Head of Resilience & Reward - HR

Annual salary: from £72,683

Salary from £72,683 + Up to 15% Bonus
Permanent, 40 Hours Per Week
Hybrid Working – Based at our office in Thorpe Park, Leeds

Lead the people strategies that keep NGN ready for the future

We are looking for a senior HR leader to join Northern Gas Networks (NGN) as Head of Resilience & Reward. This is a broad, high-impact role leading the development and delivery of our workforce resilience strategy and reward framework, ensuring NGN has the skills, leadership, capability and workforce resilience required to deliver our future business objectives.

Acting as strategic deputy to the HR Director, you will translate business priorities into practical people solutions. You will bring together workforce strategy, resourcing, reward, talent, succession, capability and people insight to support safe, efficient and sustainable business performance.

You will work closely with senior leaders and colleagues across NGN, using evidence and insight to anticipate workforce risks, strengthen critical capability and create fair, sustainable approaches to reward and recognition.

A full UK driving licence is a requirement for this role

In this role you will

• Lead NGN’s workforce strategy and strategic workforce planning, covering future capability, demographics, succession, critical roles, retention and workforce resilience
• Own the reward strategy (including benefits provision) and pay governance framework across collectively bargained and non-collectively bargained populations, including participation in pay negotiations
• Lead pay review and bonus processes, salary benchmarking and market intelligence, providing clear analysis and recommendations for senior forums
• Drive talent, succession and leadership capability frameworks, ensuring career pathways and future skills pipelines across both operational and non-operational roles
• Provide strategic oversight of inclusion, belonging, engagement and culture activity, using workforce insight to improve colleague experience and organisational performance
• Advise senior leaders on people strategy, deputise for the HR Director when required and lead cross-functional business initiatives
• Lead three direct reports: the Resourcing Manager, Talent Development Manager and Operational Training Manager

We are looking for

• Significant senior HR experience, with a strong track record of developing people strategy and workforce plans
• Strong reward and pay governance expertise, including experience of annual pay processes and working with unionised workforces
• Experience influencing senior leaders and translating complex business priorities into practical, evidence-based people solutions
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability, with confidence using workforce data and insight to inform decisions
• Experience leading organisational change and working across multiple stakeholder groups
• MCIPD or FCIPD status, plus training in HAY methodology or an equivalent job evaluation approach

Desirable - Experience within a regulated sector such as utilities, infrastructure or engineering, knowledge of workforce planning methodologies, and exposure to AI and automation within HR processes would be advantageous. A degree-level qualification (or equivalent) in reward, organisational development, workforce planning, change management, or a related discipline is also desirable

You do not need to meet every desirable criterion to apply. If the role matches your experience and ambitions, we encourage you to put yourself forward.

Why join NGN?

• Salary from £72,683 per annum
• Annual bonus of up to 15%, recognising your contribution and performance
• 25 days of annual leave, plus recognised bank holidays and 2 additional half-days over the Christmas period
• Occupational sick pay available after the first 2 calendar days of statutory sick pay
• Generous stakeholder pension scheme, doubling your contribution, up to 10%
• Flexible benefits and salary sacrifice options, including discounts on UK attractions, gym memberships, restaurants, experience days, plus access to a virtual GP service
• Family-friendly policies, including up to 6 weeks of paternity leave and 6 months of full pay for maternity leave (for eligible employees), plus shared parental leave and more

About NGN

We deliver gas to 2.9 million homes and businesses across the North East, Northern Cumbria, and much of Yorkshire, through a network of over 37,000km of underground pipes. Serving both major cities and rural communities, we are committed to safety, reliability, and innovation. Our values – Trailblazing, Empowered, Heartfelt, Community Focused, Intellectually Curious, and Happy, shape everything we do. We are proud to champion equality, diversity, and inclusion, and actively support initiatives alongside our Colleague Communities (LGBTQ/Women’s/Roots&Resonance/Parents&Carers/Ability Matters) to ensure we reflect and uplift the communities we serve.

Next Steps – Simply click ‘Apply’ and upload your CV, making sure to highlight how your skills and experience align with the role. We aim to contact all applicants within one week of the closing date. If you require any adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact our Recruitment Team at NGNCareers@northerngas.co.uk