Reward Operations & Governance Manager in City of London

I am partnering with a global, market-leading organisation undergoing a significant reward transformation to appoint a Reward Operations & Governance Manager.

This is a high-profile opportunity to play a key role in shaping, embedding and governing a modern global reward framework across a complex and evolving business. Sitting at the centre of the Reward function, the successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring reward processes, governance frameworks and controls are robust, scalable and consistently applied across multiple business areas and geographies. Working closely with Reward Partners, particularly within the Consumer division, as well as senior HR and business stakeholders, this role will help drive consistency, governance and operational excellence across the reward lifecycle.

The organisation is currently undertaking a major transformation programme. This role will be instrumental in ensuring the successful transition from design into sustainable business-as-usual operations. This is an excellent opportunity for a reward professional with a strong governance mindset who thrives in transformation environments and enjoys working across a broad stakeholder landscape.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead reward governance activity across compensation, grading, job architecture and annual reward cycles.
• Own and continuously improve reward operational processes, controls and governance frameworks.
• Support the implementation and ongoing embedding of a global reward transformation programme.
• Partner closely with Reward Partners, HR leaders and business stakeholders to ensure consistent and equitable application of reward policies and frameworks.
• Govern job evaluation processes, grading reviews and reward exceptions.
• Maintain oversight of global reward governance processes, ensuring appropriate controls and decision-making frameworks are in place.
• Facilitate governance forums and steering groups involving senior stakeholders.
• Develop and deliver reward reporting, management information and governance insights.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies, audit requirements and relevant regulatory obligations.
• Manage external reward consultancy relationships, including WTW.
• Drive continuous improvement, automation and simplification across reward operations and governance activities.
• Support annual compensation review, bonus and incentive programmes.
• Monitor risks, controls and data integrity across reward systems and processes.
• Act as a key link between reward strategy, operational delivery and governance.

Essential Experience:

• Experience within Reward, Reward Operations, HR Governance, HR Transformation or a similar specialist function.
• Proven experience implementing and maintaining governance frameworks, controls and operational processes.
• Experience supporting large-scale reward, HR or organisational transformation programmes.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence and challenge constructively at all levels.
• Excellent analytical, reporting and problem-solving capability.
• Experience interpreting workforce, reward or organisational data to inform decision-making.
• Strong process improvement and operational excellence mindset.
• Ability to navigate complexity and manage multiple priorities across a diverse stakeholder group.

Desirable Experience:

• Experience working within a global or matrix organisation.
• Knowledge of job architecture, job evaluation and grading methodologies.
• Experience working with WTW reward frameworks, benchmarking methodologies or global grading structures.
• Understanding of compensation, benefits and reward governance principles.
• Experience supporting global reward review and remuneration cycles.
• Project management and change management experience.

Why This Opportunity?

This role offers the chance to join an organisation at a pivotal stage in its global reward transformation journey. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to influence how reward governance is embedded across the business, helping create a consistent, fair and scalable reward framework while partnering with senior leaders and playing a visible role in a major transformation programme. For individuals who enjoy balancing governance, stakeholder engagement and change, this role offers significant scope, visibility and impact within a global organisation.