Reward Manager

About the Role

Kennedys is looking for a Reward Manager to be part of our global HR team, located at either our Chelmsford or London offices. This pivotal role will involve shaping and executing the firm's comprehensive reward strategy, ensuring our compensation, recognition, and market positioning effectively attract, engage, and retain top talent internationally. Collaborating closely with HR, Finance, and leadership, you will offer expert guidance on all reward matters such as salary benchmarking, annual remuneration reviews, incentive programs, and compliance with regulatory standards.

Reporting to the Global Head of Reward, you will contribute significantly to maintaining competitive and equitable reward practices aligned with the firm's strategic goals in a growing global law firm environment. We promote hybrid work arrangements, blending office and remote time, to balance personal flexibility and team effectiveness.

Team Environment

The Kennedys HR team supports people-related activities worldwide, spanning five regions: APAC, EMEA, US, LATAM, and UK. Our responsibilities cover Business Partnering, Talent, Recruitment, Responsible Business, Operations, and Reward functions. Work will be conducted in a fast-paced global setting aimed at producing positive impacts for our employees, clients, and communities.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the global reward strategy consistent with overall business and people strategies.
• Regularly assess reward programs to ensure competitiveness, fairness, and suitability.
• Track global market trends and propose enhancements to reward schemes.
• Lead various reward-related projects, both routine and ad hoc.
• Manage annual salary and bonus review processes.
• Oversee compensation benchmarking tools and analytics, including job coding.
• Create salary structures and pay frameworks.
• Provide reward guidance to support hiring, promotions, and retention efforts.
• Monitor the effectiveness of incentive and bonus programs.
• Ensure adherence to reward-related laws and regulations globally, including gender pay reporting and EU Pay Transparency Directive.
• Support analyses and reporting focused on pay equity.
• Maintain reward policies, governance frameworks, and approval procedures.
• Offer expert reward advice to HR Business Partners, senior leaders, and Finance teams.
• Present reward data and recommendations to senior stakeholders.
• Manage relationships with external reward survey vendors and consultants.
• Contribute to reward budgeting and workforce planning activities.
• Lead or participate in reward transformation and improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate with the Reward Analyst to deliver insight-driven recommendations.
• Work with HR systems and analytics teams to assure data quality.

Additional Details

This role involves line management responsibility for a Reward Analyst. We encourage applicants requiring adjustments or additional support during the application process to notify us.

Required Experience & Skills

• Extensive experience in compensation and reward functions within professional services or corporate sectors, preferably with global responsibilities.
• Strong expertise in salary benchmarking techniques.
• Proven leadership of annual salary review cycles.
• Thorough understanding of reward-related legislation and governance frameworks.
• Advanced Excel capabilities and strong analytical aptitude.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.
• Commercial awareness and understanding of business needs.
• Familiarity with HR systems and reward platforms.
• Knowledge of Pay Transparency laws.