Reward Specialist

Cognita Ltd; City Of London; Remote; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A global education leader is seeking a Reward Specialist to develop impactful compensation and benefits strategies. The role requires a minimum of 2 years in a similar position, influencing stakeholders while working with multiple countries. Key responsibilities include delivering Reward policies, managing benefits providers, and supporting pay award processes. The position offers competitive salary and comprehensive benefits, including private medical insurance and generous holiday allowances.

Benefits

Competitive salary based on experience

Private Medical Insurance

Healthcare Cash Plan

GPPP Pension

25 Days Holiday

Employee Assistance Programme

Employee Discounts Site

Professional Subscriptions reimbursement

Qualifications

• A minimum of 2+ years experience in Reward, Compensation and Benefits.
• Proven experience working with multiple countries.
• Excellent project management skills and stakeholder engagement experience.

Responsibilities

• Deliver clear advice on Reward & Benefits policies.
• Collaborate with HR teams across countries.
• Design and implement KPIs for reward decisions.
• Monitor legislative changes affecting compensation.
• Lead compensation benchmarking using internal and external data.
• Manage benefits renewal processes and provider relationships.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Data analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Job description

Full-Time | Permanent | Remote

About Cognita

Cognita is a global leader in independent education. Founded in 2004, we are a growing community of 100+ schools in 20 countries - in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East - serving more than 85,000 students. Each of our schools are proudly unique, however our collective purpose is to create an environment where everyone can, 'Thrive in a rapidly evolving world'.

About the role

Are you ready to shape a reward strategy that makes a real impact? We're looking for a Reward Specialist who can bring expertise across compensation and benefits, with experience that goes beyond the UK. In this role, you'll influence senior stakeholders, manage key relationships with benefit providers, and play a vital part in ensuring our people feel valued and rewarded.

Based on our team structure we are looking for someone who has significant experience in compensation, leading pay awards and annual bonuses.

You'll thrive if you're analytical and commercially minded, confident working with data, skilled in advanced Excel, and able to translate insights into meaningful reward solutions. If you're proactive, driven, and keen to design and deliver competitive pay awards, this is an opportunity to make your mark in a role where your ideas and expertise will be valued.

This role is ideal for someone who is:

• Internationally experienced and culturally aware
• Collaborative and engaging
• Brings a composed, personable approach with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels
• Comfortable working at pace and juggling multiple priorities
• Genuinely passionate about creating a positive employee experience

What you will be doing

• Delivering clear, pragmatic advice on Reward & Benefits policies.
• Collaborating with HR teams across countries, to ensure alignment in communication and delivery
• Design and implement KPIs that support equitable and strategic reward decisions
• Monitor legislative changes and assess their impact on compensation and benefits
• Support the annual pay award process and job evaluation activities
• Lead compensation benchmarking using internal data and external reward surveys
• Deliver UK gender pay gap reporting and support global ESG-linked reward projects
• Manage benefits renewal processes and relationships with providers, recommending improvements aligned to our employee value proposition

To view a full Job Description, please view our detailed Candidate pack.

Who we are looking for

Experience:

• A minimum of 2+ years experience in Reward, Compensation and Benefits at Junior Manager, Reward Specialist or Senior Advisor level.
• Proven experience working with multiple countries.
• Excellent project management skills and stakeholder engagement experience

Skills & Attributes:

• Advanced Excel and data analysis capabilities
• Exceptional communicator with a strong team ethos and people-first mindset
• Organised, agile and comfortable managing competing demands
• Naturally solutions-driven and committed to continuous improvement
• High personal integrity and professionalism
• Confident working both independently and as part of a remote global team

Benefits at Cognita

• Competitive salary based on experience
• Private Medical Insurance & Healthcare Cash Plan
• GPPP Pension
• Life Assurance
• 25 Days Holiday (plus bank holidays)
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Employee Discounts Site
• Professional Subscriptions reimbursement

How to Apply

Complete your application before the closing date: 07/09/2025.

We encourage early applications; we reserve the right to interview and appoint prior to the closing date for the right applicant.

Please note previous candidates need not apply.

Cognita Schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers and other third parties to share this commitment. Safer recruitment practice and pre-employment background checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.

We are an equal opportunities employer committed to diversity and treating all employees with dignity and respect regardless of background.