Rewards Strategy Lead (Public Sector)

Korn Ferry; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Korn Ferry is seeking a Senior Principal to lead transformative reward projects across the UK public sector, shaping pay strategies that affect thousands and drive equity.

You will collaborate with councils and healthcare bodies, designing pay and grading structures, equity analyses, and governance frameworks to support sustainable reward systems. This is a high-impact, strategic delivery role across multiple public sector clients.

Qualifications

• Deep expertise in Total Reward, Compensation & Benefits, or HR strategy.
• Experience in job evaluation, pay benchmarking, and reward design.
• Strategic thinking paired with hands-on delivery skills.
• Curiosity and respect for the public sector's unique challenges and opportunities.
• A passion for making reward fairer, smarter, and more impactful.

Responsibilities

• Lead transformative reward projects across the UK public sector.
• Design bespoke pay and grading structures reflecting modern workforce needs.
• Advise on policy and governance frameworks that support sustainable reward systems.
• Collaborate with senior stakeholders to align reward with organizational strategy.
• Conduct equity audits and data-driven analyses to inform decisions.

Skills

Total Reward

Compensation & Benefits

HR strategy

Job evaluation

Pay benchmarking

Reward design

Strategic thinking

Delivery skills

Public sector

Job description

Are you ready to reimagine how public sector organizations reward their people? At Korn Ferry, we're not just consultants-we're changemakers. We're looking for a Senior Principal to lead transformative reward projects across the UK public sector. This is your chance to shape pay strategies that impact thousands , drive equity, and help councils and healthcare bodies navigate the future of work.

Why Public Sector Reward Is the Place to Be

Public sector reward is no longer just about compliance-it's about innovation, fairness, and strategic impact .

You'll be working on: Designing bespoke pay and grading structures that reflect modern workforce needs. Solving complex equity challenges through data-driven equal pay analysis. Advising on policy and governance frameworks that support sustainable reward systems. Collaborating with senior stakeholders to align reward with organizational strategy and public value. From evaluating job structures to conducting equity audits, you will play a pivotal role in shaping how public institutions attract, retain, and engage their workforce.

What You'll Bring

• Deep expertise in Total Reward , Compensation & Benefits, or HR strategy.
• Experience in job evaluation , pay benchmarking , and reward design .
• Strategic thinking paired with hands-on delivery skills .
• Curiosity and respect for the public sector's unique challenges and opportunities .
• A passion for making reward fairer, smarter, and more impactful .

What You'll Gain

• A platform to lead high-impact projects that matter to communities.
• A collaborative, values-driven culture where your voice and ideas are heard .
• Access to global expertise , cutting-edge tools, and continuous development.
• The chance to mentor others , shape thought leadership, and grow your career.

Join Us in Making Reward Matter

You can be based in London, Manchester or Central UK as we work with clients across all areas of the UK. You must be prepared to travel and commit to regular overnight(s) - we
value our face to face interactions with clients to build trust and valued partnerships. If you're excited by the idea of building reward systems that serve society , and you want to work with a team that's as passionate as you are, we'd love to hear from you.