Pensions Project Team Manager

Xafinity Consulting Ltd; London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic Pensions Project Team Manager to lead a dedicated team in delivering high-quality pensions administration projects. This exciting opportunity involves managing a range of projects, ensuring they meet client expectations while fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment. The role offers the chance to work in a hybrid setting, balancing office and remote work, while contributing to a company that values diversity and supports professional growth. If you have a strong background in pensions and project management, this could be the next step in your career journey.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Annual discretionary Bonus Scheme

25 days holiday plus flexibility to buy or sell holiday

Flexible Bank holidays

Pension scheme with matching contributions

Healthcare cash plan

Flexible Benefits Scheme

Life Assurance cover

Access to a digital GP service

Paid volunteering day

Qualifications

• Experienced pension professional with a track record in managing pensions administration.
• Strong organizational and communication skills are essential for this role.

Responsibilities

• Manage a dedicated project team and ensure project delivery meets client expectations.
• Oversee client relationships and participate in meetings to discuss project progress.

Skills

Pensions Administration

Project Management

Commercial Acumen

Organizational Skills

Problem Solving

Communication Skills

Education

Professional Qualifications in Pensions

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

At XPS Group we operate a hybrid/flexible working style. We are an equal opportunities employer and positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief. As part of our Disability Confident pledge we run the ‘Offer an interview’ scheme at XPS. If you have a disability and meet the ‘essential criteria’ described in the person specification for the role being applied for, you are guaranteed an interview.

If you are successful in your application you undertake pre-employment checks which include: Right to Work confirmation, DBS Disclosure check, Qualification checks, Employment and/or educational references covering five years & Satisfactory credit check. If you have any questions or require further assistance, please email [e-mail].

location_on Location London - (Homeworker)

work_outline Basis Full time

Pensions Project Team Manager

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included. As Disability Confident committed, we will support all applicants throughout the recruitment process. Each stage of the process is inclusive and offers reasonable adjustments where required.

Job details

Contractual hours 36.25 Basis Full time Job category/type - XPS Administration Date posted 29/01/2025 Job reference REQ002765

Job description

Pensions Project Team Manager

De-Risking Team

Hybrid at any of our XPS office locations

Full Time

Permanent

Ref: REQ002765

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 an experienced Project Team Manager to join one of our vibrant offices 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 knowledge and experience of GMPr.

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.

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.

Our Administration Projects Team (APT) team undertakes projects such as:

• GMP rectification/equalisation
• Buy-in/ Buy-out
• Data Cleansing
• Ad hoc projects for example scheme closures, benefit rectifications, liability reduction exercises
• McCloud implementation: Public sector pension benefit rectification across police, fire, MOJ and LGPS pension schemes.
• Pension Dashboards

The Role

As a Project Team Manager with XPS you will provide full time management of a dedicated project team. You will be involved in a wide range of pensions projects, management and consultancy tasks. As manager, you will be responsible for managing the projects within the team end to end, in line with budgets, deadlines, and objectives as well as day to day line management of the team. The key responsibilities include:

• Assuming full responsibility for project delivery within the designated team, including workload allocation, prioritisation and ensuring delivery in line with client expectations, budgets and timescales.
• Overseeing day to day management of client relationships with trustees and corporate clients, and participation in trustee and client meetings where applicable.
• Undertaking all aspects of management reporting and completing centralised governance logs and trackers/MI promptly.
• Ensuring projects are fully scoped, costed, monitored and completed in line with customer and legislation requirements.
• Taking responsibility for all aspects of project billing.
• Producing and signing off project quotations and booking in/allocation of work once quotation approved.
• Active participation in XPS Administration's marketing initiatives, new business activities, attending new business pitches and company events.
• Providing expert project solutions; keeping abreast of technical and legislative developments within the pensions industry.
• Disseminating information to team members on project delivery objectives and targets for assigned projects.
• Identifying team objectives or other necessary changes in line with business needs.
• Support the delivery of a continuous improvement programme championing operational excellence.
• Positively contributing to regular management meetings, implementing any recommendations or decisions made.
• Formal staff management responsibilities including areas such as conducting appraisals, setting individual and team objectives, handling HR, performance management issues and recruitment related activities.
• Formal responsibilities for mentoring, training, coaching and developing of pensions project team members.
• Forging strong working relationships with other departments/teams both internal and external to the Company.
• 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.

Your profile

Essential Criteria

• An experienced and successful pension professional with a strong track record in managing a pensions administration or project team.
• Previous line management experience.
• Commercial acumen to plan, manage, track and deliver project work.
• Experience of providing regular management reporting.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Technical pensions and data projects knowledge.
• Proven experience in formulating and writing project scope proposals.
• Ability to efficiently resolve issues.
• Proven ability to lead a project providing strategic direction.
• Concise and confident communicator of complex project issues.
• Be proactive, having drive and commitment.

Desirable:

• May have achieved some exam successes in professional qualifications.
• Ability to foster an inclusive working environment.
• Able to support a developing a culture of high standards.
• Experience of operating within and contributing to a compliant framework.
• IT proficient, in particular Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook & PowerPoint.

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
• Life Assurance cover, four times basic salary
• XPS Rewards
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to a digital GP service
• Paid volunteering day
• Staff referral scheme

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.

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.

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 you have not heard from us within 28 days of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.