Business Development Executive - Pensions

ENGINEERINGUK; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Business Development Executive to join their dynamic team in Reading. This role involves supporting the sales lifecycle within the pensions administration sector, ensuring client needs are met with effective solutions. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of the pensions administration industry, excellent communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple projects efficiently. Join a vibrant workplace that values diversity and offers opportunities for personal and professional growth, where your contributions will be recognized and appreciated.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Annual discretionary bonus scheme

25 days holiday plus flexibility to buy/sell

Flexible bank holidays

Pension scheme with matching contributions

Healthcare cash plan

Flexible benefits scheme

Life assurance cover

Employee assistance programme

Paid volunteering day

Qualifications

• Thorough knowledge of pensions administration industry is essential.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills are required.

Responsibilities

• Support the sales lifecycle and develop effective solutions for clients.
• Produce reports and manage business development activities.

Skills

Pensions Administration Knowledge

Communication Skills

Organizational Skills

Analytical Skills

Problem-Solving Skills

Resilience

Education

Certification in Pensions Administration (e.g., CPC)

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

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Business Development Executive - Pensions

Sector: Sales and Business Development
Role: Executive
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full Time

Location: Reading
Working Model: Hybrid
Ref: REQ002843

XPS Group is a leading UK consulting and administration business specialising in the pensions and insurance sectors. At XPS, our vision is to create a vibrant place to work where difference is recognised as a strength and where talented people can flourish and achieve their highest potential.

Our Pensions Administration business continues to grow and we are now looking for a Business Development Executive to join our vibrant Reading office with hybrid working. This is an exciting role and would most likely suit someone with previous experience in a similar role where they have gained a thorough knowledge of the pensions administration industry.

A FTSE 250 company, XPS combines expertise and insight with advanced technology and analytics to address the needs of over 1,400 pension schemes and their sponsoring employers on an ongoing and project basis. We undertake pensions administration for over one million members and provide advisory services to schemes and corporate sponsors in respect of schemes of all sizes, including 88 with assets over £1bn. We also provide wider ranging support to insurance companies in the life and bulk annuities sector.

Our people drive our success and as an XPS employee you can bring your whole self to work - Everyone is treated equally and with respect. We will provide you with the support and training you need to grow and be at your very best. It's about inclusion and diversity, ensuring all our people feel included, that they belong to XPS and that they're happy. Above all, it's about ensuring everyone has a voice and feels valued. Because they are.

The Team

Our award-winning pensions administration business puts scheme members at the heart of everything we do. Our services include scheme administration, first-time outsourcing, member communications and scam protection.

The Role

As a Business Development Executive with XPS you will:

• Support the Admin New Business Team in the 'sales/new business' lifecycle across the private and public sectors; from the identification stages, fact-finding, developing and executing the sales strategy, attending prospect meetings and understanding clients' needs ensuring XPS Admin is able to provide effective solutions.
• Work closely with the Central Bid Team to ensure materials are formatted correctly, the sales process is managed effectively, and deadlines are adhered to.
• Work closely with the 'admin owner' of a proposal to ensure that it is of the best quality. This includes making sure all tender questions are sufficiently answered and proof-reading documents before submission.
• Help develop creative documents, pitches and propositions.
• Develop the wider skills of XPS Admin employees in 'new business pitches' to ensure increased conversion from 'opportunities' to 'sales'. For example, presentation skills, handling Q&As at site visits and client presentations, understanding what motivates clients and their associated key business drivers and how to conduct yourself at presentations.
• Proactively follow up leads generated from within XPS Admin and the wider Group.
• Work closely with the Admin New Business Team to identify ways of improving XPS Admin's proposition.
• Produce all reports required by the Admin New Business Team to agreed timescales, including updating all business development activity in a timely and accurate manner, identifying trends and patterns and maintaining trackers and SharePoint sites to ensure they are up to date and tidy.
• Prepare the first draft of pricing for tenders for review by the Admin New Business Team, including reviewing existing client fees by applying the pricing model for new business tenders when required by the admin teams.
• Work with the marketing team to promote XPS Admin's services with effective use of social media, PR networking, technical briefings, seminars etc. This includes making sure that the XPS LinkedIn page remains active and promoting the use of LinkedIn to XPS Admin employees.

Your Profile

Essential Criteria

• Able to demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the pensions administration industry.
• IT proficient, in particular Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook & PowerPoint.
• Able to demonstrate resilience and the ability to work to strict deadlines.
• Highly organised with the ability to prioritise work and effectively manage your own workload whilst still working as part of a team. The ability to manage multiple projects at any one time is vitally important.
• Excellent oral communication skills with the ability to work well with a variety of people at all levels, including senior executives within the business. Able to adjust communication style relevant to the audience.
• Excellent attention to detail in written material.
• The ability to proactively take ownership and responsibility for own workload.
• A high degree of professional integrity, with the ability to operate within a compliant framework and adhere to corporate quality standards.
• Able to demonstrate analytical and problem-solving skills.

Desirable Criteria

• Previous track record gained in a comparable sales and business development role would be advantageous. This also includes experience in the bid management lifecycle including production of bids and proposal documentation.
• Previous experience of delivering presentations in client-facing situations is of distinct advantage.
• Achieved a certification in pensions administration e.g. CPC.

What We Offer

We offer an attractive reward package, typical benefits can include:

• Competitive salary
• Participation in annual discretionary Bonus Scheme
• 25 days holiday plus flexibility to buy or sell holiday
• Flexible Bank holidays
• Pension scheme, matching contribution structure
• Healthcare cash plan
• Flexible Benefits Scheme to support you in and out of work, helping you look after you and your family covering Security & Protection, Health & Wellbeing, Lifestyle
• Life Assurance cover, four times basic salary
• XPS Rewards (offers High Street discounts and savings from retailers and services providers as well as offers available via phone)
• Employee Assistance Programme for you and your household
• Access to a digital GP service
• Paid volunteering day when participating in Company organised events
• Staff referral scheme when you introduce a friend to XPS

What Next

If you feel XPS could be the next step on your career ladder, please apply directly via the links provided and we look forward to learning more about you. We will consider all applicants and respond swiftly.

Please discuss with the recruitment team, via phone or email, if you require any adjustments to the recruitment process. For example, we can provide materials in an alternative format, or give you extra time in interviews or tests.

If you do not feel ready to apply or still have questions, please email us by clicking here.

The successful candidate will need to demonstrate the following requirements:

• Right to Work confirmation
• DBS Disclosure check
• Employment or educational references covering five years
• Satisfactory credit check

We continuously strive to build an inclusive workplace where all forms of diversity are valued, including age, background, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, race, religion or sexual orientation.

Please note we reserve the right to close our vacancies early and we only accept CVs direct from candidates or our preferred supplier list.

XPS try wherever possible to respond to all applicants. If for any reason you have not heard from us within 28 days of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.