Specialist, HR Compensation & Benefits

About the Role

Join First Quantum Minerals at our Kansanshi Mining Plc location in Solwezi, Zambia, as a Specialist in HR Compensation and Benefits. This role centers on crafting, executing, and improving a comprehensive total rewards framework that aligns with business goals by ensuring competitive, equitable, and budget-conscious remuneration and benefits. The position requires providing expert consultation on job evaluations, salary structures, incentive programs, and benefits, tailored to attract and maintain critical talent in a demanding mining environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Support and help implement the Total Rewards strategy aligning with organizational and workforce priorities.
• Deliver specialist advisory services on compensation and benefits to HR teams and business leaders.
• Conduct job evaluation using recognized methodologies and maintain job grading and career frameworks.
• Participate in remuneration surveys and benchmark pay against industry standards to identify gaps and risks.
• Develop and review salary ranges and structures, analyzing pay positioning and identifying equity issues such as compression or inversion.
• Support the annual merit and salary review exercises with financial impact modeling.
• Design, evaluate, and recommend improvements for short- and long-term incentive and performance reward schemes.
• Offer targeted advice for critical skills rewards and retention strategies for scarce or leadership roles.
• Evaluate and recommend enhancements to employee benefits programs based on utilization, cost, and market practices.
• Collaborate on budgeting for compensation and analyze spending against financial plans, ensuring commercial sustainability.
• Address unique mining sector considerations including shift allowances, site conditions, labor markets, and operational safety in reward programs.
• Comply with all company and legal standards across health, safety, environment, finance, HR, and quality.
• Fulfill additional tasks as assigned by the Superintendent, Total Rewards, and Workforce Planning.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Industrial Psychology, or related areas.
• Professional HR certification or membership with recognized bodies (e.g., ZIHRM).
• Additional qualifications in Compensation & Benefits, Reward Management, Job Evaluation, or HR Analytics are advantageous.
• Minimum 5 to 8 years of hands-on experience in compensation, reward management, or HR analytics.
• Proven expertise in job evaluation, salary structuring, market benchmarking, incentive plan design, and benefits management.
• Experience within mining, heavy industry, manufacturing, or complex operational settings highly preferred.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in Total Rewards management including job evaluation and compensation benchmarking.
• Competence in salary structure and incentive scheme design.
• Capability in benefits oversight, reward analytics, pay equity assessments, and financial modeling.
• Strong skills in HR data analytics, reward survey analysis, HRIS systems, and advanced Excel.
• Familiarity with policy development and governance.

Behavioral Competencies

• Strategic and analytical thinking with sound professional judgment.
• Commercial awareness and results-driven approach.
• Strong confidentiality, integrity, and attention to detail.
• Effective stakeholder management and communication capabilities.
• Consultative mindset with problem-solving skills and collaborative work style.

Operational Requirements

• Commitment to ethical standards and confidentiality.
• Adaptability and dedication to continuous learning.
• Technology proficiency including Microsoft Office, advanced Excel, and HR systems such as Workday.