Pensions Operations Manager - Public Sector

XPS Group; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual discretionary bonus

25 days holiday

Pension matching

Healthcare plans

Life assurance

Employee assistance

Volunteer days

Referral bonuses

Job summary

XPS Group in Middlesbrough is seeking an experienced Pension Administration Team Leader to support the Regional Operations Manager. You will lead a pensions administration team delivering high-quality services to public sector schemes, focusing on governance, compliance, people development, and process improvement in a on-site setting.

The role focuses on achieving quality, profitability, and long-term sustainability, with potential involvement in client relationships, tendering, and value

Qualifications

• Experienced pension professional with a strong track record in managing, developing, and delivering pensions administration services within the Public Sector.
• Thorough knowledge of technical pension administration activities and ability to apply this knowledge to any scheme.
• Previous line management experience, including appraisals, HR issue management, performance management, and recruitment.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Regional Operations Manager to maintain and enhance high-quality standards and long-term sustainability of services.
• Manage and develop the pensions administration capability by mentoring Administration Managers and Deputies.
• Contribute to attracting, training, and retaining employees and manage HR issues and resources.
• Develop commercial aspects of the function, involve in tendering and client-facing work, and ensure profitability.
• Lead administration aspects of full-service tenders and conduct client assignments.
• Build relationships with senior actuaries and support strategic business change.
• Support process and systems changes across the business.

Skills

Pensions administration

Leadership

Governance & compliance

Communication

Education

Degree or equivalent

APMI qualification

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Our teams of pension administrators deliver services to a wide range of public sector pension schemes, including defined benefit, career average revalued earnings (CARE), and hybrid arrangements. Our administrative approach is scheme-based; one team is responsible for every aspect of each client's service, enabling us to build the best possible relationships and provide the clarity of focus each scheme deserves. Your role will be to assist the Regional Operations Manager in the leadership and direction of the Pension Administration Team in our Middlesbrough office, preferably on site. The Pensions Operations Manager provides full-time oversight of the teams, with a particular emphasis on governance, compliance, people development, and process improvement. For the right candidate, there may also be opportunities to engage in client relationship management and fee-earning activities. However, the primary focus of the role is ensuring the consistent delivery of high-quality services, developing the capabilities of your team, and enhancing the systems, procedures, and compliance framework that underpin our work across the public sector., Reporting to a Regional Operations Manager and being a key member of their management team, you will be actively involved in the management and delivery of our pension administration services across the Middlesbrough office, with opportunities to support projects which may impact the wider Pension Administration business.

Key Objectives

Specific objectives focus on optimizing the balance between 3 overall aims:

• Quality - delivering an industry leading quality service
• Profit - running an efficient and profitable operation
• Long term sustainability - investing in our clients, people and systems

Key Responsibilities

In pursuit of these aims, your objectives would be to assist your Regional Operations Manager to:

• Maintain and enhance high-quality standards and long-term sustainability of services provided to clients across the business.
• Manage and develop the pensions administration capability by demonstrating positive leadership and mentoring Administration Managers and their Deputies when required.
• Contribute to attracting, training, and retaining employees by recruiting appropriately and motivating, rewarding, and developing existing team members. Manage HR issues and coordinate administration resources.
• Develop the commercial aspects of the function, involving Administration Managers in tendering and client-facing work, billing effectively for value added to clients, and ensuring profitability. Participate in ongoing analysis of the efficiency of systems and processes, collaborating with other areas such as the Projects Team.
• Assist with tendering processes, creating responses, and leading the administration aspects of full-service tenders.
• Conduct client assignments such as trustee secretarial appointments, project work, and client relationship management.
• Build strong and productive relationships with senior actuaries across the business and other offices.
• Support strategic business change and manage the implementation of new practices and processes.
• Contribute to business-wide process and systems change.
• Due to the changing nature of the business, the job holder may from time to time be required to undertake other activities of a similar nature that fall within their capabilities.

Any employment offer made will be conditional upon you satisfying DBS Disclosure checks, Employment or educational references, Satisfactory credit checks and eligibility to work in the UK before an offer can be made. XPS Group is not able to provide sponsorship to employees.

Qualifications and Experience

Experienced pension professional with a strong track record in managing, developing, and delivering pensions administration services - Specifically within the Public Sector.

• Thorough knowledge of technical pension administration activities and ability to apply this knowledge to any scheme.
• Previous experience with Defined Benefits (DB) and Defined Contributions (DC) schemes.
• Proven experience across the new business lifecycle, including proposals, client pitches, and negotiations.
• Experience operating within a compliant framework and strong understanding of quality standards.
• Previous line management experience, including appraisals, HR issue management, performance management, and recruitment.
• IT proficiency, particularly Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Demonstrated leadership skills in mentoring and motivating teams.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to inspire, lead, and manage a diverse team.
• Resilience and ability to work under pressure.
• Strong numerical, analytical, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Collaborative team player with enthusiasm.
• Highly organized with ability to plan and prioritize workloads.
• Commercial and professional focus with a results-oriented mindset.
• Confidence in engaging at senior levels and a creative, forward-thinking approach.
• Commitment to a customer-focused approach, ensuring quality and exceeding expectations.
• Educated to a minimum of A Level, Degree or equivalent standard.
• Ideally a minimum of three C grades or above at A Level or equivalent qualification.
• Strong Maths and English GCSE or equivalent qualification (minimum grade B).
• APMI qualification (or applicants deemed 'qualified by experience' would be considered).

About XPS Group

XPS Group is a prominent and growing UK consultancy and administration firm within the pensions and insurance sectors. As a FTSE 250 company with over 2000 employees, we leverage expertise alongside advanced technology to serve over 1,400 pension schemes and their sponsors. Our goal is to foster a workplace where diverse talents thrive.

Benefits and Salary

• Enjoy a competitive salary
• annual discretionary bonus
• 25 days' holiday with buy/sell flexibility
• pension matching
• healthcare plans
• life assurance
• retailer discounts
• flexible benefits scheme
• employee assistance
• digital GP service
• Participating in volunteering events is encouraged with paid volunteer days available.
• Referral bonuses are offered for introducing suitable candidates to XPS.