Head of Reward and Recognition

At Eakin Healthcare, we put patients at the heart of everything we do. We are a family-owned global medical device company with a proud heritage of innovation and care. We deliver innovative solutions across Ostomy, Respiratory, and Surgical therapies, along with our Respond home delivery service. Founded over 50 years ago, we now have a team of over 700 dedicated people across three UK manufacturing sites, 12 international sales and distribution centres and export to over 60 countries. We’ve been recognised as a Great Place to Work®! And we’re proud to be named among the Best Workplaces in Healthcare and Best Workplaces for Women.

At Eakin Healthcare, we’re united by one mission: working together to improve lives - just like we’ve been doing for over five decades.

WHY JOIN US?

We’re good at what we do – come and join us and you can benefit from:

Blended Working

Bonus

25 days holiday plus bank holidays (rising to 28)

Option to buy holiday days

Wellbeing Programme

Health Cash Plan

Pension

Life Assurance

Private Medical Insurance

Enhanced Maternity/Paternity

Cycle to Work Scheme

Referral Scheme

Long Service Awards

Free Parking

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Head of Reward and Recognition will lead the development, delivery, and governance of the organisation's reward, compensation, and benefits strategy globally and in particular in the UK, Europe and Japan. The role is responsible for ensuring that our reward frameworks and practices are competitive, aligned with business objectives, compliant with regulatory requirements, and support the attraction, motivation, and retention of top talent within a fast-paced growing medical device environment in keeping with our ambition to be a Great Place to Work.

This role will be based at either our Cardiff, Coleraine or Comber office on a hybrid working basis.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Reward Strategy & Leadership

Design and implement a market-leading global reward strategy particularly for the UK, Europe and Japan regions aligned with global policies and business objectives.

Act as a strategic advisor to senior leadership and the Remuneration Committee, providing insights and recommendations on compensation, benefits, and incentive design. 

Ensure consistency and alignment of reward practices across multiple jurisdictions while adapting to local market, regulatory, and cultural requirements.

Support the preparation and presentation of materials for Remuneration Committee meetings.

Ensure compliance with global regulatory frameworks and local legislation including emerging pay transparency requirements

Compensation & Benefits

Lead the annual compensation cycle across the organisatoin (salary reviews, bonus, incentive schemes), ensuring governance, fairness, and alignment with performance, optimising process experience and colleague understanding.

Manage benchmarking and market intelligence to maintain competitive pay and benefits structures ensuring internal equity with reference to job grading/evaluation.

Lead the design and implementation of commission and recognition schemes and ensure effective communication and buy in.

Oversee the design and delivery of benefit programmes across multiple countries, ensuring cost-effectiveness and employee value.

Work with local HR teams to assess and optimise global benefits offerings, ensuring alignment with market practice and employee needs within cost budget, ensure benefits information is easy to access and up to date for colleagues.

Support global wellbeing initiatives and harmonisation of benefit plans where appropriate

Governance & Regulatory Compliance

Ensure all reward structures comply with local employment law, tax requirements, and regulatory standards and in particular ensure compliance with pay transparency legislation

Manage executive compensation in line with shareholder expectations and remuneration committee requirements.

Support reporting and disclosure requirements for remuneration across the regions

Systems, Analytics & Reporting

Lead and develop our HR Systems Analyst

Oversee HRIS and time and attendance systems ensuring effectiveness and delivery of strong customer experience.

Lead reward analytics and insights to inform strategic decision-making, including attrition, headcount and recruitment activity.

Manage gender pay reporting, pay equity analysis, and other statutory disclosures.

Enhance automation and dashboarding of reward metrics ensuring good quality data is available.

Stakeholder Management & Leadership

Partner with Finance and business leaders on workforce planning, cost modelling, and reward budgeting.

Partner with HR Business Partners and senior leadership teams to provide expert advice and guidance on all reward matters.

Build strong external networks to stay abreast of market and regulatory developments.

Other

To adhere to the company’s Equal Opportunities policy and Dignity at work policy in all activities and to actively promote equality of opportunity wherever possible

To be responsible for your own health and safety and that of your colleagues, in accordance with the company’s’ Health and Safety policy

To adhere to the company’s Quality policy and Environmental policy

To undertake other duties as may be reasonably required

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

Essential

Significant experience in reward/compensation leadership roles.

Strong knowledge of UK and Europe reward practices, including executive remuneration, regulatory frameworks, and governance.

Strong analytical and commercial acumen, with the ability to analyse data and provide strategic insights.

Experience of implementing and or overseeing job grading/evaluation processes, bonus/commission and LTIP frameworks

Strong systems experience preferably with experience in utilisation of AI to drive efficiencies and customer experience.

Desirable

Proven track record of leading on regional or multi-country reward strategy

Personal Attributes

Commercially minded, pragmatic, and able to balance strategic vision with operational delivery.

Highly collaborative, with the ability to work across borders and cultures.

Resilient and adaptable, with strong problem-solving skills.

High level of integrity and discretion when handling sensitive information.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Internal 

Employees

HR Team

Finance

Senior leaders and Rem Comm

External 

Remuneration Consultants

Recruitment Agencies

Systems providers

Benefit Brokers

Pension schemes

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

People  - one direct report

Budget / resources -oversight with the CPO of the payroll budget

Travel Requirements – to various locations in UK and international as required