Head of Rewards

Overview

London | Hybrid - Leading Retailer - Permanent | Up to £130k+ (car and bonus)

We’re partnering with a leading, highly recognisable retailer to appoint an exceptional Head of Total Reward to lead and evolve their reward strategy within a high-performance, people-first culture.

This is a pivotal senior leadership role, responsible for shaping and delivering a market-leading total reward proposition that attracts, retains, and engages top talent across a complex, customer-centric organisation.

As Head of Total Reward, you’ll have end-to-end ownership of reward, compensation, benefits, recognition, and organisation design frameworks. Working closely with Executive leadership, Finance, HR, and wider stakeholders, you’ll ensure reward strategies are fair, transparent, data-led, and closely aligned to business and people objectives.

You’ll play a key role in embedding a performance-driven reward philosophy that supports growth, transformation, and long-term success.

• Lead the design and execution of a comprehensive total reward strategy aligned to commercial and people priorities
• Ensure reward approaches are evidence-based, commercially sound, and deliver clear ROI
• Partner with HR technology teams to deliver robust reward systems and tools
• Act as a strategic advisor to senior leaders on reward-related decisions
• Design and manage competitive, equitable pay structures across all levels
• Lead market benchmarking, salary review cycles, and variable pay schemes (including bonus and LTIP)
• Oversee benefits strategy, platforms, brokers, and providers to deliver strong colleague value
• Ensure compliance with UK pay governance, including gender pay gap reporting
• Provide governance and insight to Executive and Remuneration Committees

• Own and evolve the organisation’s recognition strategy to drive engagement and appreciation
• Lead flagship colleague recognition events and initiatives
• Drive innovation in non-financial reward across a diverse workforce
• Lead organisation design initiatives supporting transformation and workforce planning
• Own role architecture, grading, and job evaluation frameworks
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders on organisational effectiveness
• Lead and develop a high-performing Total Reward and Organisation Design team
• Partner closely with HR leadership, Finance, Talent, and business stakeholders
• Champion inclusion, engagement, and colleague development across the function

You’ll be a commercially astute, forward-thinking reward leader with a strong passion for people and performance.

You’ll bring:

• Proven experience in a senior Reward leadership role within a complex organisation
• Deep expertise in UK compensation, benefits, recognition, and pay governance
• Experience leading organisation design and structural change initiatives
• Strong analytical capability with the ability to translate data into strategic insight
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, including at Executive and Board level
• A proactive mindset with the ability to balance strategy and operational delivery

This is a rare opportunity to shape reward strategy at scale within a high-profile retailer undergoing ongoing evolution and transformation. You’ll have real influence, strong executive exposure, and the chance to leave a lasting impact on culture and performance.