Head of Reward & Recognition

University of East London

We’re the University of East London (UEL), founded in 1898 and proud to change lives through education. Our goal is to advance industry 5.0 careers-first education and provide a clear path to the jobs and opportunities of the future. We’re committed to driving diversity in the 5.0 talent pipeline, working in partnership to promote talent wherever it is found and crafting a balanced, inclusive, and green future.

About the People & Culture Department

The People & Culture directorate is responsible, in partnership with customers across the organisation, for delivering the University of East London’s People strategy, in furtherance of the UELs strategic progress outlined in our Vision 2028 strategy. It is passionate about the delivery customer-centric and operationally excellent services to build an environment where people are attracted to work at UEL, to be supported to develop and grow, and deliver their best work in a hard-working and encouraging environment.

About the Job

This is a new and exciting role in the People and Culture department, it’s a chance to really take ownership and be responsible for all Reward activity across the University. Starting with developing strong relationships with key customers across UEL, you will build a deep understanding of the current approach to Reward and Recognition – advising a strategic plan to transform the existing offering. Working with the wider People & Culture Directorate, you will be a subject matter expert in all aspects of reward such as pay, benefits, salary benchmarking, recognition, and pensions, and will ensure that the University keeps up to date with changes in legislation and the latest thought leadership and innovation in the Reward and Recognition field.

You’ll lead the Reward & Recognition specialist, inspiring them to deliver high performance whilst truly valuing the diversity they bring.

About You

You’ll be a passionate reward professional who’s been the key lead for all things Reward and Recognition and understands how important reward and recognition is to drive cultural change and achieve our Business Strategy. You’ll be used to dealing with different audiences and being proactive in your engagement and how you collaborate. This could be your first Head of Reward and Recognition role – maybe coming from a larger organisation and keen to take ownership, bring innovation and drive things forward or you could be an existing Head of Reward, from a different industry looking to try new things!

Benefits Package

Beyond a competitive salary, we offer a comprehensive benefits package:

• 20% pension contribution (4% from you, 16% from us)
• 25 days holiday, plus 3 days over Christmas and bank holidays
• A discretionary and non-contractual shared success bonus scheme with a value of up to £5,000 in the 23/24 academic year
• Subsidised gym membership
• 3 times base salary life assurance
• Cashback healthcare scheme
• Discounts on holidays, clothing, fitness, lifestyle, dining out, and weekly shopping

Equal Opportunities

UEL is an inclusive equal opportunities employer and are proud of our Equality, Diversity, and Inclusivity achievements, including: zero gender pay gap, members of Stonewall and have won Athena Swan awards. We expect all employees of UEL to accept our EDI policy and will not tolerate discrimination in any form.

We're a disability confident employer and value all applications. Please let us know if you require any reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process.

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