Director of Reward, Benefits & Recognition
We are seeking an experienced and collaborative Director of Reward, Benefits & Recognition to lead our Reward, Benefits and Recognition Centre of Expertise. This is an opportunity to shape a modern, inclusive and competitive reward offer for one of the UK’s leading universities, helping us attract, retain and recognise outstanding people while delivering value, fairness and agility.
You will be responsible for:
Leading an evidence-led reward strategy that is competitive regionally, nationally and internationally
Continually improving our benefits and recognition offer, strengthening our employee value proposition and leading the University’s pensions service
Using robust data, market intelligence and clear KPIs to address pay gaps, equal pay and wider reward outcomes
Evolving job evaluation, job families and role architecture, while leading an effective and inclusive annual performance review cycle
About You
We encourage applications from individuals with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. You should demonstrate:
Essential Criteria:
Senior-level reward leadership experience in a large, complex and unionised organisation, covering strategy, policy, benchmarking, job frameworks and benefits.
A track record of turning strategy into measurable improvements while balancing long-term priorities with excellent operational delivery
Strong people leadership and the ability to build capable, inclusive and high-performing teams
Credibility and influence with senior stakeholders, supported by excellent communication, negotiation and relationship-management skills. Experience of organisational transformation, with sound commercial, budget and financial management capability, and a commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and the University’s values
Our benefits include:
• Generous employer contribution pension
• 29 days annual leave plus bank holidays, along with Christmas closure
• Ride to work and EV car scheme available
For more information, please see University of Manchester Benefits. You can also find information on our Flexible and Hybrid working here.
We are an open place of enquiry and challenge. We embrace and celebrate difference, diversity and debate, and we pride ourselves on being a place of education, learning and community where we are able, within the law, to question and test received wisdom, express new ideas and explore controversial or unpopular topics and opinions. Find out more from our Freedom of Speech Policy.
Enquiries about the role, shortlisting and interviews
Name: Lewis Burne
Email Address: talent.attraction@manchester.ac.uk
General enquiries and administrative support
talent.attraction@manchester.ac.uk
Technical and job portal support
For technical support please call 0161 850 2004 or visit
https://knowledge.jobtrain.co.uk/jobseeker
Applications close at midnight on the closing date.
Please see the link to the candidate brochure and job description, attached below, for further information about the role and selection criteria.
