Interim Pay & Reward Specialist (3-6 months)

About the role

We are seeking an experienced Pay & Reward Specialist to join a council on an interim basis for 3‑6 months. The role will provide senior‑level expertise on complex pay, grading and reward matters during a period of organisational change.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and advise on pay, grading and reward issues, ensuring compliance and transparency.
• Resolve complex, high‑risk and contentious job evaluation and pay cases.
• Oversee the application and quality assurance of the council’s job evaluation scheme (e.g., NJC, HAY or equivalent).
• Review and assure job evaluation outcomes for consistency, fairness and defensibility.
• Provide expert guidance on equal‑pay risk, grading issues and reward governance.
• Collaborate with trade unions, HR Business Partners, Employee Relations, Finance and Legal teams.
• Reduce existing job evaluation backlogs through effective prioritisation.
• Set professional standards and ensure quality assurance across pay and reward activities delivered by HR colleagues and external consultants.

Required profile

• Extensive expertise in public‑sector pay, grading, reward and job evaluation.
• Strong knowledge of local government pay frameworks, particularly the NJC scheme.
• Significant experience leading and quality‑assuring job evaluation processes.
• Thorough understanding of equal‑pay legislation, employment law and reward governance.
• Proven ability to advise senior leaders and directors on complex reward issues.
• CIPD Level 7 qualification (preferred) or equivalent senior‑level reward expertise.

Required skills

• Job evaluation methodologies (NJC, HAY or equivalent).
• Equal‑pay risk assessment.
• Reward governance.
• Stakeholder management with trade unions and senior leadership.