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- Tasks: Lead and improve UKRI's reward framework, ensuring fair and strategic pay policies.
- Company: Join UK Research & Innovation, a key player in advancing research and innovation in the UK.
- Benefits: Enjoy 30 days annual leave, flexible working, and a fantastic pension scheme.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on employee engagement and organisational success through innovative reward strategies.
- Qualifications: CIPD qualified with strong knowledge of pay structures and performance-related pay.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with opportunities for continuous learning and career growth.
Salary: £46,743 per annum.
Band: UKRI Band E.
Contract Type: Fixed Term (12 months).
Hours: Full-time/ Part Time (minimum 0.8 FTE) (flexible working available).
Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire - Hybrid working available (Min 2 days per week in the office).
Closing Date: Sunday 10th May 2026.
About the role
The HR function in UK Research and Innovation is vital to enabling the achievement of the organisational objectives. It delivers all HR services across a complex organisation working across the nine councils and with a vast array of professional areas and locations with diverse capabilities as part of the wider corporate services structure. HR is critical to ensuring that all people related services are robust, appropriately controlled and create appropriate workplace conditions. UK Research and Innovation HR includes a Reward Centre of Expertise offering dedicated resource with a deep specialism in specific Reward disciplines at a strategic and operational level.
Purpose of the role:
The Reward Manager plays a pivotal role in shaping, delivering and continuously improving UKRI's reward framework. They will provide experienced leadership on pay, grading, performance-related pay and wider reward initiatives, ensuring that reward policies are fair, visible and aligned with organisational strategy. Acting as a trusted adviser at all levels including Heads of HR, COOs and senior leaders, the postholder will lead complex reward projects, offer authoritative guidance on high-impact issues, and drive consistent, evidence-based decision making across the organisation. The role also guides the effective operation of the reward function, builds strong stakeholder relationships and helps to create a reward environment that supports engagement, performance and organisational success.
Your responsibilities:
- Lead and deliver key reward projects such as Senior Pay, Performance Related Pay (PRP), harmonisation initiatives and wider pay framework development.
- Provide strategic insight into the design and evolution of the total reward package, promoting the value of both tangible and intangible reward elements.
- Act as a senior critical issue point for complex or specialist reward queries, offering experienced advice at all levels including HRBPs, Heads of HR, COOs and ExCo.
- Lead the reward teams administration and operational delivery, ensuring efficient processes and high-quality outputs.
- Drive reward engagement, developing stakeholder-focused communication channels to increase visibility and understanding of reward programmes.
- Deliver a high-quality HR advisory service, providing authoritative guidance on pay, grading, reward, recognition and benefits to UKRI colleagues.
- Collaborate with corporate functions to develop and lead cross-functional working groups supplying to senior-level decision making.
- Create and maintain strong internal and external partnerships to share standard methodology, benchmark reward approaches and inform organisational strategy.
- Use reward analytics and workforce data to provide insights, model options and inform recommendations to senior leaders.
- Lead on pay and reward benchmarking activities, analysing market trends to make data-driven recommendations.
Person Specification
The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).
Essential:
- CIPD qualified or equivalent professional experience (S).
- Strong knowledge of reward and pay and grading structures (S&I).
- Strong understanding of performance related pay (PRP) (I).
- Ability to handle opposing priorities and work at pace in a complex organisation (I).
- Presentation skills, including delivering briefings and leading workshops clearly to non-specialists (S&I).
- Ability to advise senior leaders (Heads of HR, COOs, Directors) and Trade Unions on complex, sensitive and high-impact reward matters (I).
- Strategic thinking - able to align reward approaches with organisational goals and workforce strategy (I).
Benefits
We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. We are committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning!
A list of benefits below:
- An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme.
- 30 days' annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent).
- Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities.
- Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice.
- Flexible working options.
- Plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance!
For further information on our benefits please see: Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.
Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact.
Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager.
For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact.
Reward Manager in Swindon employer: UKRI
Contact Detail:
UKRI Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Reward Manager in Swindon
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at UKRI on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give us insider info about the role and the company culture, plus it might just get your foot in the door.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching UKRI's reward framework and recent projects. We want to show that we’re not just interested in the role but also passionate about contributing to their mission.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Get a mate to do a mock interview with you. Focus on articulating your experience with pay structures and performance-related pay, as these are key for the Reward Manager role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step!
We think you need these skills to ace Reward Manager in Swindon
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Reward Manager role. Highlight your experience in pay structures and performance-related pay, as these are key aspects of the job. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Showcase Your Strategic Thinking: In your application, demonstrate your ability to think strategically about reward frameworks. Share examples of how you've aligned reward approaches with organisational goals in the past. This will show us you're the right fit for the role!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications.
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way to ensure it gets to the right people. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our organisation there.
How to prepare for a job interview at UKRI
✨Know Your Reward Framework
Before the interview, make sure you have a solid understanding of reward frameworks and pay structures. Familiarise yourself with UKRI's approach to performance-related pay and how it aligns with organisational goals. This will help you speak confidently about your insights and ideas.
✨Prepare for Complex Queries
As a Reward Manager, you'll be expected to handle complex reward queries. Think of potential scenarios or questions that might arise during the interview and prepare your responses. This will demonstrate your ability to advise senior leaders on sensitive matters effectively.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking
Be ready to discuss how you can align reward strategies with workforce objectives. Prepare examples from your past experience where you've successfully implemented reward initiatives that supported organisational success. This will highlight your strategic mindset.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Highlight your experience in building strong relationships with stakeholders. Be prepared to discuss how you've developed communication channels to increase visibility and understanding of reward programmes. This shows your ability to drive engagement and collaboration across teams.