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- Tasks: Lead the design of reward frameworks to attract and motivate talent globally.
- Company: Join the British Council, a global leader in cultural relations and educational opportunities.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and competitive salaries with bonuses.
- Why this job: Shape global reward strategies while making a real impact on talent retention and motivation.
- Qualifications: Experience in commercial reward schemes and strong stakeholder management skills required.
- Other info: This is a hybrid role based in the UK or Poland, with no relocation support.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 84000 £ per year.
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Location: United Kingdom (all offices) and Poland (Krakow/Warsaw)
- For the UK: Candidates should have access to a British Council office; this is a hybrid role.
- For Poland: The role is based in either Krakow or Warsaw.
Contract: Indefinite Contract (Permanent Role)
Apply by: Wednesday, 03rd Sept 2025 23:59 Local time
Interview window: 03rd week of September
The starting salary for this role is PLN 24,500 gross per month if based in Warsaw, or PLN 23,000 gross per month if based in Krakow, with the final offer negotiable based on skills and experience. In Poland, benefits include a 13th-month salary (annual bonus), paid holidays, and other standard benefits.
In the UK, the starting salary is £60,000 per annum, with the final offer negotiable based on skills and experience. London-based candidates also receive an additional £3,300 annual London Market Allowance (LMA). Benefits include 32 days of annual leave plus public holidays, 3 days of volunteering leave, and a career average defined benefit pension scheme.
This role is open to applicants who already have the legal right to work in Poland and the UK at the time of application. Relocation and visa sponsorship are not available. The British Council supports flexible working, including hybrid arrangements , subject to line manager approval and operational requirements.
Role Context
This role is a part of global Total Reward Centre of Expertise, partnering with commercial leaders and regional teams to design and implement performance-aligned reward frameworks that attract, retain, and motivate talent. With support from the wider team and the Director of Total Reward, the role will lead the development of commercial incentive schemes that drive revenue, margin, and customer outcomes, ensuring they are market-aligned and self-funding. It will also contribute to shaping global reward policies and practices, addressing emerging business needs and supporting strategic transformation initiatives.
In addition to its global focus, the role includes leadership responsibilities within the Total Reward team, helping build commercial reward capability and guiding team members to deliver the reward strategy effectively. It will work closely with other Total Reward Business Partners, the Global Benefits Policy Lead, and the Reward Analyst to ensure cohesive and responsive reward solutions. A deep understanding of British Council’s strategic context and global reward trends is essential to succeed in this role.
Main responsibilities
The role requires deep professional services expertise in total reward, leveraging best practices and strategic insight to shape global, regional, and business-specific reward strategies. The role-holder will lead the design and implementation of commercial reward frameworks—including incentive schemes, bonus plans, and performance-linked pay structures—ensuring they are self-funding and aligned with business performance metrics. This includes developing ROI models, benchmarking against market standards, and integrating commercial reward with broader total reward strategies. The role also supportscapability building within the Total Reward team through coaching, tools, and knowledge sharing, while staying current with external reward trends and practices.
In a consultative capacity, the role partners with commercial leaders to translate strategic goals into effective reward solutions, offering expert advice on governance, risk, and compliance. It involves working with analytics teams to develop data dashboards and insights that inform evidence-based decisions. The role also contributes to solving cross-functional reward challenges and supports the development of communication materials and training for leadership teams. Strong stakeholder management is key, including maintaining relationships with regional and business unit leaders, consulting with UK Trade Union representatives, and ensuring alignment of reward initiatives with organisational goals.
Role-Specific Skills
Data Literacy
- Data-driven: Grasps and uses data to inform decisions and practice (Exemplary)
Business Acumen
- Commercial Fluency: Understands organizational financial requirements and performance (Developing/Exemplary)
- Context Interpretation: Applies insight into external trends and organizational factors (Developing)
Digital Agility
- Technology Empowered: Integrates technology to build efficient, scalable HR solutions (Developing)
People Advocacy
- Risk Mitigation & Ethics: Ensures ethical conduct, compliance, and mitigates people-related risks (Developing)
- Problem Solving: Finds practical solutions to overcome obstacles (Developing)
- Interpersonal Skills: Uses effective interpersonal skills to achieve shared goals (Developing/Exemplary)
Role-Specific Knowledge & Experience
- Experience of designing and implementing commercial reward schemes in a global or multi-region context
- Strong understanding of incentive design, performance metrics, and ROI modelling
- Experience working in or with commercial business units
- Experience of utilising People function and reward data and analytics to inform reward strategy and design work and provide insights to business leaders
- Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to work across functions and geographies
- Experience in coaching or developing reward capability in others
- Knowledge of global reward trends and commercial benchmarking practices
Education & Professional Qualification
- Evidence of completing Total Reward-specific formal training through CIPD or equivalent bodies (e.g., WorldatWork), covering areas such as pay structure design, reward strategy development, and effective communication of reward practices.
Language Requirements
- The British Council systems and global processes operate in English. Written and verbal proficiency in English is required.
Seniority level
-
Seniority level
Director
Employment type
-
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
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Job function
Human Resources
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Industries
Human Resources Services, Non-profit Organizations, and Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
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Head of Total Reward employer: British Council
Contact Detail:
British Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Total Reward
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the HR and Total Reward sectors. Attend industry events or webinars to connect with individuals who may have insights into the British Council's hiring process or company culture.
✨Tip Number 2
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in total reward strategies, especially those relevant to the non-profit sector. This knowledge will help you engage in meaningful conversations during interviews and demonstrate your expertise.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully designed and implemented commercial reward schemes in previous roles. Tailoring your experiences to align with the responsibilities outlined in the job description will make a strong impression.
✨Tip Number 4
Research the British Council’s mission and values thoroughly. Understanding their organisational goals will allow you to articulate how your skills and experience can contribute to their strategic objectives during the interview.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Total Reward
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure to thoroughly read the job description for the Head of Total Reward role. Understand the key responsibilities and required skills, as this will help you tailor your application effectively.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV and cover letter, emphasise your experience in designing and implementing commercial reward schemes. Use specific examples that demonstrate your understanding of incentive design and performance metrics.
Showcase Your Skills: Make sure to highlight your data literacy and stakeholder management skills. Provide examples of how you've used data to inform decisions and how you've successfully managed relationships with various stakeholders.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a tailored cover letter that connects your background to the British Council's mission and values. Discuss how your expertise aligns with their needs and express your enthusiasm for the role and the organisation.
How to prepare for a job interview at British Council
✨Understand the Role's Requirements
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities and skills required for the Head of Total Reward position. Familiarise yourself with concepts like incentive design, performance metrics, and ROI modelling, as these will likely come up during your discussion.
✨Showcase Your Data Literacy
Since this role requires a strong grasp of data to inform decisions, be prepared to discuss how you've used data in previous roles. Bring examples of how you've leveraged analytics to shape reward strategies or improve performance outcomes.
✨Demonstrate Stakeholder Management Skills
Highlight your experience in managing relationships with various stakeholders. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've influenced decision-making across functions and geographies, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Stay Current with Global Reward Trends
Research the latest trends in total reward strategies and be prepared to discuss how they could apply to the British Council. Showing that you're informed about industry standards will demonstrate your commitment to the role and its challenges.
