Reward Lead - #1796479

Job Title: Reward Lead

Department: People Department

Reporting to: Head of People Operations & Experience

Location: Manchester

Job Grade: L2

DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION

The People Team sits at the heart of Channel 4’s success, ensuring we attract, support, and retain the very best talent. We partner closely with the business across our three core areas—Creative, Commercial, and Operations—to enable a high-performing, inclusive, and forward-thinking workplace.

As we expand our footprint with the opening of our Manchester office, we are growing our People Team presence in the Nations and Regions to reflect the diversity and reach of our audiences and workforce.

Our team is made up of Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development (L&D), People Operations, and People Partners. We work collaboratively across all functions to deliver a people strategy that underpins Channel 4’s Fast Forward strategy—focusing on innovation, development, and engagement.

The People Operations & Experience Team are specialists in Operations, Reward, Data, Employee Engagement and People Systems, supporting the wider People Team to ensure that our people are developed and engaged to enable the channel to deliver on its remit and produce award-winning content.

JOB PURPOSE

As Reward Lead, you will shape Channel 4’s approach to reward and recognition in partnership with the People Director & Head of People Operations. You will work on our reward strategy, ensuring it is future-fit, equitable, and aligned with our organisational values and ambitions. This role will provide reward expertise, ensure delivery excellence of our cyclical events, and influence senior stakeholders, including the Executive team and RemCo.

You will lead the design and governance of pay frameworks, incentive schemes, and reward policies, ensuring they are competitive, compliant, and support talent attraction and retention. You will also play a key role in embedding reward principles into broader people and business strategies.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• In partnership with People & Executive leadership develop and execute Channel 4’s reward strategy, ensuring alignment with Fast Forward and People Strategy objectives.
• Act as the primary advisor to the People Leadership & Executive teams on reward matters, including pay equity, incentive design, and regulatory compliance.
• Oversee the annual reward cycle, including pay review and bonus schemes.
• Lead the design and implementation of reward frameworks that support career progression, internal mobility, and performance culture.
• Partner with Finance, Legal, and People teams to ensure reward governance, compliance, and risk management.
• Interpret market benchmarking and external insights to inform reward decisions.
• Lead supplier relationships and procurement for reward-related services and platforms (WTW, Paydata, Spktral).
• Provide coaching and capability building to People Partners and business leaders on reward principles and practices, including role evaluation.
• Monitor legislative changes and assess their impact on reward strategy and operations.
• Represent Channel 4 in external reward networks and forums to ensure thought leadership and best practice adoption.
• Manage the monthly payroll sign-off process
• Line management of Reward & Benefits Data & Insights Analyst

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

• Proven experience in a senior reward leadership role, with strong stakeholder skills.
• Deep expertise in compensation strategy, pay frameworks, incentive design, and reward governance.
• Strong commercial acumen and ability to align reward strategy with business performance.
• Experience advising and influencing Executive teams.
• Advanced analytical and modelling skills, with the ability to translate data into strategic insights.
• Demonstrated ability to lead change and drive continuous improvement in reward practices.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Strong project management and organisational capabilities.
• Attention to detail and strong governance skills
• Passion for Channel 4’s remit and values.

DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• Familiarity with WTW Global Grading methodology and job evaluation.
• Experience in media, broadcasting, or creative industries.
• Experience preparing briefing material for Board/RemCo.
• Exposure to DEI-focused pay equity initiatives.