Pensions Operations Manager - Public Sector

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.

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

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.

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…