Senior Manager, Rewards

Would you like to join a global, growing company that innovates for a more sustainable tomorrow? UPM could be the team for you. We are frontrunners in developing renewable alternatives to fossil-based materials. Besides enabling both businesses and consumers make more sustainable choices, we strive to create a positive UPM experience for all our employees around the world. We live by our values – trust and be trusted, achieve together, renew with courage. Together we can renew the everyday, for a future beyond fossils! 

Learn more about us as a workplace upm.com/careers

We are now looking for a Senior Manager, Rewards to join our Group HR, Rewards & Payroll team in Helsinki, Finland. This senior‑level role carries global responsibility for shaping and advancing UPM’s Total Rewards agenda.

Greetings from your future manager

“I am looking for a team member who is an experienced, forward thinking rewards professional full of energy and ready to do a job than can make a true impact - someone who can bring strong expertise, energy and courage to shape UPM’s global Total Rewards landscape. We are proud of what we achieve together, and we take our work seriously - always with a good spirit and laughter. Join the team; we are already looking forward to meeting you!” - Riikka Ahola, Vice President, HR Rewards & Payroll

What you will do

Group HR Rewards & Payroll team is responsible for designing, developing and managing UPM’s rewarding and recognition principles, policies and practices in support of our global Total Rewards Approach and in alignment with UPM’s Business and People Strategy to ensure fairness, competitiveness and transparency. Our team’s areas of expertise include total labor cost budgeting, base pay management, pay equity and transparency, market benchmarking and salary structure design, short  and long term incentives, employee recognition, executive remuneration, job architecture, benefits, global mobility, rewards analytics and rewards compliance.

In this role, you will:

• Lead total rewards development and implementation for defined European countries, in close collaboration with Business HRs and other stakeholders
• Prepare analytical insights and recommendations on key rewards concepts and metrics to support business decision‑making, in collaboration with People Analytics
• Contribute to digitalization and analytics development in Workday and related tools in collaboration with People Analytics and HR Solutions & Processes team, improving and developing data quality and insight capabilities
• Contribute to the continuous development of UPM’s job architecture and career framework, ensuring consistency and alignment with compensation structures and future workforce needs
• Act as a trusted rewards advisor to Business HRs, leaders and other stakeholders, providing guidance, training and consultation globally
• Follow and keep up with external trends, regulatory developments and market insights, ensuring UPM rewards remain competitive and compliant
• Advance UPM’s global pay equity and pay transparency agenda, in line with internal commitments and evolving legislation
• Contribute to communication activities for rewards initiatives, ensuring clarity, transparency, understanding  and engagement across the organization
• Partner with global and local vendors, ensuring high‑quality service delivery of total rewards related services
• Collaborate with Finance, Legal, Tax, Payroll and other internal stakeholders, ensuring compliant and consistent rewards implementation
• Work closely with the HR Service Center, ensuring smooth execution of rewards processes
• The final scope of responsibilities will be tailored to your experience, strengths and interests

Who you are

• You have a master’s degree in a relevant field
• You have a strong track record in designing, implementing and managing total rewards programs independently and at scale in a global organization
• You combine strategic thinking with hands‑on execution and operational excellence
• You have excellent analytical skills, take a data‑driven approach and can translate data into meaningful insights and recommendations
• You have high proficiency in Excel and other BI tools and have experience with Workday or similar HRIS systems
• You have strong project, stakeholder and change management skills, and can influence senior leaders effectively
• You act with high integrity, sound judgement and strong personal accountability
• You thrive in a dynamic environment and demonstrate curiosity and courage to challenge, innovate and renew
• You have outstanding communication skills and the ability to simplify complex topics
• You are collaborative, business oriented and proactive
• You are fluent in Finnish and English, additional languages are an asset

This is what we offer to you 

• A meaningful job: We have an inspiring purpose "We renew the everyday for a future beyond fossils”. Our work is impactful and transformative.  
• A caring community: Our community is built on great team spirit and shared commitment. We care about each other and the well-being of our colleagues. We support the work-life balance of all our employees. 
• Development opportunities: We offer you great opportunities to learn and grow throughout your career. We are an international, multi-business organization offering plenty of avenues for personal growth. 
• Responsible employer: Sustainability is at the core of everything we do. We are committed to ambitious, science-based sustainability targets in all areas, from climate change mitigation to enhancing biodiversity. We foster diversity and inclusivity, offering a work environment in which everyone can be themselves. 

Learn about our Rewarding and our Ways of working. 

Additional information

The position holder will report to Vice President, HR Rewards & Payroll.

For further information about the role, please contact Riikka Ahola, VP, HR Rewards & Payroll at [email protected].

To apply, please submit your CV and cover letter by February 24, 2026. Please note that we accept only applications submitted through our online application system. We begin reviewing applications as they are received, and you may be contacted before the application deadline.

For support with submitting your application, please contact our HR Service Center at [email protected] or tel. +358204146600. 

A security background check may be performed for those selected to UPM positions, in accordance with the company recruitment guidelines and the Security Clearance Act 726/2014.   

UPM is a material solutions company, renewing products and entire value chains with an extensive portfolio of renewable fibres, advanced materials, decarbonization solutions, and communication papers. Our performance in sustainability has been recognized by third parties, including EcoVadis and the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices. We operate globally and employ approximately 15,800 people worldwide, with annual sales of approximately €10.3 billion. Our shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd.
 

UPM – we renew the everyday
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