Reward Manager

The Role

At WHSmith our people are at the heart of everything we do. They are the ones that go the extra mile for our customers. The Reward Manager will be a new and critical role within the People team that will help to drive forward the overall Reward agenda within WHSmith, including our Travel, International, High Street, Group functions and Online businesses.

The role purpose is to support with developing and delivering an engaging, competitive and commercial total reward offer for our colleagues across the group, linked to our Group Strategy and in line with our Values framework, with the aim of attracting, retaining and engaging talent and driving business performance and cultural change.

The role holder will support with the design and implementation of reward schemes, systems, policies and frameworks and will take a leading role in all cyclical reward activity including pay reviews, salary surveys, bonus and pay gap reporting.

What you will be doing

Reward frameworks and governance

• Support with the governance and ongoing development of the reward structure and framework
• Provide support to the People team with the levelling and benchmarking of roles, ensuring alignment with the reward framework

Benchmarking

• Annual participation in industry salary and benefits surveys – key contact for survey providers, completing surveys and ensuring subsequent access to market data
• Conduct job evaluations and salary benchmarking exercises, ensuring overall remuneration packages remain competitive

Cyclical reward activities

• Pay Reviews – key role in the planning and implementation of the annual pay reviews across the UK for both stores and support centres.
• Bonus – ownership of bonus spreadsheets and calculations and support with cascading bonus plans, reporting and communications

Reward projects

• Support with the maintenance and delivery of recognition policy and processes
• Benefits reviews and subsequent implementation of changes, new benefits, processes and systems

Reward policies and processes

• Create, update and own the content of all reward and benefits policies
• Support International People team in international reward related activity as required

Stakeholder management

• Internal – people partners, supporting on reward queries and benchmarking
• External - Builds strong relationships with suppliers so the business has a positive reputation in the wider HR and compensation and benefits marketplace

What we are looking for

This role requires a experiences and proactive reward professional, who has experience in both compensation and benefits, dealing with and influencing senior stakeholders and has operated in a fast-paced environment managing and analysing volume data.

• Previous experience delivering reward initiatives in a retail or similar environment desirable
• Prior experience of designing and implementing incentive and benefits schemes up to senior management level
• Proven experience and success of implementing and socialising new grading frameworks would be advantageous
• Advanced analytical skills with a strong passion for data. Ability to interpret data and present findings in a simple way to support colleagues’ understandings and aid decision making
• Excellent attention to detail
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively across all levels within the organisation
• Knowledge of external developments and emerging best practice in compensation and benefits

We welcome conversations about flexible working and will always accommodate it where possible.

How we reward our teams

• Hybrid Working model from home and in the office
• 4pm Friday Finish
• Flexible Working
• 25 Days holiday, plus your Birthday off, plus Bank Holidays with an opportunity to buy extra days
• Family Friendly Leave
• Competitive Pension Contribution
• Sharesave Scheme
• Annual Bonus based on company and personal performance
• Competitive Salary and car allowance
• Private medical insurance
• Staff Discount Card for stores and online

About us

Celebrating 230 years, we’re proud to have grown and evolved into a globally recognised brand present in over 30 countries around the world, and we’re proud to be that air of familiarity people love and trust on their journey, both in life and through life. As a diverse group of over 12,000 colleagues, we are all on the same journey to a better business through our commitments to our planet, people and the communities we serve.

WHSmith are proud to be an inclusive employer, we want our colleagues to feel welcome, and free to be themselves with us.