Reward Partner

West Midlands Combined Authority; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional governmental body is looking for an experienced Reward Partner in Birmingham. This 12-month fixed term role involves shaping the total reward strategy, conducting job evaluations, and collaborating with stakeholders to optimize job families and governance. The ideal candidate should possess significant experience in relevant HR roles, particularly in rewards and benefits, alongside strong analytical and communication skills. A comprehensive benefits package is included, making this an exciting opportunity for impactful work in local governance.

Benefits

Local Government Pension Scheme

28 days paid annual leave

Gym membership

Discounted shopping

Eye Care Scheme

Qualifications

• Experience in evaluating roles within a large complex organization.
• Extensive knowledge of reward & benefits market practices.
• Ability to network and share good practices.

Responsibilities

• Manage the job evaluation process.
• Provide evidence-based benchmarking.
• Develop and deliver a total reward and recognition strategy.

Skills

Analytical skills

Data interpretation

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Influencing skills

Education

Relevant HR and/or reward-related qualification

Job description

We’re recruiting for an experienced Reward Partner to play a pivotal role in shaping our total reward and recognition strategy. In this 12-month FTC position, you’ll act as a subject matter expert, delivering advisory and analytical services across all aspects of reward while managing the day-to-day job evaluation process. You’ll lead on job evaluation panels, provide evidence-based benchmarking, and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure robust job families and governance frameworks. This is an exciting opportunity to influence strategic reward initiatives and contribute to a trusted, respected framework that supports organisational growth and excellence.

Please note that this is a 12 month fixed term contract.

What you will be doing.

• Manage the day-to-day job evaluation process.
• Attend the job evaluation panel and in the absence of the Senior Reward Partner, chair the job evaluation panel, including ensuring the Panel adhere to the terms of reference at all times.
• Provision of the comprehensive evaluation rationales for all roles to be agreed at the job evaluation panel, to include evidence of internal and external benchmarking.
• Perform regular job evaluations and benchmarking to maintain market-aligned pay grading and pay structures, utilising relevant tools and techniques alongside complex market data.
• Ongoing review of job evaluation processes and improvement of processes, including the development and implementation of robust job evaluation systems.
• Analysing and accurately interpreting information from various sources to support decisions, drawing insights from qualitative and quantitative data to ensure robust, evidence-based recommendations.>
• Ensure the alignment of roles to job families and ensuring role profiles are in place for all roles with review cycle in place.
• Alongside the Senior Reward Partner lead on job design, ensuring standardisation of role profiles across the organisation and within the job families.
• Contributing to the design and implementation of job families and the job families grading structure, ensuring that is fair, compliant, robust and fit for future requirements.
• Ensure reward governance is in place with regard to grading discipline, title conventions and make recommendations to ensure job family approach is appropriate.
• Support on the development and delivery of job families and the implementation of the organisational alignment, ensuring cross functional awareness.
• Support the development and delivery of a total reward and recognition strategy that is aligned to WMCA’s strategic objectives, the People & Culture strategy and annual business plans.

What’s essential.

• Previous reward experience in a large complex organisation including the evaluation of roles.
• Experience of working within a Human Resources role with an understanding of the impact of pay and reward policies against all aspects of the employee lifecycle.
• Extensive experience of using and interpreting data, evidence and customer insight to identify pay and reward priorities and decisions and shape effective interventions, highlighting risks and adding value to the organisation.
• Detailed knowledge of market practice reward & benefits.
• Specialist knowledge of Job evaluation techniques.
• Specialist knowledge of Pay benchmarking techniques.
• Highly numerate with good analytical skills, able to review information and determining the best approach.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to draft a variety of documents. Able to concisely yet persuasively make the case for change to senior stakeholders alongside a good understanding of the legal issues related to pay and reward.
• Able to present complex information in an accessible way.
• Ability to network with professionals and share good practice.
• Extensive understanding and knowledge of relevant employment legislation and managing risk.
• Effective relationship-building skills with the ability to manage challenging situations and stakeholders; with the confidence to navigate through complexity and uncertainty.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, able to work collaboratively at all levels.
• Strong influencing skills able to confidently persuade and inform key senior stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a fast-paced team.
• Ability to facilitate group and individual problem solving and learning related to reward and recognition.
• Knowledge & understanding of corporate HR policies & procedures.
• Able to make decisions effectively, using either own knowledge or available data.
• A relevant HR and/or reward-related qualification and/or professional qualification or related experience.
• Evidence of continued professional development in the field of Pay, Reward & Recognition.

Location.

The location for this role is 16 Summer Lane, Birmingham, B19 3SD with at least 2 days a week spent in the office.

How to apply

Applying for a role with WMCA is straightforward. Follow these steps to get started.

• Create your Careers Account. Register with your name, email address, and a password.
• Build your Profile.Upload your CV to help populate your career and education details.
• Write your Supporting Statement.Make sure to address each of the required essential criteria.
• Submit your application.Do one final check and once complete, click submit.

Anonymised Applications.

Your uploaded CV won’t be visible after submission. Our process is anonymised, and only the information in your profile is used for shortlisting. Be thorough in each section. It’s your chance to showcase your skills and experience.

Using Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We cannot stop anyone from using AI to help write application content. Used right, it can be a great tool. If you choose to use AI, then use it as a helper rather than relying on it wholly to write your application.

Applications that rely too heavily on AI may be rejected during shortlisting. For help on how to write a supporting statement, please visit the FAQs section of our careers site.

Reasonable adjustments.

If you have an accessibility, disability, or condition that means you might require changes to the application or recruitment process, please get in touch with our Recruitment Team ([e-mail] ).

Salary and benefits.

We advertise salary ranges, with new appointments typically starting at the lowest salary point. In exceptional cases, the salary point may be adjusted to secure the best candidate. This approach allows for potential year-on-year salary increases, offering progression and appropriate rewards to employees. Requests for salaries above the maximum advertised range will not be considered.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Local Government Pension Scheme (one of the most generous pension schemes in the UK).
• Shared Cost Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme where you can build an additional pot of money alongside your pension with contributions exempt from Income Tax and National Insurance contributions (NICs).
• 28 days paid annual leave (with an option to purchase more) + Statutory days.
• gym membership, will writing, and mortgage advice.
• An option to buy a bicycle, including e-bikes and adapted pedal cycles, at a discounted rate.
• 3 days of paid leave each year to volunteer.
• Interest-free financing through SmartTech to buy the latest technology.
• Discounted shopping with over 2,000 big-name retailers, and more. You can now also obtain a Costco membership through the WMCA.
• Boundless unlocks unlimited entry to top-rated UK attractions and loads of extra benefits and discounts.
• Eye Care Scheme, offering a free eye test and a financial contribution towards your glasses.

For more information, please visit the benefits page on our career site.

WMCA is laser-focused on improving the West Midlands, bringing economic growth, jobs, homes, and better journeys to the region. We target local needs where it matters most, ensuring everyone has a job that pays well and has access to safe and affordable places they can call home.

We put people and place at the heart of everything we do, working hand in hand with our partners to direct funding where it's needed most. What you do, really matters. Your expertise will help make a big difference, improving people's lives, every day.

Creating an inclusive workplace.

WMCA holds diversity accreditations, such as the RACE Code Quality Mark, Armed Forces Covenant (Gold status) and has been recognised as one of the Inclusive Top 50 Employers and The Times Top 50 Employers for Women. We’re a Disability Confident Employer with ‘Leader’ status, committed to interviewing applicants with disabilities who meet all the essential role criteria.

We are also proud to be a Ban the Box employer, which means we do not ask about criminal convictions at the initial application stage, and will only ask after an offer is made as part of our onboarding checks, which helps us remove barriers for people with past convictions and supporting fair opportunities for all.

We recognise that certain groups, such as women and people of colour, may be less likely to apply for roles if they feel they do not meet all the requirements. However, we encourage individuals who are passionate about the role and want to make a difference to still apply. We value potential and encourage applicants to highlight their skills, including transferable ones, even if they don't fit the traditional "perfect candidate" mould.

We gladly consider part-time, flexible, and job share arrangements, so please don't let these factors deter you from applying.

Right to Work in the UK

Proof of Right to Work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed.

Non-UK applicants (excluding Ireland) would be required to hold a relevant Visa from the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

• Job Type Human resources / OD / Training
• Directorate People & Culture