Head of Reward & Payroll
Location: London (with frequent travel to Birmingham)
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £94,000 - £114,000
About the Role
This is a pivotal leadership opportunity for an experienced Reward professional to shape and evolve a critical function within one of Europe's most high-profile infrastructure programmes. With transformation underway, a new CEO in post, and a clear strategic reset, this role offers the chance to make a lasting impact at scale.
You'll lead the Reward & Payroll agenda-moving away from a consultancy-led model to build a credible, future-fit internal capability. This is not just a technical reward role: it's about driving change, navigating political nuance, and influencing key stakeholders across government, unions, and executive leadership.
What You'll Be Doing
* Lead & Transform the Reward & Payroll function to reflect private sector best practices within public governance frameworks.
* Advise at the Top: Serve as a trusted advisor to the Executive Committee, RemCo, and wider HR leadership on pay, policy, and strategy.
* Drive Strategy: Develop and embed a long-term, sustainable reward approach aligned with future capability and cultural goals.
* Navigate Complexity: Balance ambition with accountability-ensuring compliance with public sector expectations while delivering innovation.
* Engage Stakeholders: Build and maintain strong relationships with unions, government departments, and senior internal stakeholders.
What You'll Need
* A strong track record in strategic reward, with demonstrable experience delivering impact in large, complex organisations.
* Private sector grounding-ideally in technical, commercial, or infrastructure-led businesses.
* Experience working in highly scrutinised environments, ideally with union engagement and public/government oversight.
* The ability to influence at Board level and operate confidently in politically sensitive settings.
* A collaborative, resilient leadership style-capable of shifting gears and leading change through ambiguity and bureaucracy.
We're Looking for Someone Who Is
* Strategic, but hands-on: Able to shape high-level thinking while rolling up their sleeves to deliver.
* Politically sharp: Understands the sensitivities of operating in a public-facing, government-involved environment.
* Commercially grounded: Brings private sector insight to public sector challenges.
* Credible and humble: Builds trust and influence without ego or the need to "consult."
* Curious and adaptable: Open to learning, pivoting, and finding creative solutions.
Interested?
If you're ready to take on a transformative leadership challenge in a complex, high-profile setting-and help shape the future of a nationally significant project-we'd love to hear from you.
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