Head of Global Compensation & Benefits

Kraken; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology firm is seeking a Director of Global Compensation & Benefits to architect and implement an equitable total rewards strategy. This critical role involves designing competitive compensation programs and conducting pay equity audits while collaborating with the executive team. The ideal candidate has a strong background in building global compensation systems and a demonstrated ability to communicate complex topics effectively. Join us in transforming the energy industry for a sustainable future.

Benefits

Great Place to Work certifications

Generous benefits offerings

Qualifications

• Detailed experience in global Compensation & Benefits programs.
• Proven expertise in compensation philosophy and salary structures.
• Proven ability to lead comprehensive pay equity analysis.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement a clear compensation philosophy aligned with business strategy.
• Establish base pay, bonus, and equity structures.
• Conduct a company-wide compensation audit to identify pay inequities.

Skills

Strategic leadership in Compensation & Benefits

Building global benefits programs

Pay equity audits

Statistical analysis

Exceptional communication skills

Education

Experience in a strategic leadership role

Tools

Market benchmarking data tools (Radford, Mercer)

Job description

Help us use technology to make a big green dent in the universe!

Kraken powers some of the most innovative global developments in energy.

We're a technology company focused on creating a smart sustainable energy system. From optimizing renewable generation, creating a more intelligent grid and enabling utilities to provide excellent customer experiences, our operating system for energy is transforming the industry around the world in a way that benefits everyone.

It's a really exciting time in energy. Help us make a real impact on shaping a better more sustainable future.

We are looking for a strategic and hands-on Director of Global Compensation & Benefits to architect, implement and manage our total rewards strategy. This is a critical leadership role responsible for designing equitable, competitive and scalable programs that will attract, retain and motivate top talent across the globe. You will be the chief architect of our compensation philosophy and will be instrumental in resolving existing pay inequities and creating a fair and consistent framework for our growing international team.

Develop & Implement a Compensation Philosophy

• Craft a clear, data-driven compensation philosophy that is intrinsically linked to our company values, business strategy and long-term growth objectives.
• Collaborate with the executive leadership team to gain alignment and ensure the philosophy serves as the foundational guide for all compensation and rewards decisions.
• Champion this philosophy throughout the organization to ensure transparency and understanding among leaders and employees.

Establish Base Pay, Bonus and Equity Structures

• Design and implement globally consistent yet locally relevant salary bands, bonus/incentive plans and equity guidelines.
• Utilize robust market benchmarking data from multiple sources (e.g. Radford, Ravio, Mercer) to ensure our compensation is competitive and aligned with our desired market position.
• Develop clear processes for salary reviews, promotions and new hire offers to ensure internal equity and consistency.

Conduct a Company-Wide Compensation Audit

• Lead a comprehensive audit of all current compensation practices to identify internal pay inequities, market misalignments and compliance risks across all regions.
• Conduct a thorough pay equity analysis with an immediate and specific focus on understanding and addressing our flagged gender pay gap.
• Present findings and provide data-backed actionable recommendations to leadership for remediating gaps and mitigating future risks.

Build Scalable Global Benefits and Total Rewards Programs

• Design and launch a harmonized global benefits framework that addresses the current lack of fairness and consistency across our regions.
• Evaluate, select and manage vendors to provide comprehensive and cost-effective benefits offerings including health, wellness, retirement and leave programs that cater to a diverse global workforce.
• Develop a compelling total rewards communication strategy to help employees understand and appreciate the full value of their compensation and benefits package, driving engagement and retention.

Design and Roll Out a Role Framework

• Partner closely with our Capability team, senior leadership and department heads to lead the long-term strategic initiative of building a scalable job architecture.
• Design and implement a clear and consistent job leveling framework that defines roles, responsibilities and career paths across the organization.
• Ensure the framework provides clarity for employees, supports talent mobility and creates a fair and objective foundation for all compensation decisions.

What You'll Need

• Detailed & progressive experience in Compensation & Benefits with time spent in a strategic leadership role.
• Demonstrable experience building and managing compensation and benefits programs on a global or multi-regional scale is essential.
• Proven expertise in designing a compensation philosophy, creating salary structures and managing variable pay and equity programs (e.g. RSUs, stock options).
• Hands‑on experience conducting pay equity audits and implementing remediation plans. Familiarity with statistical analysis and pay equity legislation is required.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data and translate it into actionable insights. Experience with compa‑ratio analysis is expected.
• Experience leading the design and implementation of job architecture and leveling frameworks.
• Exceptional communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills with the ability to present complex topics clearly to executive audiences.
• High level of integrity and discretion in handling sensitive and confidential information.

Kraken is a certified Great Place to Work in France, Germany, Spain, Japan and the UK. We are one of the best work‑places on Glassdoor with a score of 4.7. Check out our Welcome to the Jungle site (FR/EN) to learn more about our teams and culture.

As an equal opportunity employer, we encourage all qualified candidates to apply. We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute. We consider all applicants without regard to race, colour, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. U.S.‑based candidates can learn more about their EEO rights here.