Application Guide

How to Apply for People Data and Reward Manager - Maternity cover

at Refuge

🏢 About Refuge

Refuge is a leading UK charity dedicated to supporting women and children experiencing domestic violence, providing life-saving services and campaigning for change. Working here means contributing to a mission-driven organization where your work directly supports vulnerable individuals, offering a unique opportunity to combine professional HR expertise with social impact. The remote, part-time structure demonstrates their commitment to flexible working arrangements that support work-life balance.

About This Role

This maternity cover role is responsible for developing Refuge's pay and reward strategy while managing people data, reporting, and overseeing payroll/pensions services through the CIPHR system. You'll ensure fair, evidence-based compensation aligned with Refuge's values while improving HR processes and data accuracy. Your work will directly support leaders across the organization with insights that help them manage teams effectively during a critical period of temporary coverage.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve analyzing pay data to identify potential inequities, collaborating with the People & Culture team on system improvements in CIPHR, preparing monthly people metrics reports for leadership, and resolving payroll queries from colleagues. You'll balance strategic reward projects with hands-on payroll oversight, ensuring both compliance and a supportive experience for Refuge's employees.

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🎯 Who Refuge Is Looking For

  • Has hands-on experience with reward structures, payroll administration, and people analytics, preferably in the charity or public sector where budget constraints require creative solutions
  • Is proficient with HR systems (specifically CIPHR experience is highly valued) and enjoys optimizing digital processes to improve efficiency and employee experience
  • Combines strong analytical skills with a collaborative, service-oriented approach—able to translate complex data into clear insights for non-technical colleagues
  • Understands the unique challenges of temporary/maternity cover roles and can quickly integrate into existing systems while driving meaningful improvements

📝 Tips for Applying to Refuge

1

Highlight any experience with CIPHR or similar HRIS platforms in your resume—even if it's limited, mention specific modules or features you've used

2

Demonstrate how you've made reward systems 'fair and evidence-based' in past roles, especially in mission-driven organizations with limited resources

3

Include examples of providing 'clear and insightful' people data to leaders—quantify how your reporting influenced decisions

4

Address the temporary nature directly: explain why you're seeking a part-time maternity cover role and how you'll ensure continuity

5

Show understanding of Refuge's work by referencing their values in your application materials

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your experience developing pay/reward approaches that balance fairness, evidence, and organizational values (especially in resource-constrained environments)', 'Specific examples of improving HR systems or processes that enhanced efficiency and employee experience', "How you've supported colleagues with 'people centred services' while maintaining data accuracy and compliance", "Why you're specifically interested in this temporary role at Refuge and how your skills align with their mission"]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Refuge's latest annual report and financial statements to understand their funding structure and priorities
  • → Their values and campaigns around domestic violence to understand the organizational context
  • → Current news about Refuge's services or advocacy work to demonstrate genuine interest
  • → CIPHR system capabilities and how it's typically used in charity/HR settings

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you approach developing a fair, evidence-based reward strategy at a charity like Refuge with limited budget?
2 Describe a time you improved data accuracy or streamlined processes in an HR/payroll system—what was the impact?
3 How would you ensure payroll/pensions compliance while maintaining a positive employee experience during this temporary cover period?
4 What metrics would you prioritize in people reporting for Refuge's leaders and why?
5 How would you quickly get up to speed with CIPHR and identify improvement opportunities in the first 30 days?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing only on technical payroll/reward skills without demonstrating the collaborative, service-oriented approach Refuge emphasizes
  • Treating this as just another HR role without showing understanding of Refuge's mission and how it affects people practices
  • Being vague about temporary role commitment or lacking a plan for quickly adding value during the cover period

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Refuge!

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