Reward and Payroll Manager

Oakleaf Partnership; London; On-site; GBP 94,000 - 114,000; Full time

Job description

Head of Reward & Payroll

Location: London (with frequent travel to Birmingham)
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £94,000 – £114,000

About the Role

This is a pivotal leadership opportunity for an experienced Reward professional to shape and evolve a critical function within one of Europe’s most high-profile infrastructure programmes. With transformation underway, a new CEO in post, and a clear strategic reset, this role offers the chance to make a lasting impact at scale.

You’ll lead the Reward & Payroll agenda-moving away from a consultancy-led model to build a credible, future-fit internal capability. This is not just a technical reward role: it’s about driving change, navigating political nuance, and influencing key stakeholders across government, unions, and executive leadership.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead & Transform the Reward & Payroll function to reflect private sector best practices within public governance frameworks.
• Advise at the Top: Serve as a trusted advisor to the Executive Committee, RemCo, and wider HR leadership on pay, policy, and strategy.
• Drive Strategy: Develop and embed a long-term, sustainable reward approach aligned with future capability and cultural goals.
• Navigate Complexity: Balance ambition with accountability-ensuring compliance with public sector expectations while delivering innovation.
• Engage Stakeholders: Build and maintain strong relationships with unions, government departments, and senior internal stakeholders.

What You’ll Need

• A strong track record in strategic reward, with demonstrable experience delivering impact in large, complex organisations.
• Private sector grounding-ideally in technical, commercial, or infrastructure-led businesses.
• Experience working in highly scrutinised environments, ideally with union engagement and public/government oversight.
• The ability to influence at Board level and operate confidently in politically sensitive settings.
• A collaborative, resilient leadership style-capable of shifting gears and leading change through ambiguity and bureaucracy.

We’re Looking for Someone Who Is

• Strategic, but hands-on: Able to shape high-level thinking while rolling up their sleeves to deliver.
• Politically sharp: Understands the sensitivities of operating in a public-facing, government-involved environment.
• Commercially grounded: Brings private sector insight to public sector challenges.
• Credible and humble: Builds trust and influence without ego or the need to “consult.”
• Curious and adaptable: Open to learning, pivoting, and finding creative solutions.

Interested?

If you’re ready to take on a transformative leadership challenge in a complex, high-profile setting-and help shape the future of a nationally significant project-we’d love to hear from you.