Pensions Director

BWD Search & Selection; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The undisclosed company is seeking a Director-level pensions advisor to lead a varied portfolio of client work. You will assess governance, administration, technology and provider performance to help trustees and employers improve decision-making and outcomes.

Ideal candidates bring extensive workplace pension knowledge, strong stakeholder management and the credibility to challenge established approaches, while upholding independence and delivering practical recommendations.

Qualifications

• Senior pensions professional with Director-level credibility.
• Strong technical pensions knowledge with commercial judgement.
• Experience advising trustees or employers on governance and oversight.

Responsibilities

• Lead advisory work on pension arrangements and governance improvements.
• Assess administration models, technology, and service delivery.
• Advise trustees and employers on value for money and member outcomes.
• Undertake provider reviews, benchmarking and market research.
• Translate analysis into clear, evidence-based recommendations.
• Lead complex change, implementation and transition projects.
• Present findings to trustee boards and senior stakeholders.
• Build trusted relationships with clients and providers.
• Contribute to development of new propositions and thought leadership.
• Support and develop team members within the advisory division.

Skills

Pensions expertise

Client leadership

Stakeholder management

Communication

Commercial judgement

Job description

We are working with a leading independent pensions governance and professional trustee business looking to appoint a Director within its specialist advisory division.

This is a senior, client-facing role for someone who understands how pension schemes operate in practice and can help trustees and employers make better decisions across governance, administration, technology, providers and service delivery.

The role sits within a research-led team that provides independent analysis and practical advice on complex operational and strategic issues. It would suit an experienced pensions professional who can combine strong technical knowledge with commercial judgement, clear communication and the confidence to challenge established ways of working.

The role

You will lead a varied portfolio of advisory work, helping clients assess the effectiveness of their pension arrangements and identify where change is required.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading strategic and operational reviews of pension arrangements
• Assessing administration models, technology, service delivery and provider performance
• Advising trustees and employers on governance, value for money and member outcomes
• Undertaking provider reviews, benchmarking and market research
• Translating detailed analysis into clear, evidence-based recommendations
• Leading complex change, implementation and transition projects
• Presenting findings and recommendations to trustee boards and senior stakeholders
• Building trusted relationships with clients, providers and wider industry contacts
• Contributing to the development of new propositions, research and thought leadership
• Supporting and developing colleagues across the team

We are looking for someone with strong pensions experience and the credibility to operate at Director level.

You are likely to bring:

• Detailed knowledge of workplace pensions, particularly trust-based and DC arrangements
• Experience advising trustees, employers or governance committees
• A background in consulting, scheme management, provider oversight, governance or related advisory work
• A strong understanding of administration, technology and operational delivery
• Experience leading strategic reviews, provider evaluations or complex change projects
• The ability to analyse complex information and reach clear, practical conclusions
• Strong written, presentation and stakeholder-management skills
• The confidence to challenge constructively and influence senior decision-makers
• A commercial, pragmatic and independent approach

You may currently work within a consultancy, governance business, master trust, pension provider or in-house pensions team. The key requirement is not where you have worked, but whether you can bring together pensions knowledge, structured analysis and senior client leadership.

This is an opportunity to join a respected and growing business with a strong reputation for independent thinking and practical delivery.

You will have the scope to lead important client work, influence the development of the advisory proposition and play a visible role in the continued growth of the division.