At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the reward strategy to attract and motivate talent at Thames Water.
- Company: Join the UK's largest water and wastewater company, making a real impact.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, private health insurance, annual bonus, and generous leave.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with a supportive and diverse team culture.
- Why this job: Be a key decision maker in a fast-paced environment with meaningful career opportunities.
- Qualifications: Significant reward management experience and exceptional communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 78000 - 112000 £ per year.
Overview of the Head of Reward role at Thames Water. The Head of Reward is responsible for leading the delivery of the organisation's reward strategy to attract, retain, and motivate talent. This includes overseeing compensation, benefits, recognition, and performance-related pay frameworks, ensuring they are competitive, equitable, and aligned with business goals. You will act as a trusted advisor, supporting managers and the wider HR community on reward-related matters, managing annual pay and bonus cycles, and ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and governance standards. This is a high-profile and demanding role in a fast-paced operation where you will be a key decision maker, driving the Reward function forward proactively to achieve its goals. You will use strong interpersonal skills to communicate the reward strategy and any changes clearly to employees and stakeholders, working closely with HR and finance teams to support broader people and business strategies.
What you will be doing as Head of Reward:
- Reward Strategy Design & Delivery – Influence design and lead delivery of the organisation's total reward strategy, aligned with business goals and talent priorities. Design competitive and equitable compensation frameworks, including base pay, variable pay, and recognition schemes. Ensure reward programs support attraction, retention, and engagement of key talent.
- Pay Governance & Compliance – Maintain robust reward policies and governance frameworks. Ensure compliance with legal, tax, and regulatory standards across jurisdictions. Lead annual pay review cycles, benchmarking, and job evaluation processes.
- Performance Incentivisation – Partner with HR and business leaders to align reward with performance management frameworks.
- Benefits & Wellbeing – Oversee the design and delivery of employee benefits, including healthcare and wellbeing. Evaluate benefit offerings to ensure competitiveness, cost-effectiveness, and alignment with employee needs.
- Data, Insights & Technology – Leverage reward analytics to inform decision-making and monitor effectiveness. Oversee reward systems and tools, ensuring accurate data and efficient processes. Provide insights to leadership on pay trends, risks, and opportunities.
- Stakeholder Engagement – Act as a trusted advisor to managers on all reward matters. Communicate the reward strategy and offering and any changes clearly to employees and stakeholders. Collaborate with Finance, Legal, and HR Business Partners to ensure alignment and integration.
Location – Hybrid, Reading
What you should bring to the role:
- Significant reward management experience gained in a large operational business, including management of several pay cycles.
- Exceptional communication skills to advise and influence at all levels of the organisation.
- Analytical skills – high numeracy and curiosity to find & interrogate data using advanced Excel knowledge.
- Team leadership – highly organised, ability to deliver high volume through your team.
Additional skills would be great to bring:
- Experience in a regulated environment.
- Experience with trade union engagement and negotiation.
- SAP HR and/or SuccessFactors experience.
- Professional recognition such as GRP or CIPD.
What's in it for you?
- A fantastic opportunity to join a company going through an exciting turnaround plan, working with dedicated, talented and supportive teams.
- Competitive salary – Circa £95,000 per annum.
- Private Health Insurance.
- Performance-related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets.
- Annual Bonus Scheme.
- Annual Leave: 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with the length of service. (Plus bank holidays)
- Contributory pension – Defined Contribution - Maximum of 12% -2x employee contribution.
- Personal Medical Assessments – Open to all once a year.
- Wider benefits scheme including our benefits hub, which is packed full of offers and information to save you money and support your wellbeing.
Who are we?
We're the UK's largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive. It's a big job and we've got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.
Learn more about our purpose and values.
Working at Thames Water:
Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you'll enjoy meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.
If you're looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people's lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we'll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region, and our planet.
Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family.
Why choose us? Learn more.
We're committed to being a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and want to ensure you feel supported throughout the recruitment process. If you need any adjustments, whether that's extra time, accessible formats, or anything else just let us know, we're here to help and support.
When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you'll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It's also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues.
Head of Reward in Reading employer: Thames Water
Thames Water is an exceptional employer, offering a unique and rewarding work environment where you can make a meaningful impact on millions of lives. With a strong focus on employee wellbeing, competitive benefits, and opportunities for professional growth, you'll thrive in a supportive culture that values diversity and inclusion. Located in Reading, this hybrid role allows for flexibility while being part of a dedicated team committed to building a sustainable future for our communities and the planet.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Reward in Reading
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections on LinkedIn or even in person. Let them know you're on the hunt for a Head of Reward role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Thames Water's values and recent initiatives. Tailor your responses to show how your experience aligns with their goals. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly gets what they're about.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your skills in reward management can drive Thames Water's strategy forward. Keep it concise and impactful, so you leave a lasting impression on interviewers.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in being part of the Thames Water family.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Reward in Reading
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in reward management. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Skills:Don’t just list your skills; provide examples of how you've used them in previous roles. Whether it's your analytical prowess or communication skills, we want to see how you can bring value to our team.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and make sure your key achievements stand out. This helps us quickly see why you're a great fit!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way to ensure it gets into the right hands and allows us to keep track of your application easily.
How to prepare for a job interview at Thames Water
✨Know Your Reward Strategy
Before the interview, make sure you understand Thames Water's reward strategy and how it aligns with their business goals. Be ready to discuss how your experience in designing competitive compensation frameworks can contribute to their objectives.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
As a Head of Reward, exceptional communication is key. Prepare examples of how you've effectively communicated complex reward strategies to various stakeholders. This will demonstrate your ability to act as a trusted advisor within the organisation.
✨Demonstrate Analytical Prowess
Brush up on your analytical skills, especially with data and Excel. Be prepared to discuss how you've used data insights to inform decision-making in previous roles. This will show that you can leverage analytics to drive the reward function forward.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Think about your past experiences working with HR, finance, and other departments. Be ready to share how you've collaborated with different teams to ensure alignment on reward matters. This will highlight your ability to engage stakeholders effectively.
