Reward Consultant - Leeds

At UK Government Investments (UKGI), we create value for society from government’s most complex commercial interests. What we do is unique, and so are we. Wholly owned by HM Treasury, our team comprises c.150 experts who work together to provide high quality corporate finance and corporate governance expertise to departments, advising in support of their policy objectives.

Working for UKGI provides a unique opportunity for talented individuals from the public and private sectors to contribute to work of national importance. The work we do is challenging and fast-paced and is always significant in terms of social, economic, and political impact.

This role is available in either our London or Leeds Office.

About the Role

UKGI acts as the Shareholder Representative on behalf of government departments for 24 government owned organisations including the British Business Bank, Post Office Ltd and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. As part of this role, we share best practice with these organisations on their reward strategies to enable them to pay fairly and responsibly, whilst being mindful of value for the UK taxpayer at all times.

We are seeking an experienced reward expert who will engage with colleagues across Whitehall, to lead on providing advice on reward matters across a range of organisations. This is a high-profile role which offers the opportunity to shape reward strategy across government-owned companies and influence senior pay policy in collaboration with departments and HMTreasury. You will play a real part in supporting these systemically important organisations to bring in the best people possible to help achieve the aims of HM Government, as part of UKGI’s wider Governance team.

This would be a perfect role for somebody looking to make a move away from private sector reward consulting to work within government, whilst using your skillset to make a difference in in the public sector.

Key Responsibilities

As UKGI’s reward expert, you will play a leading role in supporting UKGI’s Shareholder Non-Executive Directors on all remuneration issues across our diverse and complex portfolio. This will involve:

• Leading the review of high profile and sometimes sensitive individual remuneration proposals, providing important advice and advising Ministers and Permanent Secretaries as required.
• Building and sustaining strong and effective relationships across a range of relevant stakeholders – including HR Directors, RemCo Chairs, benchmarking consultants and governmental officials – to help shape reward alignment across the portfolio and wider government.

Provision of advice on:

• The design and implementation of reward strategies, incentive plans and structures across the portfolio;
• HM Treasury pay rules, and how they impact complex and sensitive pay cases whilst ensuring value for taxpayer money;
• Pay and benefits benchmarking, as well as grading structures and job architecture, underpinned by job evaluation and ensuring a consistent approach;
• Train and mentor junior team members, both technically and professionally, as part of the wider UKGI Governance team.
• Present reports and findings on complex pay cases and frameworks to senior executives, helping to shape decision making.
• Maintain awareness of reward market trends and best practice in both the public and private sector, helping to highlight emerging risks and opportunities within the market.

About You

• Experience in a senior reward role, either across a number of in-house or ideally within a consultancy, with experience of working with multiple organisations of varying size.
• Technical expertise in remuneration policy, benchmarking, and incentive design.
• Proven ability to work independently and proactively, taking ownership over your work, able to manage multiple projects and deliver high-quality client service.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to advise and influence internal and external stakeholders across all levels.
• Experience advising Remuneration Committees or senior boards, and building trusted relationships with Chief People Officers, Reward Directors and RemCo Chairs.
• Understanding of public sector pay frameworks and governance, or a willingness to learn.
• Experience of working as part of a multi-functional team and supporting junior colleagues to develop in their roles.

Diversity Statement

UKGI has a strong commitment to equality and diversity. Our aim is to be an open and inclusive organisation, recruiting and retaining diverse, talented and high-performing people who support and develop one another.

UKGI is a Disability Confident Employer. This means we’ve been recognised as an employer which is confident and leading the way in recruiting and retaining staff with disabilities. We will offer an interview to any applicants with a disability who have indicated they wish to take part in the disability confident scheme, provided they meet the essential criteria for the post set out in the person specification. If you need any reasonable adjustments to take part in the selection process, please tell us about this in your application.

UKGI is also part of the ‘Great Place to Work for Veterans’ initiative. This means that as part of our commitment to diversity and equality in our recruitment and retention policy, we will offer an interview to any eligible applicants from His Majesty’s Armed Forces provided they meet the essential criteria for the post set out in the person specification. Please indicate on your application that you wish for your application to be considered as part of this initiative.

In line with company policy, we will be employing a hybrid working model based, with 40% of your time being home-based. At UKGI we place a high degree of value on work life balance and as such applications from individuals seeking flexible working, reduced hours contracts and job shares are also actively encouraged.