Head of Reward, Systems and Services

Overview

The Premier League's People team is looking for a Head of Reward, Systems and Services. The right candidate will have extensive experience in reward management, including compensation, benefits, recognition, and executive pay. They will have a strong understanding of reward governance, compliance, and regulatory requirements, particularly in high-profile or regulated sectors.

The Head of Reward, Systems and Services is responsible for designing, delivering, and managing the organisation's reward strategy to ensure it is competitive, fair, and aligned with business goals. This role covers compensation, benefits, recognition, and executive reward, ensuring that reward frameworks drive performance, engagement, and retention. In addition, the role oversees the people systems and HR services infrastructure, ensuring processes, technology, and service delivery are efficient, user-friendly, and enable a seamless employee experience.

Who we are

The Premier League is home to some of the most competitive and compelling football in the world. The League and its Clubs use the power and popularity of the competition to inspire fans, communities and partners in the UK and across the world. The Premier League brings people together from all backgrounds. It is a competition for everyone, everywhere and is available to watch in over 900 million homes in 189 countries.

We have a wide variety of responsibilities. These include organising the competition and its Handbook as well as managing the centralised broadcast and commercial rights. The work we do in conjunction with the Clubs also goes far beyond the 90 minutes. We support and provide a framework for youth development, we protect the organisation's intellectual property, support the wider game and community programmes, undertake international development work and liaise with governing bodies and other leagues.

The Premier League is an equal opportunities employer and strives to create an inclusive culture where talent can flourish. We believe in the potential of everyone and open our doors to those who share those values. All appointments will be made based on merit; however, we particularly encourage applications from women, people from minority ethnic communities, LGBTQ+ people and disabled people.

Our hybrid-working model also allows you some variety on your place of work, offering you the chance to work from home on some days each week. Where possible, you will attend the office or site visits in line with our company policy. All staff liaise closely with their line manager to manage their time appropriately and according to their work and team requirements.

The role

Reward Strategy & Design

• Develop and implement a comprehensive reward strategy that aligns with the Premier Leagues goals, culture, and values.
• Lead the design and review of base pay, bonus, incentives, and recognition programmes that drive performance and engagement.
• Design and maintain promotion frameworks that link progression to job evaluation, pay structures, and career pathways, ensuring consistency and fairness across the organisation.
• Ensure reward structures at head office remain competitive in the external market, balancing fairness, cost, and sustainability, whilst managing complexities of the shareholder/club expectations and requirements.
• Partner with Head of Talent and Finance to ensure reward supports broader talent management practices, workforce plans and financial planning strategies.

Compensation & Benefits Management

• Oversee annual pay review, bonus cycles, and incentive plans.
• Evaluate and manage benefits offerings (pensions, health, wellbeing, and lifestyle benefits), ensuring value for employees and the business.
• Drive innovation in benefits to support employee wellbeing, inclusivity, and engagement.

Operational Services (Payroll, Systems & Delivery)

• Lead payroll administration, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely delivery in partnership with Finance/HR Operations.
• Own and optimise reward and payroll processes, ensuring integration with HRIS and payroll, data integrity, and operational efficiency.
• Manage relationships with external reward vendors and service providers (e.g. payroll, benefits, recognition platforms).
• Drive continuous improvement in operational services to enhance efficiency, governance, and employee experience.

Executive & Senior Reward

• Partner with the Chief People Officer and Remuneration Committee on executive pay frameworks, including base pay, incentives, and long-term reward structures.
• Prepare and present papers and proposals for the Board/Remuneration Committee to evolve our reward strategy across the Premier League.

Data, Insights & Governance

• Lead on market benchmarking, job evaluation, and reward analytics to provide insights and recommendations.
• Ensure all compensation, benefits, payroll, and reward services comply with employment law, tax, and regulatory requirements.
• Manage external reward surveys and relationships with providers/consultants.
• Ensure reward programmes are equitable, transparent, and support diversity and inclusion objectives.
• Monitor reward-related risks and provide assurance to senior leadership and the Board.

Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as a trusted advisor to the People Team and senior leaders on pay, benefits, and recognition decisions.
• Build strong partnerships with People Team and finance to ensure joined-up decision making.
• Support managers with guidance and tools to make fair, consistent pay and reward decisions.

Requirements for the role

• Extensive experience in reward management, including compensation, benefits, recognition, and executive pay.
• Strong understanding of reward governance, compliance, and regulatory requirements, particularly in high-profile or regulated sectors.
• Proven expertise in using benchmarking tools, market data, and analytics to inform strategy and decision-making.
• Experience preparing and presenting reward proposals to senior executives, Board, or Remuneration Committees.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with credibility to advise C-suite leaders.
• Ability to navigate sensitive conversations around pay with discretion and diplomacy.
• Commercial acumen with the ability to balance competitiveness and cost-effectiveness.
• High integrity and judgement, able to manage highly confidential and sensitive information.
• Analytical, detail-oriented, and data-driven with the ability to simplify complex information.

Our commitment to safeguarding includes implementing robust safer recruitment procedures to assess the suitability of individuals applying for roles that involve work with children and adults who are or may be at risk of harm. For further information, please see our Safeguarding Policy and Safer Recruitment Guidance.

To apply please visit our careers page and apply with your CV and a cover letter. The closing date for applications is Wednesday 10 December 2025.

We will remove barriers that prospective candidates might face at any stage of our recruitment process. If you have a disability and would like the advert in an alternative format, or would like to talk about how we can adjust the interview process to best support you, please contact