Reward Manager

At Summerset, we are passionate about creating vibrant communities where our residents can live the life they choose. Behind that is a committed support office team that helps our nearly 3,500 people do their best work across New Zealand and Australia.

We are looking for an experienced Reward Manager to join our People & Culture Shared Services team. This is a senior specialist role, responsible for leading remuneration and reward across Australia and New Zealand, with a strong focus on building fair, competitive and commercially sound reward practices as our business continues to grow.

Reporting to the Head of P&C Shared Services and working closely with the Chief People Officer, you will be the trusted subject matter expert for remuneration, incentives, benefits and reward governance. This role will suit someone who genuinely enjoys complexity and is energised by evolving remuneration landscapes, including IEAs, CEAs, unions, collective bargaining, Australian Modern Awards, STI, LTI and remuneration package design.

What you’ll be doing

• Own and evolve Summerset’s remuneration and reward framework across New Zealand and Australia.
• Lead annual remuneration review activity, including planning, analysis, recommendations, governance papers and leader guidance.
• Provide expert advice on complex remuneration matters, including IEA and CEA environments, union considerations, collective bargaining impacts and internal equity.
• Support Australian remuneration design and compliance, with a particular focus on Modern Awards and remuneration package structures.
• Manage and enhance STI, LTI, benefits, recognition and reward programmes so they are competitive, practical and aligned to business priorities.
• Use market data, benchmarking and internal insights to support evidence-based decision making for executives, leaders and the Board.
• Partner closely with P&C, Finance, Legal, Payroll and senior leaders to ensure reward practices are well understood, well governed and well executed.
• Work with a reporting analyst with remuneration experience, along with shared service coordinators who provide support during remuneration review and peak activity periods.

This is not a “keep the lights on” reward role. You will be joining a business that is growing, maturing and continuing to build more sophisticated reward practices across two countries. There are no direct reports, but you will not be doing it alone. You will have analytical and shared services support, strong executive connection and the opportunity to shape how reward supports our people and our business.

To be successful in this role, you will ideally have:

• Solid remuneration and reward experience in a complex organisation.
• Strong NZ and Australian remuneration knowledge, including practical experience with Australian Modern Awards and remuneration package structures.
• Confidence advising on complex employment environments, including IEAs, CEAs, unions and collective bargaining considerations.
• Experience designing, reviewing or governing salary structures, benefits, STI, LTI, bonus schemes and recognition programmes.
• Strong analytical capability, with the ability to turn remuneration data, market insights and benchmarking into clear recommendations.
• The credibility to influence senior leaders and translate complex reward concepts into practical, commercially grounded advice.
• Excellent judgement, attention to detail and a strong understanding of governance, confidentiality and risk.
• A continuous improvement mindset and the confidence to work in an environment that is growing, changing and becoming more sophisticated.

This is a great opportunity for a reward specialist who wants to be close to decision making, close to the CPO and close to the work that really matters. You will have room to influence, improve and build reward practices that support a growing workforce across New Zealand and Australia.

Some of our great benefits include:

• Flexible working - 2 WFH days per week
• Auckland or Wellington based
• Free Southern Cross Health Essentials
• The opportunity to make a visible impact in a growing business of nearly 3,500 people

Ready to apply?

If you are an experienced Reward Manager who loves complex, evolving remuneration and reward work, we would love to hear from you. Applications close 1 September 2026.