Group Reward Manager in City of London

At Hays, we’re passionate about building reward frameworks that are fair, competitive, and aligned to business performance. We’re now looking for an experienced Group Reward Manager to play a pivotal role in embedding our global reward strategy across the Group. This is a highly visible role, partnering with senior stakeholders across the business, including the Executive Leadership Team and Plc Remuneration Committee, and shaping reward outcomes for a truly global organisation.

As Group Reward Manager, you’ll support the delivery of Hays’ global reward strategy, ensuring compensation and benefits are globally anchored, performance‑orientated, affordable, competitive, consistent, and simple. You’ll work within global frameworks underpinned by the Willis Towers Watson Global Grading System and informed by leading market data, bringing governance, insight, and operational excellence to group‑wide reward activity.

Key responsibilities:

• Own and continuously develop Group reward policies and principles, ensuring alignment with global frameworks, legislation, and market best practice.
• Lead Group‑wide job evaluation and grading using the WTW Global Grading System, providing guidance, training, and governance across regions.
• Govern and coordinate annual reward cycles, including salary review, bonus, and incentive processes, ensuring consistency and continuous improvement.
• Support executive reward activities, including benchmarking, share plan administration, and Remuneration Committee support, in partnership with the Company Secretariat.
• Act as primary relationship owner for WTW and third‑party reward providers, overseeing contracts, survey participation, and vendor performance.
• Deliver reward analytics, pay equity, and reporting, providing insight to senior leaders and committees and driving action where gaps are identified.
• Operationalise the global mobility reward strategy, supporting international assignments and cross‑border reward arrangements.
• Partner with Technology and People & Culture teams to enhance reward systems, data integrity, and the digital transformation of reward processes.

About you:

You’ll be a credible, pragmatic reward expert with strong commercial judgement and the ability to operate confidently in a complex, fast‑paced, global environment. You’ll bring:

• Proven expertise across compensation, benefits, executive reward, and reward governance.
• Strong experience with WTW or similar job evaluation and market survey methodologies.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• High analytical capability, including financial modelling and data interpretation.
• A collaborative mindset, balancing global consistency with local needs.
• Strong organisation, attention to detail, and resilience under pressure.
• A proactive approach, spotting issues early and driving solutions independently.

Why Hays?

At Hays, you’ll be part of a purpose‑led organisation with a global footprint, strong values, and ambitious plans. You’ll have the opportunity to shape reward outcomes at scale, work closely with senior leaders, and make a tangible impact on how we attract, motivate, and retain our people.

What you’ll get in return:

• Culture built on rewarding success and the opportunity to influence your earning potential.
• Best technology in the industry and a renowned training programme to support success and drive rapid career progression.
• Flexible hybrid working patterns.
• Opportunity to take your career globally.
• Incentives and rewards to recognise performance locally, regionally, and nationally.
• Broad range of employee wellbeing initiatives and benefits.
• Referral bonus scheme.
• Community of support networks from Hays Pride to Parents@Hays.
• Paid charity day for all employees #HaysHelps and working closely with charity partners.

At Hays, we know that diverse teams deliver better results, and that inclusion fuels our innovation. We’re committed to building a culture where different perspectives are embraced and where all of our people can flourish. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we see Diversity, Equity & Inclusion not just as the right thing to do but also as a business advantage. We welcome applicants from talented people of all backgrounds who want to grow with us & contribute to our shared success.