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About the Role

The Senior Total Rewards Specialist designs, implements, administers, and continuously improves organization-wide compensation, recognition, and reward programs. This role uses market intelligence, workforce insights, analytics, and emerging practices to ensure programs are competitive, 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.

Responsibilities

Translate 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 to identify implications for competitive positioning and evolving workforce needs.
Design, maintain, and administer salary structures and compensation frameworks.
Lead and support the annual compensation review cycle, including merit, incentive, communications, analysis, and approval processes.
Design, implement, and maintain incentive and recognition programs.
Lead Wawanesa's job architecture, including governance, job evaluation, documentation, and titling.
Monitor the effectiveness, utilization, and value of compensation and recognition programs and recommend improvements.
Act as a trusted advisor to leaders and People teams on compensation, recognition, and reward decisions.
Lead or contribute subject-matter expertise to Total Rewards projects and People Strategy initiatives.
Ensure compliance with applicable pay-related legislation, regulatory requirements, policies, and governance processes.
Use technology, automation, analytics, and reporting tools to improve program administration, employee experience, and decision-making.

Requirements

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.
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.
Ability to build positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Strong organizational skills, discretion, and sound judgment.
Ability to work independently while managing changing priorities and highly confidential compensation information.
Demonstrated commitment to continuous learning, collaboration, change, and mentoring others.

Skills

Compensation
Total Rewards
Market pricing
Benchmarking
Salary structures
Job evaluation
Compensation cycles
Compensation analytics
Microsoft Excel
Analytical skills
Problem-solving skills
Business acumen
Interpersonal skills
Consultation skills
Influencing skills
Organizational skills
Continuous learning
Collaboration
Change management
Mentoring

Location

Winnipeg, MB
Vancouver, BC
Calgary, AB
Edmonton, AB
Toronto (North York), ON
Kitchener, ON
Ottawa, ON
Montreal, QC
Moncton, NB
Dartmouth, NS

Work Type

Hybrid
Full-time
Part-time

Experience Level

Senior
Minimum five years of progressive experience

Education Level

Diploma or degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, Commerce or a related discipline
Certified Compensation Professional designation

Salary/Compensations

$85,000 - $115,000

Benefits

Annual bonus plan
Leave of absence top-up programs
Generous vacation time
Personal days
Premium free benefits
Pension plan

About the Company

Founded in 1896, The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company is one of Canada’s largest mutual insurers, 100% owned by its members, with more than $4.1 billion in annual revenue and $12.5 billion in assets.
Headquartered in Winnipeg, Wawanesa is the parent company of Wawanesa Life, which provides life insurance solutions throughout Canada, and Western Financial Group, a leading national distributor of personal and business insurance.
In March of 2026, Wawanesa entered into an agreement to acquire Everest Insurance Company of Canada to strengthen its commercial insurance capabilities and advance its long-term growth strategy.
Wawanesa proudly serves more than 1.8 million members and is home to more than 3,000 employees across Canada.
The company actively gives back to organizations that strengthen communities, donating more than $4 million annually to charitable organizations, including more than $2 million each year in support of people on the front lines of climate change.
Learn more at wawanesa.com.

Equal Opportunity

Wawanesa is committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) and believes 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 jobs@wawanesa.com.
All Wawanesa job applicants are subject to Wawanesa's Privacy Policy.
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.