Group Reward Lead (12 month FTC)

In 2025, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.

Job Title: Group Reward Lead (12-month fixed-term contract)

Location: Hybrid with travel to Manchester

Working Pattern: Full time, 37.5 hours per week

Salary: £75,000 - £90,000 per annum + Benefits

Contract: 12 month fixed term contract

Please note: UK applicants only | No sponsorship available

About us

Outcomes First Group is the UK's largest independent provider of specialist education and care. We deliver personalised, research-led support that helps every child thrive. As a growing organisation, we continue to invest in our people and services to deliver high-quality outcomes across our sites.

Blenheim Schools is Outcomes First Group's all-ability schools division, delivering inclusive, high-quality education for pupils of all abilities. Blenheim Schools combine strong academic foundations with a personalised, pupil-centred approach, supporting sustainable growth while maintaining educational quality.

About the Role

Reporting to the Chief People Officer, the Group Reward Lead will act as the organisation's reward subject matter expert, providing advice, insight and governance across all aspects of reward.

This standalone role will review existing reward arrangements across the Group, benchmark current practices and identify opportunities to improve competitiveness, fairness, governance and effectiveness. The successful candidate will build on and enhance existing reward practices, helping to shape future reward strategy while supporting organisational priorities.

The role offers the opportunity to work closely with Executive leadership, Finance and HR stakeholders, providing expert reward guidance, analytics and governance across a complex and growing organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a comprehensive review of the Group's reward framework, policies and practices.
• Benchmark pay structures, incentives and benefits against external markets.
• Assess internal pay positioning and identify reward risks and inconsistencies.
• Develop practical reward recommendations and implementation plans aligned to organisational priorities.
• Act as the Group's reward subject matter expert and trusted adviser to HR, Finance and senior leaders.
• Review executive reward, bonus and incentive arrangements.
• Support Executive and Remuneration Committee decision-making through robust analysis and recommendations.
• Produce reward analysis, modelling and business cases to support strategic decisions.
• Analyse reward data to identify market trends, risks and opportunities.
• Develop reward governance processes and decision-making frameworks.
• Support the development of scalable reward principles across UK and international operations.

Experience, Skills & Qualifications

Essential

• Significant experience within a Reward, Compensation & Benefits or Total Reward position.
• Proven experience reviewing, benchmarking and enhancing reward strategies within a complex organisation.
• Strong market benchmarking and salary analysis expertise.
• Ability to operate independently as a standalone reward specialist.
• Experience advising senior stakeholders on reward, executive remuneration and incentive schemes.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex reward data and provide commercially focused recommendations.
• Experience developing reward policies, governance and decision-making frameworks.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills with experience engaging Executive and Board-level stakeholders.
• Advanced Excel and reward modelling capability.

Desirable

• Experience supporting Remuneration Committee (RemCo) activity.
• Experience within a private equity-backed or high-growth organisation.
• Experience working within an international or multi-country organisation.
• Knowledge of executive remuneration, bonus structures and long-term incentive plans (LTIPs).

Why Join Us?

You’ll be joining a growing organisation where you can make a real impact as part of a collaborative and supportive team, contributing to meaningful work across our services.

Outcomes First Group is the UK’s largest independent provider of high-quality special needs education, operating across England, Scotland, and Wales.

Our divisional brands include Acorn Education, Options Autism, Blenheim Schools, and Momenta Connect.

By joining our central teams, you’ll help shape strategy, provide expert support, and drive continuous improvement across a growing organisation renowned for quality, impact, and innovation. We value collaboration, professionalism, and creativity, offering the opportunity to influence change at scale while staying true to our core values of care, aspiration, and inclusion.

Benefits

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with flexible contribution options
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – mental and physical health support
• Family Growth Support, including enhanced maternity and paternity leave
• Flexible benefits via Vista (Cycle to Work, Electric Car Scheme, discounts, critical illness cover, and more)

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS check.

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of suitable applications is received.

Outcomes First Group is committed to a fair, thorough, and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. While we aim to keep applicants informed, we do not accept liability for any loss of earnings or costs incurred due to delays or changes in compliance processes. All stages are subject to safeguarding checks and statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.