensation decisions.
• Manage annual pay review process and staff incentive distribution.
• Advise managers on compensation-related matters with senior stakeholders.
• Collaborate with HR and business leaders to communicate reward programmes.
• Ensure compliance with legislation, regulations and pay authorities.
• Maintain audit compliance for compensation activities.
• Provide leadership to the reward team and coordinate analysts.

Skills

Reward frameworks

Benchmarking

Mobility management

Stakeholder management

Data analysis

Pay governance

Job description

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

• Contract length: 12 months.
• Location: Reading, with 2–3 days per week onsite.