Interim Senior Reward Lead – Strategic Pay & Equity

Working for Essex; Chelmsford; Hybrid; GBP 92,000 - 101,000; Full time

Job summary

Essex County Council is seeking an Interim Senior Reward Lead to shape reward frameworks, ensuring fairness, legality and financial sustainability. In a hybrid role based in Chelmsford, you will advise senior leaders and unions, drive policy development, and oversee reward governance across a large organisation.

You will lead complex change, analyse market data and ensure policies align with organisational priorities, with a 3-month contract and umbrella daily rate.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent (RQF Level 6) or equivalent through professional experience.
• Chartered CIPD, CIPP or equivalent with CPD.
• Extensive knowledge of reward strategy, pay frameworks and benefits design in large organisations.
• Expertise in pay equity, equal pay and reward governance.
• Significant experience in pay and grading, market benchmarking, reward analytics and salary surveys.
• Knowledge of job evaluation methodologies and workforce frameworks.
• Strong analytical and numerical skills; translate data into strategic insight.
• Experience leading complex change, programmes and projects with risk management.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills with senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead development, implementation and review of reward policies, frameworks and processes.
• Act as lead adviser on job evaluation, grading and pay design with governance.
• Provide reward consultancy to senior leaders on organisational change and workforce issues.
• Lead collection and interpretation of reward data and market intelligence.
• Maintain governance for reward activities, ensuring compliance and risk mitigation.
• Manage reward and benefits provision, including procurement and monitoring.
• Lead equal pay and reward assurance initiatives to ensure fairness.
• Build relationships with stakeholders, unions and external partners.
• Maintain expert knowledge of reward practice and legislation.
• Collaborate across People & Organisational Development to support priorities.

Education

Degree at RQF Level 6 or equivalent

Chartered CIPD/CIPP or equivalent

Reward strategy, pay frameworks & benefits design

Pay equity and reward governance

Pay and grading, market benchmarking, reward analytics

Job evaluation methodologies & workforce frameworks

Analytical & numerical skills

Leading complex change and projects

Communication & influencing skills

Job description

Essex County Council is seeking an Interim Senior Reward Lead to shape reward frameworks, ensuring fairness, legality and financial sustainability. In a hybrid role based in Chelmsford, you will advise senior leaders and unions, drive policy development, and oversee reward governance across a large organisation.

You will lead complex change, analyse market data and ensure policies align with organisational priorities, with a 3-month contract and umbrella daily rate.