Reward Manager

We are seeking an experienced and commercially focused Reward Manager to lead the development, review, and delivery of the organisation's compensation, benefits, and reward strategy. This role will ensure that reward programmes are competitive, equitable, cost-effective, and aligned with business objectives while supporting the attraction, retention, and engagement of talent.

The Reward Manager will act as the subject matter expert across compensation and benefits, partnering closely with senior stakeholders, Finance, People teams, and external providers. The role will also oversee relationships with outsourced payroll and benefits vendors, driving service excellence, compliance, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Reward Strategy & Compensation

• Lead the design, development, and ongoing review of the organisation's reward framework and philosophy.
• Conduct regular benchmarking and market analysis to ensure competitive remuneration practices.
• Review and make recommendations regarding salary structures, job grading, pay bands, and role evaluations.
• Lead annual compensation review cycles, including salary reviews, promotions, and bonus processes.
• Analyse reward data and provide insights and recommendations to leadership teams.
• Ensure reward practices support pay equity, transparency, and organisational goals.
• Develop business cases and recommendations for new reward initiatives where appropriate.

Benefits Management

• Own and continuously evaluate the employee benefits offering to ensure competitiveness and value for employees.
• Manage benefits renewal processes and vendor negotiations.
• Proactively identify and recommend new benefits platforms, wellbeing initiatives, and reward technologies that enhance employee experience and operational efficiency.
• Monitor market trends and emerging benefits practices to ensure the organisation remains competitive.
• Drive employee awareness and engagement with available benefits programmes.

Payroll & Third-Party Vendor Management

• Act as the primary relationship manager for outsourced payroll providers and other reward-related external partners.
• Oversee service delivery, governance, performance management, and compliance of third-party providers.
• Ensure payroll processes operate effectively, accurately, and in accordance with relevant legislation.
• Lead regular service reviews and manage contractual relationships with external suppliers.
• Identify process improvement opportunities and ensure service-level agreements are achieved.
• Escalate and resolve complex payroll or reward-related issues as required.

Governance, Compliance & Risk

• Ensure all reward, benefits, and payroll practices comply with relevant employment, tax, pension, and regulatory requirements.
• Support gender pay gap reporting and other reward-related reporting obligations where applicable.
• Maintain robust governance and controls across reward processes.
• Assess risks associated with reward programmes and recommend mitigation strategies.

Stakeholder Management

• Build effective relationships with senior leaders, Finance, HR Business Partners, and external suppliers.
• Provide expert advice and guidance on reward matters to managers and senior stakeholders.
• Present reward analysis, recommendations, and market insights to leadership audiences.
• Support organisational change programmes from a reward and compensation perspective.

Experience & Qualifications

Essential

• Significant experience in compensation, benefits, reward, or total rewards management.
• Proven experience managing outsourced payroll providers and third-party vendor relationships.
• Strong understanding of compensation structures, salary benchmarking, and reward frameworks.
• Experience leading annual compensation review processes.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex reward and payroll data.
• Knowledge of UK reward, payroll, tax, pensions, and employment legislation.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Experience delivering process improvements and implementing new reward or benefits solutions.

Desirable

• Experience introducing reward technology, benefits platforms, or payroll system enhancements.
• Reward or HR professional qualification (CIPD, WorldatWork, or equivalent).
• Exposure to job evaluation methodologies and organisational design.

Key Competencies

• Commercial acumen
• Strategic thinking
• Data-driven decision making
• Influencing and stakeholder management
• Vendor and contract management
• Attention to detail
• Problem solving
• Change management
• High levels of discretion and confidentiality

Success Measures

• Competitive and sustainable reward framework in place.
• Effective delivery of annual compensation review processes.
• Strong employee engagement with benefits programmes.
• High-performing outsourced payroll and vendor partnerships.
• Improved reward governance, compliance, and operational efficiency.
• Delivery of innovative reward and benefits solutions that enhance employee experience and support business growth.