Total Rewards Manager

PurposeThe Total Rewards Manager is responsible for designing, optimizing, and governing the organization’s Compensation, Benefits, and Reward frameworks to ensure competitiveness, internal equity, and alignment with the organization’s strategic, financial, and Emiratization objectives. The role plays a central part in supporting EIA’s ability to attract, motivate, and retain top investment and corporate talent by developing market‑responsive, performance‑linked, and data‑driven Total Rewards programs.Operating in a sovereign wealth fund environment, the role also leads the integration of AI‑enabled analytics, digital reward systems, automation, and predictive workforce cost modelling to enhance decision‑making, compliance, and operational accuracy.Strategic ResponsibilitiesDesign and implement a holistic Total Rewards Strategy covering compensation, benefits, recognition, allowances, performance‑linked pay, and long‑term incentives (where applicable)Lead market intelligence and benchmarking exercises to ensure reward competitiveness for investment, specialist, and corporate rolesEmbed AI‑driven insights, predictive analytics, and digital dashboards into reward governance, enabling proactive decision‑making on workforce costs, equity risks, and talent retentionSupport financial planning, workforce modeling, and organizational design decisions by providing compensation implications, forecasts, and scenario analysisEnsure reward frameworks support Emiratization, mobility, internal progression, and leadership development pathwaysMaintain strong governance, documentation, and compliance across all reward programs in alignment with regulatory requirements and Board‑approved policiesCore Responsibilities1. Compensation Structure & Pay GovernanceMaintain and enhance salary structures, job grading systems, career levels, and compensation architecture across all functionsConduct job evaluations using methodologies such as Hay, Mercer, and Willis Towers Watson to ensure internal equity and role clarityKeep pay structures aligned with market trends, organizational priorities, and external competitivenessEnsure accurate and timely delivery of annual compensation cycles, including merit, promotions, off‑cycle requests, and salary adjustmentsPerformance‑Linked Rewards & IncentivesManage the execution of the annual bonus and incentive processes, ensuring data accuracy, compliance, and alignment with performance outcomesProvide modelling and analytical support on short‑term incentives (STI) and long‑term incentive (LTI) structures, including deferral implications and risk alignmentPartner with Talent Management to integrate performance ratings, KPIs, and competency outcomes into reward decisionsBenefits & Allowances ManagementOversee benefits programs including medical, life insurance, education allowances, pension (GPSSA/alternative plans), end‑of‑service benefits, and employee wellness offeringsManage vendor relationships, RFPs, contract renewals, service level agreements, and cost control measuresEvaluate and enhance benefits offerings using employee utilisation data, benchmarking insights, and satisfaction feedbackHRIS, Digital Rewards & AI IntegrationLead digital transformation of Total Rewards processes by optimizing HRIS, payroll integrations, and compensation planning toolsDevelop dashboards using Power BI/Tableau for compensation analytics, workforce cost forecasting, attrition risk modelling, and pay equity monitoringSupport the design and maintenance of AI‑enabled HR chatbots that provide employees with automated responses to reward‑related queriesEnsure data governance, privacy compliance, and process automation across reward workflowsWorkforce Costing & ReportingPartner with Finance to monitor and forecast workforce budgets, headcount costs, and reward spendPrepare Board‑ and Executive‑level reporting on compensation trends, regulatory updates, and market outlooksProvide insights on pay competitiveness, turnover risk associated with pay, and cost modelling for organisational changesCompliance, Audit, & Policy ManagementEnsure compliance with UAE labour law, regulatory requirements, GPSSA, tax obligations (if applicable), and internal governance frameworksMaintain all reward‑related policies, ensuring clarity, transparency, and alignment with organisational risk appetiteLead internal and external audit processes for compensation and benefits, ensuring timely closure of findingsPeople & Leadership ResponsibilitiesProvide leadership and guidance to the Total Rewards team to ensure effective execution of all reward initiativesPartner with HR Business Partners to support business units in addressing compensation and benefits mattersBuild awareness among line managers and employees on reward principles, policies, and practicesFoster a culture of accountability, fairness, and recognition within the organizationRequirementsEducation & QualificationsBachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance