Rewards Manager

About the Role

The Manager – Total Rewards will design, oversee, and regulate the comprehensive rewards framework within the organization to ensure it is competitive, equitable, and aligned with high performance. This position involves managing compensation plans, job evaluation and grading systems, benefits programs, and associated governance, while collaborating with leadership, HR partners, and Finance to support talent acquisition, retention, and organizational aims.

Main Responsibilities

• Create and continually refine the Total Rewards strategy to align with business goals and workforce needs, ensuring programs effectively attract, engage, and retain talent.
• Develop, implement, and manage salary structures, pay grades, and compensation frameworks across all functions.
• Lead the annual compensation review process covering pay raises, promotions, market adjustments, and salary planning.
• Conduct competitive salary benchmarking using recognized market data sources to maintain external competitiveness and internal fairness.
• Manage job evaluation and grading efforts utilizing established methodologies like HAY or Mercer.
• Supervise governance over job architecture, grading consistency, and organizational hierarchy standards.
• Design and optimize employee benefits including medical insurance, retirement plans, allowances, leave, wellness, and recognition programs.
• Assess benefit usage, market alignment, vendor efficiency, and return on investment, negotiating favorable agreements with providers.
• Collaborate with Talent Acquisition, HR, and Corporate Communications to build and enhance the Employee Value Proposition and support employer branding strategies.
• Develop analytics, dashboards, and reports on compensation trends, pay equity, turnover, benefits utilization, and workforce metrics.
• Conduct financial modeling and forecasting to assist in workforce planning and budgeting.
• Establish and maintain policies and procedures ensuring compliance with UAE Labour Law, internal standards, and regulatory requirements, including managing audits.
• Serve as the subject matter expert on compensation and benefits, advising HR, Finance, and leadership.
• Lead and mentor the Total Rewards team, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous enhancement.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or related field.
• Professional certifications such as CIPD Level 5 or 7, GRP, or equivalent in Total Rewards preferred.
• Eight to twelve years progressing through roles in Total Rewards, Compensation & Benefits, or Rewards Strategy.
• Demonstrated expertise in job evaluation, salary benchmarking, grading frameworks, and benefits design and management.
• Experience handling annual compensation review cycles in large, complex organizations.
• Strong knowledge of compensation governance, data analytics, and strategic workforce planning.
• Familiarity with HRIS systems such as SAP, Oracle, or SuccessFactors.
• Background in industrial, manufacturing, energy, or related sectors is a plus.

Leadership and Functional Skills

• Strategic thinking and change leadership.
• Building effective relationships and stakeholder influence.
• Accountability in decision-making aligned with business goals.
• Emotional intelligence and business acumen.
• Expertise in total rewards design, salary benchmarking, job grading, organizational design, EVP development, HR analytics, and compliance management.

Working Relations and Stakeholders

• Collaborate regularly with People Operations leadership, HR Business Partners, Talent Acquisition, Finance, Payroll, Executive management, and department heads.
• Engage with external compensation survey providers, benefits suppliers, insurers, consultants, regulators, and auditors.