About the job

Job Description

Manager – Total Rewards

Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE

Division: People

Department: People Operations & Strategy

Reports to: Director – People Operations & Strategy

Role Level: Manager

Direct Reports: 1

Role Purpose

The Manager – Total Rewards is responsible for developing, implementing, and governing the organization's Total Rewards strategy to ensure competitive, equitable, and performance-driven compensation and benefits programs.

The role oversees compensation structures, job evaluation, grading, benefits, and rewards governance while providing strategic insights to support workforce planning, talent attraction, employee retention, and organizational performance. Working closely with business leaders, HR Business Partners, and Finance, the Manager ensures Total Rewards programs remain market competitive, financially sustainable, and aligned with the organization's strategic objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Total Rewards Strategy

• Develop and continuously enhance the organization's Total Rewards strategy in alignment with business objectives and workforce priorities.
• Ensure compensation and benefits programs support talent attraction, retention, engagement, and organizational performance.
• Provide strategic recommendations on compensation, incentives, and benefits to senior leadership.

Compensation Management

• Design, implement, and maintain salary structures, pay grades, and compensation frameworks across the organization.
• Lead annual compensation reviews, including merit increases, promotions, market adjustments, and salary planning.
• Conduct salary benchmarking using reputable market surveys to ensure external competitiveness and internal equity.
• Develop compensation proposals and business cases for leadership approval.

Job Evaluation & Organization Design

• Lead job evaluation and grading processes using recognized methodologies such as HAY, Mercer, or equivalent frameworks.
• Ensure consistency and governance of job architecture across all business functions.
• Review and approve job grading recommendations.
• Maintain governance over job descriptions, grading structures, and organizational hierarchy.

Benefits Management

• Design, review, and continuously improve employee benefits programs, including medical insurance, retirement plans, allowances, leave benefits, wellness initiatives, and recognition programs.
• Evaluate benefit utilization, market competitiveness, vendor performance, and overall return on investment.
• Partner with external providers to negotiate competitive benefit offerings.

Employee Value Proposition (EVP)

• Partner with Talent Acquisition, HR Business Partners, and Corporate Communications to develop and enhance the organization's Employee Value Proposition.
• Ensure Total Rewards programs effectively support employer branding and employee engagement initiatives.

Analytics & Workforce Insights

• Develop dashboards and executive reports covering compensation trends, pay equity, turnover costs, benefits utilization, and workforce analytics.
• Perform financial modelling, forecasting, and scenario analysis to support workforce planning and budgeting.
• Provide data-driven recommendations to leadership on Total Rewards strategy.

Governance, Compliance & Risk

• Develop, maintain, and govern Total Rewards policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Ensure compliance with UAE Labour Law, internal governance standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Lead internal and external audits related to compensation, payroll governance, benefits, and rewards.
• Maintain robust controls to ensure consistent and compliant application of Total Rewards policies.

Stakeholder Management

• Act as the subject matter expert on Total Rewards, advising HR Business Partners, Finance, and business leaders on compensation, grading, and benefits matters.
• Build trusted relationships across the organization to support business decision-making and organizational transformation.

Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop the Total Rewards team.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and customer-focused service delivery.
• Drive innovation and process improvements within the Total Rewards function.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Completion of annual salary benchmarking exercises
• Successful delivery of annual compensation review cycle
• Job evaluation turnaround time (SLA)
• Employee benefits utilization and satisfaction
• Total Rewards data accuracy
• Policy compliance and audit outcomes
• Market competitiveness of compensation structures
• Budget adherence for Total Rewards programs
• Employee Value Proposition initiatives delivered

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or a related discipline.
• CIPD Level 5 or Level 7, GRP (Global Remuneration Professional), or equivalent Total Rewards certification is preferred.

Experience

• 8–12 years of progressive experience in Total Rewards, Compensation & Benefits, or Rewards Strategy.
• Strong experience in job evaluation, salary benchmarking, grading frameworks, and benefits design.
• Experience leading annual compensation review cycles within large, complex organizations.
• Strong knowledge of compensation governance, workforce analytics, and Total Rewards strategy.
• Experience using HRIS platforms such as SAP, Oracle, or SuccessFactors.
• Experience within industrial, manufacturing, energy, or similarly complex organizations is preferred.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic Thinking
• Leading Change & Continuous Improvement
• Building Relationships & Collaboration
• Influencing & Stakeholder Management
• Accountability & Decision Making
• Emotional Intelligence
• Business Acumen
• Results Orientation

Functional Competencies

• Total Rewards Strategy
• Compensation & Benefits
• Salary Benchmarking
• Job Evaluation & Grading
• Organization Design
• Employee Value Proposition (EVP)
• HR Analytics & Workforce Planning
• Financial Modelling & Cost Analysis
• Rewards Governance
• HR Policies & Compliance
• HRIS & Data Management
• Vendor & Benefits Management

Working Relationships

Internal

• Director – People Operations & Strategy
• HR Business Partners
• Talent Acquisition
• Finance
• Payroll
• Executive Leadership Team
• Department Heads
• Internal Audit

External

• Compensation Survey Providers
• Benefits Providers
• Insurance Companies
• HR Consultants
• Regulatory Authorities
• External Auditors