Rewards & Benefits Manager/ Senior Manager in Manchester

We are seeking an experienced and commercially focused Reward Manager to lead the development, review, and delivery of the organisation's compensation, benefits, and reward strategy. This role will ensure that reward programmes are competitive, equitable, cost-effective, and aligned with business objectives while supporting the attraction, retention, and engagement of talent. The Reward Manager will act as the subject matter expert across compensation and benefits, partnering closely with senior stakeholders, Finance, People teams, and external providers. The role will also oversee relationships with outsourced payroll and benefits vendors, driving service excellence, compliance, and continuous improvement. Reward Strategy & Compensation Conduct regular benchmarking and market analysis to ensure competitive remuneration practices. Lead annual compensation review cycles, including salary reviews, promotions, and bonus processes. Analyse reward data and provide insights and recommendations to leadership teams. Benefits Management Proactively identify and recommend new benefits platforms, wellbeing initiatives, and reward technologies that enhance employee experience and operational efficiency. Payroll & Third-Party Vendor Management Act as the primary relationship manager for outsourced payroll providers and other reward-related external partners. Oversee service delivery, governance, performance management, and compliance of third-party providers. Governance, Compliance & Risk Ensure all reward, benefits, and payroll practices comply with relevant employment, tax, pension, and regulatory requirements. Assess risks associated with reward programmes and recommend mitigation strategies. Stakeholder Management Build effective relationships with senior leaders, Finance, HR Business Partners, and external suppliers. Provide expert advice and guidance on reward matters to managers and senior stakeholders. Present reward analysis, recommendations, and market insights to leadership audiences. Support organisational change programmes from a reward and compensation perspective. Significant experience in compensation, benefits, reward, or total rewards management. Proven experience managing outsourced payroll providers and third-party vendor relationships. Strong understanding of compensation structures, salary benchmarking, and reward frameworks. Experience leading annual compensation review processes. Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex reward and payroll data. Knowledge of UK reward, payroll, tax, pensions, and employment legislation. Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills. Reward or HR professional qualification (CIPD, WorldatWork, or equivalent). Commercial acumen Data-driven decision making Influencing and stakeholder management Vendor and contract management Change management Effective delivery of annual compensation review processes. Strong employee engagement with benefits programmes. Delivery of innovative reward and benefits solutions that enhance employee experience and support business growth.