Senior Total Rewards Specialist

Job Overview

Working under minimal supervision, the Senior Total Rewards Specialist designs, implements, administers and continuously improves organization-wide compensation, recognition and reward programs. Using market intelligence, workforce insights, analytics and emerging practices, the incumbent ensures programs remain competitive, internally equitable, sustainable and aligned with Wawanesa's total rewards philosophy, People Strategy and business needs. As a trusted advisor, the incumbent partners with leaders and People teams to deliver practical, data-informed solutions that strengthen the employee value proposition, support attraction and retention, and improve organizational performance.

Job Responsibilities

• Advance Wawanesa's total rewards philosophy by translating organizational priorities, market intelligence and workforce needs into effective compensation, recognition and reward programs and practices.
• Participate in compensation surveys, market research and benchmarking; analyze workforce insights, employee feedback, external market developments and future-of-work trends; and identify implications for competitive positioning and evolving workforce needs.
• Design, maintain and administer salary structures and compensation frameworks that reflect economic conditions, organizational needs and industry practices.
• Lead and support the annual compensation review cycle, including merit, incentive, communications, analysis and approval processes.
• Design, implement and maintain incentive and recognition programs that reinforce performance, accountability, organizational priorities and desired behaviours.
• Lead Wawanesa's job architecture, including governance, job evaluation, documentation and titling, and drive consistent role alignment and adoption across the organization.
• Monitor the effectiveness, utilization and value of compensation and recognition programs and recommend improvements based on data and business requirements.
• Act as a trusted advisor to leaders and People teams on compensation, recognition and reward decisions, using analytics and market insights to support informed decision-making.
• Lead or contribute subject-matter expertise to Total Rewards projects and People Strategy initiatives, applying knowledge of Wawanesa's structure, philosophy and organizational priorities.
• Ensure compliance with applicable pay-related legislation, regulatory requirements, policies and governance processes, and identify and mitigate associated risks.
• Use technology, automation, analytics and reporting tools to improve program administration, employee experience and decision-making, including dashboards and insights that support workforce decisions.

Qualifications

• Diploma or degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, Commerce or a related discipline.

• Certified Compensation Professional designation.

• Minimum five years of progressive experience in compensation or Total Rewards, including accountability for complex compensation programs and processes.

• Experience with market pricing, benchmarking, salary structures, job evaluation, compensation cycles and compensation analytics.

• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.

• Strong business acumen with the ability to identify and assess complex issues, opportunities, risks and impacts and make informed recommendations.

• Strong interpersonal, consultation and influencing skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

• Strong organizational skills, discretion, sound judgment and the ability to work independently while managing changing priorities and highly confidential compensation information.

• Demonstrated commitment to continuous learning, collaboration, change and mentoring others.

• Diversity Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

• At Wawanesa, we are committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) and believe that our strength lies in the diversity of our people – this is supported by having a representative workforce.

• We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, including racialized persons, women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, gender-diverse and neurodiverse individuals, and anyone who can contribute to the further diversification of thought and ideas.

• We aim to ensure our recruitment process is accessible to all candidates. If you require accommodations during any stage of the recruitment process, please reach out in confidence to [email protected].

• All Wawanesa job applicants are subject to Wawanesa's Privacy Policy.

• Please note that the recruitment process for this position may involve the use of AI tools to screen, assess, or select applicants. All final decisions are taken or reviewed by human recruiters and human hiring leaders in compliance with all applicable legislation.