Senior Total Rewards Specialist

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is a regulatory agency that reports to the Ministry of the Attorney General. The AGCO is responsible for regulating the alcohol, gaming, horseracing, and cannabis retail sectors in Ontario, in accordance with the principles of honesty and integrity, and in the public interest.   The Human Resources Branch is seeking a seasoned and strategic Senior Total Rewards Specialist to lead the design, development and execution of total rewards programs to ensure market competitiveness and alignment with organizational goals. In this role, you will report to the Senior Manager, Human Resources and oversee the full spectrum of compensation and benefits programs, including pension plans. This is an exciting opportunity to bring your expertise in total rewards to a role that makes a meaningful impact on both employees and organizational outcomes.   In this role, the successful candidate will: Lead the design, implementation, communication, administration, maintenance, and continuous improvement of total rewards programs, policies, processes, and guidelines. Serve as the compensation subject matter expert and trusted advisor to Senior Human Resources Business Partners, People Leaders, and senior leaders on complex compensation matters. Design, maintain and administer salary structures and compensation frameworks that reflect economic conditions, organizational needs, and industry practices. Lead and support the annual compensation review cycle, including merit, incentive, communications, analysis and approval processes. Lead job architecture, including governance, job evaluation, documentation and titling, and drive consistent role alignment and adoption across the organization. Lead the annual compensation and market review process, including data analysis, cost modelling, reporting, and evidence-based recommendations. Participate in compensation surveys, market research and benchmarking; analyze workforce insights, employee feedback, external market developments and future-of-work trends; and identify implications for competitive positioning and evolving workforce needs. Oversee compensation, pension, and benefits plan administration, to ensure an effective stakeholder experience and compliance with plan provisions. Analyze internal equity, pay competitiveness, compensation spend, benefits utilization, cost trends, and renewal information. Lead employee communications related to Total Rewards programs, including program updates, rollouts, and supporting materials. Conduct market research and benchmarking, monitor industry trends, and recommend competitive total rewards strategies aligned with workforce and organizational needs. Ensure total rewards practices comply with collective agreements and applicable legislation, including pay equity and the Employment Standards Act, and support effective governance and risk management. Lead total rewards and HR projects from planning through implementation, translating HR strategy and agency priorities into practical initiatives and measurable improvements. Use technology, automation, analytics and reporting tools to improve program administration, employee experience and decision-making, including dashboards and insights that support workforce decisions. Contribute total rewards expertise to HRIS modernization by defining requirements, improving workflows and data standards, supporting testing, and enabling accurate program administration. Partner with cross-functional teams, external providers, and plan administrators, and provide program guidance or training to promote consistent service delivery and successful change. Maintain current professional knowledge through research, professional networks, publications, conferences, and continuing education. The ideal candidate will have:    Post-secondary education in Human Resources, Business Administration, Data Sciences, or a related field, or equivalent work experience. Five or more years of progressive HR experience supporting compensation and total rewards programs, policies, processes, and administration. Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designation is preferred; Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) or Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) designation is an asset. Advanced knowledge of compensation practices, benefits, pensions, job evaluation methodologies—preferably the Hay point method—and applicable employment legislation, including the Employment Standards Act, Human Rights Code, and Pay Equity Act. Demonstrated ability to design, communicate, implement, govern, and continuously improve total rewards policies, processes, and programs. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with demonstrated ability to collect, validate, analyze, and interpret HR data; conduct cost modelling; and create accurate reports, dashboards, visualizations, and recommendations. Proven project management capability, including managing priorities independently and collaboratively from planning through successful implementation. Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities. Experience supporting HR technology or HRIS initiatives, including requirements definition, process design, data validation, testing, and implementation. Strong customer-service orientation and relationship-management skills, with experience partnering across the organization and with external vendors, consultants, and plan providers. Superior written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex information, educate stakeholders, and provide clear, evidence-based advice to senior leaders. Strong organizational skills, discretion, sound judgement and the ability to work independently while managing changing priorities and highly confidential compensation information. The successful candidate must be eligible to work in Canada and will be subject to a criminal background check.