Pensions Risk & Governance Senior Manager

Barclays UK; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial institution in Glasgow seeks a Senior Manager for Pensions Risk & Governance. You will lead the development of risk frameworks for one of the UK's largest pension schemes, ensuring regulatory compliance and effective governance. Ideal candidates should possess extensive experience in UK pensions, strong communication skills, and a proactive approach to risk management.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in managing UK occupational pension schemes.
• In-depth knowledge of the Pensions Regulator’s General Code.
• Proven capability in stakeholder management and governance excellence.

Responsibilities

• Develop and oversee risk frameworks for pension schemes.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory changes.
• Educate employees on retirement and benefit options.

Skills

Experience managing risk frameworks for large UK occupational pension schemes

Strong working knowledge of UK pensions legislation

Excellent communication and governance skills

Ability to manage complex and evolving risks

Job description

In this Pensions Risk & Governance Senior Manager role you will act as a senior member of the in‑house pensions team, responsible for leading the development and oversight of the risk framework for one of the UK’s largest occupational pension schemes. This role requires deep expertise in UK pensions governance, particularly within Defined Benefit schemes, and a strong understanding of regulatory compliance, including the Pensions Regulator’s General Code and Own Risk Assessment requirements. You will support the trustee board and executive team in identifying, assessing, and managing emerging risks, including cyber and data protection risks, and ensure the scheme remains resilient and compliant in a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape.

You will lead strategic initiatives such as a comprehensive review of the scheme’s risk framework and the implementation of new systems to enhance governance and risk oversight. This is a high‑impact role offering exposure to senior stakeholders, including trustees and internal executives, and the opportunity to shape the future of pensions risk management within a complex and dynamic environment. The successful candidate will bring a proactive mindset, excellent stakeholder management skills, and a track record of delivering governance excellence in large‑scale pension schemes.

Your role will be located from our Glasgow office.

Key Success Criteria

• Extensive experience managing risk frameworks for large UK occupational pension schemes.
• Strong working knowledge of UK pensions legislation and regulatory codes, including the Pensions Regulator’s General Code and Own Risk Assessment requirements.
• Proven ability to support and advise trustee boards and executive teams, with excellent communication and governance skills.
• Experience in identifying and managing complex and evolving risks, including cyber risk and data protection within pensions environments.

Purpose of the Role

To develop, implement and provide governance to employee retirement plans and benefits programmes, and provide counsel to resolve any related issues.

Accountabilities

• Responsible for the development, implementation and delivery of the retirement plans and benefits programmes and processes aligned to the organisation’s strategy and enabled by supporting technology where appropriate, including the resolution of any escalated retirement and benefits issues from colleagues and people leaders (either directly, through HR operational teams or through oversight of a third party).
• Responsible for ensuring that retirement plans and benefit programmes are delivered in a manner that is compliant with all applicable internal governance requirements and external regulation; staying up to date with applicable legislative and regulatory changes.
• Communication and engagement to educate employees and managers on the available retirement and benefit options, such as retirement, health insurance and other benefit solutions.
• Market research and the development of appropriate retirement and benefits strategy, administration and compliance, as appropriate.
• Identification, engagement and management of external vendors / stakeholders to manage the administration and delivery of the retirement and benefits services and provision of advice and counsel to employees and people leaders where relevant.
• Oversight and governance to all cost elements relevant to the provision of the retirement and benefits plans; ensuring that costs are appropriately forecasted, managed in line with budgets and spend approvals, and any funding requirements are actively monitored and maintained.

All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.