Head of Reward

The Commercial Capability Team within Cabinet Office supports the growing Government Commercial Organisation (GCO) in building commercial expertise and improving commercial outcomes across the Civil Service and in the wider public sector.
An effective reward strategy is crucial to attract, motivate and retain a GCO population of 1,600 senior commercial experts deployed to over 25 different Government departments.
As Head of Reward, you will join a large People Services Team comprising c. 50 HR professionals covering the full range of specialisms from workforce planning, recruitment, business partnering and employee experience to policy, operations, talent management and reward.
You will manage a high performing team of reward specialists to design and deliver a programme of strategic reward projects which improve the employee value proposition and have a tangible positive impact on employees’ lives.
This is a pivotal leadership role in which you will also have the opportunity to make a wider strategic contribution as a member of both the People Services Leadership Team and the Capability Leadership Team.
This role offers a fantastic challenge for a passionate and experienced reward professional to join a supportive and committed team and engage with a wide range of stakeholders. We offer a friendly working environment, flexible and hybrid working arrangements and a commitment to ongoing professional development., Reporting to the Deputy Director of People Services, your key responsibilities will include:
+ Setting the strategic direction for reward in the GCO, adopting best practice and aligning to organisational objectives.
+ Leading a team of reward specialists to design and deliver an ambitious programme of reward projects.
+ Building and maintaining strong working relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, including, but not limited to, finance, project management office, Commercial Directors, Government People Group, benefits suppliers and our payroll provider.
+ Engaging with and influencing HM Treasury and Cabinet Office to seek advice, develop business cases and secure pay flexibility where needed.
+ Representing the GCO in cross-government forums, demonstrating visible leadership.
+ Drawing on deep reward expertise and analytical skills to provide advice and recommendations to senior leaders and decision-makers, evaluating and mitigating risk to the organisation.
+ Developing and presenting high-quality papers to the GCO Remuneration Committee, working closely with the governance team to ensure actions are taken forward.
+ Writing new, and updating existing reward policies which embed core principles of diversity and inclusion and take account of changes in political, economic, or strategic direction, and/or legislation.
+ Overseeing the delivery of the delegated and Senior Civil Service annual pay and performance awards in line with central guidance, including developing evidence-based proposals and leading trade union negotiations. This may include developing a pay flexibility business case in the future.
+ Undertaking regular internal and external pay and benefits benchmarking and acting on the results to ensure the GCO remains a competitive employer of choice.
+ Maintaining oversight of the pensions and benefits offer, including managing supplier relationships, procurements and ensuring legal compliance e.g. with regard to pensions auto-enrolment.
+ Reporting annually on the GCO’s gender and ethnicity pay and bonus gaps.
+ Leading and contributing to projects and initiatives and as part of the wider People Services and Capability Leadership Teams, for example, strategy development, team away days, people survey action plans.
+ Acting as a credible and inclusive leader and line manager, demonstrating exemplary behaviours in line with Cabinet Office Values and Leadership Commitments and building team capability and expertise.
These responsibilities are not exhaustive and the successful candidate will be expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional responsibilities at a similar level as may be necessary., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Changing and Improving
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Delivering at Pace
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
+ Communicating and Influencing, + A 1000 word max. personal statement outlining your suitability for this job role. Please pay particular attention to the essential criteria when writing your statement. This section will be used for the sift to assess your suitability to be invited to an interview. You do not have to refer to the behaviours element in your statement.
+ Written evidence of the lead criteria of Communicating and Influencing for this role (250 words maximum). Please make your examples as relevant as possible to the role.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the lead Behaviour, Communicating and Influencing. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Selection process
Candidates who are successful at sift will be invited to an interview. During the interview, you will be assessed against the listed behaviours., A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to Cabinet Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service/Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.
However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
o UK nationals
o nationals of the Republic of Ireland
o nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
o nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
o nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
o individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
o Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
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+ Significant experience working in a senior reward role within a large, complex organisation.
+ A track record of confident and inspiring leadership; able to motivate and support individuals and teams to perform and grow while maintaining consistently high standards of delivery.
+ A demonstrable commitment to the promotion of equality and diversity.
+ Ability to understand the bigger picture and translate this back into priorities and action plans.
+ Experience successfully leading major, impactful projects and/or workstreams which improve the reward offer for employees.
+ Experience operating with a high degree of autonomy, making evidence-based decisions and applying a pragmatic approach in the face of ambiguity.
+ A collaborative and inclusive working style with the ability to build strong relationships with colleagues, establishing credibility with stakeholders at all levels of seniority to engage and influence them in a complex environment.
+ Outstanding written and oral communication skills with the ability to present clear, well-structured reports at board level.
+ Strong analytical skills with the ability to draw insights from complex datasets.
Desirable criteria
+ MCIPD qualified, or willing to work towards.
+ A knowledge of Civil Service pay and reward policies and practice.
+ An understanding of pay modelling, scenario building and testing using Microsoft Excel.
+ Experience working with trade unions in the context of pay negotiations.
+ Experience of providing a HR service to multiple business areas.

Alongside your salary of £67,126, Cabinet Office contributes £19,446 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
+ Learning and development tailored to your role.
+ An environment with flexible working options.
+ A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
+ A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and employer contributions of 28.97%.
+ A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.