Head of Benefits & Rewards
Shape the future of employee experience
Are you a strategic reward leader ready to make a meaningful impact at scale? We’re looking for an exceptional Head of Benefits & Rewards to lead the design and delivery of a market-leading total rewards strategy that drives engagement, attracts top talent, and strengthens retention across our organisation.
The best care is delivered by the best people. So this new role at Barchester is a high-impact leadership role where you’ll have the opportunity to influence at the highest levels, shape our employee value proposition, and build the best workplace experience for our people.
The Opportunity
As Head of Benefits & Rewards, you’ll own and evolve our end-to-end employee experience across compensation, benefits, wellbeing, and engagement. You’ll ensure our approach is competitive, compliant, and aligned to both our People Strategy and wider business goals.
You’ll lead a talented team, drive innovation, and embed a culture of excellence in how we design and deliver reward programmes.
What You’ll Be Doing
Strategic Leadership & Total Rewards
* Develop and execute a forward-thinking total rewards strategy aligned to business priorities and market positioning
* Lead the design and governance of compensation frameworks including salary, incentives, and equity plans
* Provide expert guidance on executive and organisation-wide incentive structures
* Partner with HR and L&D to align reward with performance and development frameworks
* Use data and insights to continuously improve effectiveness and impact
Market Insight & Governance
* Analyse market trends and benchmarking data to ensure competitiveness and internal equity
* Ensure full compliance with legislation and regulatory requirements
* Lead key reporting including Gender, Ethnicity, and Disability Pay Gap reporting and equal pay reviews
Benefits, Wellbeing & Engagement
* Oversee and enhance benefits and wellbeing programmes to improve employee experience and retention
* Design innovative recognition and reward initiatives backed by strong business cases
* Champion wellbeing and lead engagement-driven initiatives, including the Wellbeing Champion programme
* Drive clear, engaging communication to maximise employee understanding and value of benefits
Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement
* Partner with HR Services to streamline processes and improve systems for a seamless employee experience
* Use engagement insights to identify and implement organisation-wide improvements
Financial & Vendor Management
* Lead reward budgeting and forecasting in partnership with Finance
* Ensure cost-effective vendor management without compromising quality
* Support data-driven decision-making for recruitment and workforce planning
Leadership & Team Development
* Build, lead, and inspire a high-performing Benefits & Reward team
* Foster a culture of continuous development, engagement, and accountability
* Manage employee relations within the team with professionalism and care
What You’ll Bring
* Proven success leading complex reward and benefits programmes in large, highly regulated organisations
* Deep expertise across compensation, benefits, and total rewards strategy
* Strong understanding of wellbeing, engagement, and broader employee experience drivers
* Advanced analytical skills with a data-driven approach to decision-making
* Exceptional communication and influencing skills, with experience engaging senior stakeholders
* Strategic mindset with strong attention to detail
* Inspirational leadership capability with a passion for developing high-performing teams
Why Join Us?
You’ll have the opportunity to shape a best-in-class reward function, influence organisational strategy, and create a workplace where people truly thrive. This is more than a role, it’s a chance to leave a lasting impact.