Principal Executive Officer: Retirement Fund Sector

Fempower Personnel; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 400 000 - 500 000; Full time

Job summary

A national retirement fund is seeking a Principal Executive Officer to lead governance, compliance, and operational oversight. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in retirement funds and financial services, with proven skills in stakeholder management and strategic decision-making. This is a senior-level role requiring strong judgment and emotional intelligence, ensuring ethical and transparent management while navigating complex environments.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years’ senior-level experience in retirement funds or financial services.
• Proven experience working with large, complex funds and navigating regulatory frameworks.
• Board-facing experience with ability to influence at executive levels.

Responsibilities

• Direct governance, compliance, operational oversight of internal teams.
• Drive a robust governance framework including policies and board processes.
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation and oversee risk management.

Skills

Corporate Governance

Leadership

Retirement Fund Management

Stakeholder Management

Education

Relevant Bachelor’s degree

Postgraduate qualification (LLB/LLM, CA(SA), MBA, Governance/Compliance)

Job description

A large, highly complex national retirement fund, serving hundreds of thousands of members and managing multi‑billion‑rand assets, is seeking an exceptional leader to take up the role of Principal Executive Officer (PEO). The organisation requires a leader with unquestionable integrity, resilience, and the capability to steer a maturing institution through transformation, governance strengthening and strategic repositioning.

This is a CEO‑equivalent mandate, suitable only for seasoned executives with extensive experience in retirement funds, financial services governance, and stakeholder management at the highest level.

THE ROLE

The Principal Executive Officer is accountable to the Board and is responsible for directing governance, compliance, operational oversight and the performance of multiple internal teams and external service providers. The incumbent must ensure full statutory compliance, uphold fiduciary obligations, and maintain an environment of ethical, transparent and member‑centric management. The role includes oversight of legal, risk, compliance, investments reporting, operations and organisational restructuring.

KEY LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES

Governance, Compliance & Risk

• Drive a robust governance framework including policies, delegations and board processes.
• Ensure full compliance with relevant legislation and regulatory directives.
• Oversee risk management, including the identification, monitoring and remediation of key risks.
• Support and develop Trustees through targeted training and governance oversight.

Operational & Strategic Oversight

• Execute Board resolutions and ensure integrated reporting across committees.
• Oversee and manage performance of all key service providers (administrators, actuaries, auditors, investment and legal advisors, communication partners, etc.).
• Lead, mentor and build the internal team.
• Guide organisational restructuring and change management.

Stakeholder Leadership

• Represent the Fund in dealings with regulators, bargaining councils, unions, employers and industry bodies.
• Manage high‑stakes, politically complex environments with maturity and assertiveness.
• Maintain strong communication channels with all external and internal stakeholders.

Investment Governance

• Ensure adherence to investment mandates, policies and regulatory frameworks.
• Provide reporting support to the Board’s investment committees.
• Ensure accurate and transparent reporting to members.

Ethical and Cultural Stewardship

• Uphold the highest ethical standards and set a culture of accountability and integrity.
• Ensure effective whistle‑blowing mechanisms and address any governance or ethical concerns swiftly.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS (STRICT)

• Relevant Bachelor’s degree; postgraduate qualification strongly preferred (LLB/LLM, CA(SA), MBA, Governance/Compliance).
• Minimum 10 years’ senior‑level experience in retirement funds, financial services or employee benefits.
• Proven experience working with large, complex funds and navigating regulatory and governance frameworks.
• Fit‑and‑proper compliant, with no conflicts of interest.
• Board‑facing experience, with proven ability to influence at executive and governance levels.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

• Unquestionable integrity and independence.
• Strong judgement, resilience and emotional intelligence (“mind of steel”).
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to make firm decisions in challenging environments.
• Ability to hold teams and service providers accountable.

Desired Skills

• Corporate Governance
• Leadership
• Retirement Fund Management
• Stakeholder Management

About the Employer

National Retirement Fund