Head of Reward

DAC Beachcroft; Bristol; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading law firm in the UK seeks a Head of Reward Department to shape and deliver comprehensive compensation and benefits strategies. You will manage complex processes, ensuring engagement and compliance across jurisdictions while supporting HR teams globally. The role requires proven experience in reward operations, excellent stakeholder management skills, and advanced data analysis abilities. This permanent position is based in Bristol and is crucial for attracting and retaining top talent without compromising operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Experience with international reward operations, including exposure to diverse locations.
• Ability to resolve operational issues effectively.
• Comfortable working with large datasets and producing clear reports.

Responsibilities

• Shape and deliver compensation and benefits strategies across jurisdictions.
• Manage and execute reward processes, data preparation, analysis, and reporting.
• Provide practical advice to HR colleagues and managers on reward queries.
• Lead annual reward cycles including market benchmarking and salary reviews.
• Manage two direct reports and contribute to operational delivery.

Skills

Proven experience in hands-on reward and benefits operations

Ability to manage supplier relationships

Technical knowledge of pay, benefits, pensions

Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and data analysis

Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills

Highly detail-oriented

Job description

Head of Reward Department: Business Services - Human Resources

Employment Type: Permanent | Location: Bristol

In this pivotal role, you will shape and deliver compensation and benefits strategies across multiple jurisdictions, ensuring accuracy, compliance and engagement at every stage. As a hands‑on leader, you will combine operational excellence with strategic insight, managing complex processes, analysing data and implementing initiatives that make a tangible difference. Reporting directly to the HR Director, you will play a key role in evolving our global Reward and Benefits offering and influencing how we attract, retain and motivate talent worldwide.

Key Responsibilities

• Hands‑on delivery of reward activities: Personally manage and execute reward processes, including data preparation, analysis, and reporting for annual cycles and ad‑hoc projects.
• Act as the go‑to expert for reward queries: Provide practical advice and solutions to HR colleagues and managers across the Firm, including international and expatriate considerations.
• Partner closely with HR teams globally: Ensure knowledge transfer and support local advisors where applicable.
• Lead and actively run annual reward cycles in the UK and Dublin: Include market benchmarking, salary reviews, budgeting, approvals, and preparing communications tailored to local jurisdictions.
• Manage two direct reports: Focus on coaching, support operational delivery and contribute to complex tasks and data challenges.
• Maintain and update reward policies and processes: Ensure they reflect best practice and are clearly communicated across the Firm.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with external brokers and consultants: Coordinate benefits renewals and resolve issues promptly.
• Review and enhance reward and benefits offerings across regions: Lead practical implementation of improvements and global projects.
• Ensure all legislative reward reporting is completed accurately and on time: Work closely with HR Data and Systems teams.
• Stay informed on legal and market practices in reward: Apply this knowledge to day‑to‑day decisions and advise senior stakeholders.
• Regularly review global reward trends and benefits benchmarks: Maintain competitive positioning and support talent attraction and retention.

Firm Wide Responsibilities

Operate with a global mindset, ensuring consistency and alignment across regions; act in the best interests of the Firm internally and externally; manage risk and compliance issues, including data security, in a regulated environment; collaborate to mitigate commercial risk across jurisdictions.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Proven experience in hands‑on reward and benefits operations, including international exposure (USA, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dublin).
• Ability to manage supplier relationships and resolve operational issues effectively.
• Technical knowledge of pay, benefits, pensions, and international mobility.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and data analysis; comfortable working with large datasets and producing clear reports.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to explain complex reward concepts simply.
• Highly detail‑oriented and confident handling multi‑jurisdictional issues.

Desirable Experience

Delivering strategic reward initiatives while remaining actively involved in operational execution; background in designing and implementing international benefits programs; understanding of global compensation structures.