Manager Total Rewards

Confidential Careers; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 350,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential Careers is seeking an experienced Manager, Rewards to lead compensation, benefits, job evaluation and grading across multiple units in Abu Dhabi. The role partners with HR leadership, Finance and business stakeholders to drive strategic rewards initiatives and ensure a competitive, equitable, and performance-driven framework.

The ideal candidate will manage salary reviews, market benchmarking using Mercer/Korn Ferry/WTW/Aon surveys, and governance of rewards policies and

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of experience in Total Rewards, Compensation & Benefits, Rewards Analytics, or Compensation Management.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and continuous enhancement of the organization's rewards philosophy and framework.

Job description

A leading Abu Dhabi-based diversified group is seeking an experienced Manager, Rewards to lead the design, implementation, administration, and governance of compensation, benefits, job evaluation, grading, and rewards programs across multiple business units. The successful candidate will play a critical role in ensuring the organization maintains a competitive, equitable, and performance-driven rewards framework aligned with business objectives, talent attraction, retention, and employee engagement. This role will work closely with HR leadership, Finance, People Partners, and business stakeholders to drive strategic rewards initiatives and support organizational growth.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and continuous enhancement of the organization's rewards philosophy and framework.
• Develop compensation structures, salary bands, grading frameworks, and rewards policies.
• Ensure rewards programs align with business strategy and market competitiveness.
• Support executive leadership with rewards recommendations and decision-making.
• Manage annual salary review, merit increase, promotion, and market adjustment cycles.
• Lead compensation benchmarking and market pricing activities utilizing Mercer, Korn Ferry, WTW, Aon, and other market surveys.
• Evaluate and optimize employee benefits programs.
• Develop recommendations relating to pay positioning, competitiveness, and internal equity.
• Lead job evaluation and grading activities.
• Maintain job architecture and career framework structures.
• Ensure consistency and integrity of role classifications and organizational grading.
• Support organization restructuring initiatives from a rewards perspective.
• Develop rewards dashboards and executive reports.
• Analyze compensation trends, workforce costs, and rewards effectiveness.
• Support workforce planning and budgeting activities.
• Provide insights and recommendations to senior management.
• Establish and maintain rewards governance processes and controls.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies and approved compensation frameworks.
• Support internal audits and governance reviews.
• Maintain rewards policies, procedures, and documentation.
• Partner with HR Business Partners and business leaders on rewards-related decisions.
• Provide guidance regarding compensation, grading, and organizational design matters.
• Lead and mentor rewards team members where applicable.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources, Finance, Economics, Business Administration, Accounting, or a related discipline.
• Master's Degree is advantageous.
• Professional certification in Compensation & Benefits or Rewards Management is preferred.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in Total Rewards, Compensation & Benefits, Rewards Analytics, or Compensation Management.
• Proven experience leading compensation reviews, salary benchmarking, and market pricing exercises.
• Strong experience with job evaluation, job grading, and job architecture frameworks.
• Experience working within diversified groups, holding companies, conglomerates, or large corporate organizations.
• Strong analytical capability with advanced Excel and reporting skills.
• Experience utilizing compensation survey data from Mercer, Korn Ferry, WTW, Aon, or similar providers.