Coats
Head of Executive Reward
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Head of Executive Reward
Location: UK
Coats is a world leader in thread manufacturing and structural components for apparel and footwear, as well as an innovative pioneer in performance materials. These critical solutions are used to create a wide range of products, including ones that provide safety and protection for people, data, and the environment. Trusted by the world's leading companies to deliver crucial, innovative, and sustainable solutions, we provide value-adding products including apparel, footwear, and speciality threads.
With a proud heritage dating back more than 250 years and a spirit of evolution to constantly stay ahead of changing market needs, we have operations across 50 countries with a workforce of over 17,000, serving our customers worldwide.
Role Purpose:
The Head of Executive Reward is responsible for leading the development, delivery, and governance of executive reward strategy across the group, focusing on our Board, Group Executive Team (GET), and GET direct reports to ensure executive reward aligns with company strategy, pay for performance frameworks, and investor expectations.
The role acts as a subject matter expert on executive compensation and mobility, providing advice to key stakeholders in the business. As a key member of the Reward Team, the role partners closely with HR, finance, tax, company secretariat, and external advisers to provide a reward framework supporting the attraction, retention, and development of senior leaders globally and generating shareholder value.
What you will do (Key Responsibilities):
Executive Reward Strategy
- Develop and maintain the Group's executive remuneration strategy, ensuring alignment with business priorities, culture, and long-term value creation
- Lead the design and reviews of executive compensation structures
- Ensure executive reward arrangements remain competitive, responsible, and where appropriate, aligned with shareholder expectations
- Monitor market trends, governance developments, and emerging remuneration practices across the FTSE 250 and broader listed market
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Remuneration Committee Support
- Develop remuneration recommendations for the Head of Reward and CPO to bring for Board/Remuneration Committee approval
- Lead the preparation of Remuneration Committee papers, and supporting analysis
- Manage the annual executive reward governance cycle
- Provide insight and reward recommendations to secure executive, retention, and recruitment
Incentives and Share Based Awards
- Lead the design, implementation, and operation of share-based and long-term incentives to ensure they drive sustainable performance and value creation
- Manage the day-to-day operation of long-term incentives
- Conduct performance and payout modelling to support remuneration decisions
- Manage executive reward implications of corporate transactions, acquisitions, and organizational changes
Reward Governance
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Prepare the Directors' Remuneration Report and relevant disclosures within the Annual Report
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Ensure full compliance with:
- UK Corporate Governance Code
- Listing requirements
- Directors' Remuneration Reporting Regulations
- All other relevant rules
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Support the Group Reward Director with remuneration policy reviews and shareholder approval processes
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Maintain robust documentation and governance frameworks to support all executive reward decisions
Investor & External Stakeholder Engagement
- Support engagement with institutional shareholders, proxy advisers, and governance bodies
- Develop strategies to proactively address governance concerns and shareholder feedback
- Manage relationships with remuneration consultants, legal advisers, and share plan providers
Global Mobility
- Ownership of a global mobility strategy aligned to business growth, talent, and workforce planning objectives
- Ensure mobility programmes enable the movement of critical talent across international markets
- Lead the treatment and recommended packages for:
- Long-term assignments
- Short-term assignments
- Permanent international transfers
- Regularly review mobility policies against market practice and evolving business requirements
- Support executive succession and strategic deployment of talent globally
- Oversee relationships with relocation and mobility service providers
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Compliance & Risk Management
- Partner with Tax, Legal, and Finance teams to ensure compliance with legal, tax, and governance requirements
- Oversee mobility-related risk management and governance controls
- Ensure robust vendor management and compliance monitoring
Who you are (Requirements):
- Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s or professional certification (e.g., CCP, GRP)
- 12+ years of experience in Reward, with at least 5 years’ experience of share plans and mobility
- Proven success managing international mobility, global share plan operations, and managing corporate reward frameworks in complex matrix organizations
- Strong understanding of executive compensation and job architecture
- Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills across all corporate levels including the Board
- Proficiency in reward analytics, HR systems (SuccessFactors), and global market surveys
- Strategic and meticulous with the ability for attending to details
- Organisation skills, proficient with needs analysis, design, delivery, and post-implementation review
- Can-do attitude, driven, and able to perform under pressure
- Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
What will set you apart (Nice to Have):
- Able to use Excel/Power BI to create engaging reports and presentations
- Working knowledge of Mercer job evaluation methodology
- Understanding of pay transparency and pay equity management
- Strong understanding of UK corporate governance requirements
At Coats Group, we are committed to innovation, excellence, and fostering a diverse and collaborative environment where every team member can thrive. If you are passionate about making an impact in the textile industry and eager to join a global leader with a rich heritage and a forward-thinking approach, we invite you to take the next step in your career with us. Apply now to be part of our dynamic team and help shape the future of textiles!
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