At a Glance
- Tasks: Advise on modernising public sector reward strategies during a transformative period.
- Company: Join Korn Ferry, a global leader in organisational consulting.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, autonomy, and a diverse culture with career mobility.
- Other info: Must be UK resident; no remote work contracts available.
- Why this job: Shape the future of public service reward and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: Experience in public sector reward or management consulting.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Public sector reward is changing fast. Pay models are being rewritten. Performance‑linked reward is on the table. Government departments are being pushed to become leaner, more agile, more digitally enabled — backed by a £3.25bn transformation fund driving AI adoption, digital redesign and workforce restructuring. If you know this world — and you know how to navigate it — we want you. This is your chance to influence how government pays, motivates, and retains the people delivering essential services.
Why This Role Will Excite You
Right now the UK public sector is undergoing major transformation: New flexibility in departmental pay strategies to target skills, address low pay, and build a more productive, mission‑driven state. Big reforms on the horizon: performance‑related pay, faster exits for under‑performance, and reward models that mirror modern organisational effectiveness. Pay frameworks under intense scrutiny — with unions and civil servants pushing for modern, fair, future‑ready reward approaches. If you’re motivated by real change, this is where it’s happening.
What You’ll Be Doing
You’ll advise government departments, councils, ALBs and other public institutions on how to modernise reward during a period of intense reform and public expectation. You’ll lead on:
- Designing future‑proof pay structures
- Overhauling reward strategy for accountability and transparency
- Building incentive schemes that work in political, unionised and regulated environments
- Job evaluation, career architecture, pay equity, transparency and performance models
- Guiding senior leaders through highly sensitive change
- Shaping thought leadership on public sector reward futures
This is a role for someone who loves complexity, influence and impact.
Who You Are
We’re looking for someone who already speaks the language of public service:
- A management consultant specialising in reward for government, civil service, local authority or wider public sector clients
- A public sector reward/HR specialist from central government, council, NHS, ALB or similar
You also bring:
- Expertise in public‑sector reward frameworks and constraints
- Comfort navigating unions, scrutiny, politics and high‑stake stakeholders
- Strong analytics (Excel/Power BI)
- Confidence, clarity, influence
- Curiosity, grit and a love of solving messy reward challenges
What You’ll Get at Korn Ferry
A global powerhouse in organisational consulting. A platform to shape the future of public sector reward. Autonomy, flexibility, and a diverse, values‑driven culture. Global learning, world‑class IP and career mobility. Competitive reward and the chance to genuinely make an impact. Contractually you will be aligned to either our London or Manchester office as we do not offer remote working contracts. You must be resident in the UK and hold the permanent right to work here.
Ready to Shape the Future of Public Service Reward?
If you want to be at the centre of public‑sector transformation — and you have the background to match — this is your move. Let’s reinvent public sector reward together.
Principal Consultant (Total Reward, Public Sector) employer: Korn Ferry
Korn Ferry is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to influence the future of public sector reward during a transformative period. With a commitment to autonomy, flexibility, and a diverse, values-driven culture, employees benefit from global learning opportunities and career mobility, all while making a meaningful impact in the public service sector. Located in either London or Manchester, Korn Ferry provides a dynamic work environment that fosters professional growth and encourages innovative thinking.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Consultant (Total Reward, Public Sector)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the public sector. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that Principal Consultant role.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your expertise! Prepare to discuss your experience with public sector reward frameworks and how you've tackled complex challenges. Be ready to share specific examples that highlight your skills in navigating unions and high-stakes environments.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or mentors who understand the public sector. This will help you articulate your thoughts clearly and confidently, especially when discussing sensitive changes and performance-related pay.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We want to see your application come through directly. It shows you're serious about joining us at Korn Ferry and shaping the future of public sector reward. Plus, it’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Consultant (Total Reward, Public Sector)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Know Your Stuff:Before you start writing, make sure you understand the public sector reward landscape. We want to see your expertise shine through in your application, so do your homework on current trends and challenges.
Tailor Your Application:Don’t just send a generic CV and cover letter. We’re looking for how your experience aligns with the role. Highlight your relevant skills and experiences that show you can navigate the complexities of public sector reward.
Show Your Passion:Let us know why you’re excited about this role! We love candidates who are motivated by real change and have a genuine interest in shaping the future of public service reward. Share your thoughts on what drives you.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Korn Ferry
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re up to speed with the latest trends in public sector reward. Brush up on performance-linked pay models and how they’re being implemented across government departments. Being able to discuss these changes confidently will show that you’re not just familiar with the landscape, but that you’re ready to influence it.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past roles where you've successfully navigated complex reward frameworks or influenced change in a public sector environment. This will help demonstrate your expertise and how you can bring value to the role.
✨Understand the Stakeholders
Familiarise yourself with the key stakeholders you’ll be working with, including unions and senior leaders. Be ready to discuss how you would approach sensitive conversations and build consensus around new reward strategies.
✨Bring Your Analytical Skills
Since strong analytics are crucial for this role, be prepared to talk about your experience with tools like Excel and Power BI. You might even want to bring along some examples of how you’ve used data to drive decision-making in previous positions.
