Director of Reward, Benefits & Recognition

University of Manchester; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Annual leave 29 days + holidays

Ride to work + EV car scheme

Job summary

University of Manchester seeks an experienced Director of Reward, Benefits & Recognition to lead the Centre of Expertise and deliver a modern, inclusive reward proposition across the university. You will shape strategy, drive improvements, and lead governance with senior stakeholders.

You will oversee job evaluation, benefits, recognition, and the annual performance cycle while ensuring competitive offers, equity, and value. The role supports hybrid working and strong external collaboration.

Qualifications

• Senior-level reward leadership experience in a large, complex and unionised organisation.
• Proven ability to translate strategy into measurable improvements while balancing long-term priorities with delivery.
• Strong people leadership and the ability to build capable, inclusive teams.
• Credibility with senior stakeholders, with excellent communication and relationship management skills.

Responsibilities

• Leading an evidence-led reward strategy that is competitive regionally, nationally and internationally.
• Continually improving benefits and recognition, strengthening the employee value proposition and leading pensions service.
• Using data, market intelligence and KPIs to address pay gaps, equal pay and wider reward outcomes.
• Evolving job evaluation, job families and role architecture, and leading an inclusive annual performance cycle.
• Building relationships across the University and sector, leading high-performing teams with senior governance insight.

Skills

Reward leadership

People leadership

Stakeholder management

Data-driven decisions

Pensions management

Job description

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
• Building strong relationships across the University and sector, leading high-performing teams and providing senior governance groups with high-quality insight and advice

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: [e-mail]

General enquiries and administrative support

[e-mail]

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.