Interim People Transformation and Reward

SmartSearch; Ilkley; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

SmartSearch's transformation team is seeking an experienced professional for a six-month period to embed career frameworks, pay structures and reward governance, shaping the Employee Value Proposition and providing insight to support workforce decisions.

The role will drive People integration workstreams and deliver data-led scenarios to guide 2027 budgeting and strategic workforce decisions across the organisation.

Qualifications

• Senior-level experience leading reward, workforce planning, organisation design or people transformation initiatives.
• Expertise in career frameworks, job architecture, salary structures and reward governance.
• Strong commercial judgement and data-led decision making.
• Experience leading business change, integration or transformation programmes.

Responsibilities

• Implement and embed career frameworks and pay structures across the organisation.
• Integrate frameworks into recruitment, performance, progression and talent processes.
• Implement salary ranges informed by market benchmarking.
• Review pay positioning and address market gaps and disparities.
• Embed a sustainable reward governance framework and future market review cycle.
• Lead the People integration workstream and associated change activity.
• Provide governance, stakeholder management and delivery oversight across the programme.

Skills

Reward governance

Workforce planning

Organisation design

People transformation

Career frameworks

Job architecture

Salary structures

Data-driven decision making

Stakeholder management

Change leadership

Job description

SmartSearch's distinctive Anti-Money Laundering verification software protects our clients by offering the most advanced and comprehensive features available from an AML provider.

SmartSearch has grown rapidly by fostering an incredibly collaborative and supportive culture. As we continue our ambitious growth plans, we will strive to remain a truly exciting, rewarding, and unique place to work.

HOW WILL YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

We're looking for an experienced transformation professional to join us for a six-month period and help deliver some of the most important building blocks for our next stage of growth.

Over the past year we've invested significantly in our People foundations. The strategy is clear. The challenge now is turning that work into something that is fully embedded, consistently applied and ready to support a scaling business.

This role will be responsible for implementing and embedding our career frameworks, pay structures and reward governance, shaping our Employee Value Proposition, and providing the insight and planning needed to support future workforce and reward decisions.

Alongside this, you'll deliver key People integration activity and contribute to a number of strategic business priorities.

This is a high-impact role with significant visibility across the organisation.

Varied Day To Day Responsibilities

Reward, Career Frameworks & Governance

• Implement and embed career frameworks and pay structures across the organisation.
• Integrate frameworks into recruitment, performance, progression and talent processes.
• Implement salary ranges informed by market benchmarking.
• Review pay positioning and recommend approaches to addressing identified market gaps and disparities.
• Embed a sustainable reward governance framework and future market review cycle.

Employee Value Proposition

• Lead the development of the company's Employee Value Proposition.
• Align career development, reward, growth opportunities and employee experience into a coherent talent proposition.
• Create a roadmap for ongoing EVP development.

Workforce Planning & Insight

• Assess manager confidence in applying career and reward frameworks.
• Identify adoption risks and capability gaps.
• Develop reward and workforce planning scenarios to support 2027 budgeting and workforce decisions.
• Provide data-driven recommendations to support leadership decision-making.

Equitable approach

• Review reward and progression outcomes to identify and mitigate unintended bias.
• Ensure frameworks and governance processes support fair and equitable decision-making.

Integration & Strategic Leadership

• Lead the People integration workstream and associated change activity.
• Provide governance, stakeholder management and delivery oversight across the programme.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR IN A CANDIDATE?

• Senior-level experience leading reward, workforce planning, organisation design or people transformation initiatives.
• Expertise in career frameworks, job architecture, salary structures and reward governance.
• Strong commercial judgement and experience balancing market competitiveness with affordability.
• A track record of translating strategy into practical, measurable outcomes.
• Experience leading business change, integration or transformation programmes.
• The credibility to influence and challenge senior leaders constructively.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability, supported by a data-led approach to decision-making.

WHAT IS LIFE LIKE AT SMARTSEARCH?

• We are a multi-award winning Tech company with an aspirational mentality
• Some of our most recent recognitions include: named in the renowned RegTech100 list for 2024, listed in the Top 100 Fasted Growing Tech Companies by Northern Tech Awards 2024 as well as being named Technology Provider of the Year by Corporate Finance Awards 2024
• We have been Great Place To Work Certified since 2022
• There are excellent progression opportunities due to our growth and you will have personal development goals, regular feedback and support
• We are a diverse and inclusive team committed to promoting Diversity & Inclusion and Social Responsibility. Through our DE&I group, charitable initiatives and support for local schools, we actively foster a positive Impact on our community