The posting
Job description
About MARI Group MARI is a global events and experiences company powering world-defining live experiences. Our portfolio of premium live properties spans sports, art, and entertainment — including the Madrid and Miami Open tennis tournaments, Frieze (a leading voice in contemporary art), and Barrett-Jackson (the premium U.S. collector car auction company). MARI also includes TodayTix Group, the global e-commerce leader for cultural experiences, connecting millions of customers with the best in live entertainment.
MARI is reshaping the live events landscape — building a growing portfolio of category-defining events and brands that set the standard for what's next, across sports, entertainment, art, and lifestyle.
At MARI, you'll work alongside people who are passionate, curious, and driven — people who believe that live experiences have the power to shape culture, and who care about the work, the mission, and each other. We welcome outstanding applicants of all backgrounds and encourage everyone to apply.
About the Role We're looking for a Senior Manager, Benefits & Rewards to own benefits across MARI's international footprint and provide senior oversight of global payroll. You'll sit within People Operations, reporting to the VP, HR Operations and line managing our London-based Payroll Manager. Benefits is the heart of the role, with EMEA and APAC as your priority: leading renewals, harmonising benefits across our brands, and being the go-to person for employees, as comfortable explaining a pension scheme to a new starter as negotiating with a broker. You'll also help lead our project to move US benefits off our PEO, projected for 2028, with support from the VP, HR Operations and another senior manager on the team. It's a hands-on role in a small, growing team, with real ownership and a direct hand in how MARI looks after its people as it grows.
This is a full-time, permanent role and qualified candidates must be based in London. You'll be part of a hybrid team that values both connection and flexibility. We'll cover the details of our hybrid schedule during the interview process.
What Success Looks Like:
- Benefits renewals across all countries are delivered on time and within budget, with clear recommendations backed by claims and market data.
- A harmonised benefits framework is in place across MARI's brands, with a clear roadmap for countries still to align.
- The move off our US PEO is on track for 2028, with a harmonised plan design agreed across our US portfolio companies.
- Every payroll is paid accurately and on time with strong controls, and the Payroll Manager is well supported, developing and has cover whenever needed.
What You'll Own:
- Own benefits strategy and administration across EMEA, APAC and North America, including pensions, private medical, life assurance, income protection, EAP, wellbeing and salary sacrifice.
- Lead annual renewals with brokers and providers: review claims and usage data, benchmark against market, negotiate terms and bring recommendations to HR and Finance leadership.
- Drive benefits harmonisation across MARI's brands and entities, including businesses joining through acquisition, building the framework, cost models and change plans.
- Lead the move of US benefits off our PEO, from broker and carrier selection and plan design through compliance set-up, employee communications and transition.
- Be the main point of contact for employee benefits questions, and create clear communications and education so people understand and value their package.
- Manage, coach and develop the Payroll Manager, holding senior accountability for payroll accuracy, controls and compliance across all countries, and stepping in to run or approve payroll when needed.
- Make sure benefits and payroll data join up across our HRIS, payroll and providers, partnering with our People Systems lead on integrations and automation that cut manual work.
- Ensure benefits compliance in every country, including UK pension auto-enrolment and P11D reporting, and report on benefits cost and take-up to People and Finance leadership.
Room to Grow: Not day-one requirements, but there's scope to grow into these if they interest you:
- Compensation: benchmarking, salary ranges and supporting the annual pay review as MARI builds out its approach to reward.
- HR M&A: due diligence, Day 1 readiness and integration for businesses joining MARI through acquisition.
What You Bring:
- 5+ years' experience in benefits, payroll or reward, with benefits as your main area of depth.
- International benefits experience across EMEA and APAC, including how benefits and pay practices differ country by country.
- A track record of running renewals and managing brokers and providers, with strong negotiation and commercial skills.
- Experience harmonising or standardising benefits across countries or entities.
- Enough payroll experience to oversee and develop a Payroll Manager, and to review, challenge and sign off payroll, ideally across more than one country.
- Strong Excel and data skills, including cost modelling and reconciliations, and experience improving processes through HRIS and payroll integrations.
- Clear, warm communication and discretion with sensitive matters, plus the flexibility to thrive in a small, fast-moving team where you'll build things from scratch.
Nice to Have:
- US benefits experience, especially moving off a PEO or setting up standalone plans.
- Exposure to compensation or HR M&A, or a strong interest in developing either.
- HiBob experience.
- Experience in live events, sports, art or entertainment, or a multi-brand group.
Benefits Here are some of the Benefits and Perks offered at MARI Group:
- Hybrid work environment (blend of in-office and at-home days)
- Pension match and access to a bespoke pension scheme
- Paid Parental Leave
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Enhanced gyms, wellness and financial wellbeing apps access via Wellhub
- Flexible Paid Time Off
MARI believes in the power of live experiences to unite people — and we know that can only be achieved when we reflect the full diversity of the world around us. As a global company that shapes culture across sports, art, and entertainment, we are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace and to practicing anti-discrimination across race, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, and beyond. We recognise that systemic inequality and discrimination remain challenges across the events and entertainment industry, and we are dedicated to driving meaningful progress — both within our own organisation and across the wider industry we are proud to be part of.
