Senior Pensions Governance Officer

Senior Pensions Governance Officer Apply Now

Pension Governance

Job Number

HCC27862

Location

Countywide

Directorate

Resources

Salary Range

£41,511 opportunity to progress to £45,718

Contract Type

Permanent

Full Time/Part Time

Full Time

Closing date

27-May-2025

Job Title: Senior Pensions Governance Officer
Starting Salary: £41,511 opportunity to progress to £45,718 pay award pending
Hours: 37.0 - Flexible working requests will be considered 
Location: Countywide/Hybrid 
Contract Type: Permanent
Directorate: Resources

About the team

Hertfordshire Pension Fund is responsible for the governance and investments of the Hertfordshire Local Government Pension Scheme which consists of more than 120k scheme members across 500+ employers with assets of approximately £6 billion.

We are seeking a Senior Pensions Governance Officer to join an evolving Pensions Team with a vision to provide an efficient, high quality and cost-effective service that meets the needs of our scheme employers and members.

The successful candidate will report to the Pensions Governance Manager and will be responsible for one direct report, within a small team of 5.

About the role

Key Responsibilities:
1.    Governance and Compliance:
o    Develop, implement, and maintain governance initiatives to ensure compliance with relevant legislative and regulatory requirements, such as the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) and Fire Pensions Scheme (FPS) regulations, the Pensions Regulator’s General Code of Practice, and data protection laws.
2.    Risk Management:
o    Maintain and manage the risk framework, including the risk register, to identify, assess, and mitigate potential risks associated with pension fund operations. Ensure that internal controls are effective and updated regularly.
3.    Stakeholder Engagement:
o    Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including the Fund’s third-party pensions administrator, employers, payroll providers, and pension committees and boards, to provide guidance on governance matters. Support current and prospective employers in understanding and fulfilling their responsibilities within the pension scheme. Work closely with the Fund’s third-party pensions administrators and the wider Pensions Team to ensure referrals for decisions and appeals are processed effectively.
4.    Policy Development:
o    Monitor emerging governance requirements and best practices to develop and update fund policies, risk registers, and training plans. Ensure that all policies are in line with current regulations and effectively communicated to relevant parties.
5.    Training and Support:
o    Identify the training needs of pension boards and committees, delivering development opportunities to enhance their knowledge and effectiveness in fulfilling their regulatory roles. This includes producing informative materials and facilitating training sessions.
6.    Strategic Communication Planning:
o    Develop and implement communication plans that align with the Fund’s goals, including strategies for stakeholder engagement.
7.    Content Development:
o    Create high-quality written and visual content for various channels, such as newsletters and the Fund website, ensuring consistent messaging and style.
8.    Event Support:
o    Assist in planning and executing events, including conferences, forums, and stakeholder meetings.
9.    Project Planning and Coordination:
o    Support senior managers to define project scopes, objectives, risks, and deliverables. Develop comprehensive project plans, set deadlines, prioritise tasks, and work with team members to deliver.
10.    Team Management:
o    Effectively manage one team member and provide wider team management during absences.

Expected Impacts and Outcomes:

• Compliance: Ensuring the pension funds operate within established legal and regulatory frameworks, maintaining high standards of governance, compliance, and risk management.
• Risk Mitigation: Identifying, assessing, and mitigating potential risks associated with pension fund operations.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Enhancing engagement with various internal and external stakeholders through effective communication strategies.
• Policy and Training: Developing and updating policies and training plans to ensure all stakeholders are well-informed and compliant with current regulations.
• Project Success: Supporting the delivery of strategic business plans through effective project planning and coordination.
• Team Efficiency: Managing and motivating team members to achieve high-quality outcomes.

Essential Skills:

• Pension Regulations and Governance: Understanding of pension regulations and governance frameworks.
• Governance Policies: Experience in developing and implementing governance policies and procedures.
• Analytical Skills: Strong analytical skills with the ability to assess complex information.
• Communication Skills: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal, to effectively engage with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Leadership: Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver high-quality outcomes within set deadlines. Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage and motivate teams.
• Professional Development: Commitment to continuous professional development, staying abreast of changes in pension legislation and governance best practices.

Desirable Skills:

• Pension Regulations:Specific Knowledge of the LGPS and FPS.
• Project Management: Experience in project planning and coordination.
• Content Creation: Ability to create high-quality written and visual content for various communication channels.
• Event Planning: Experience in planning and executing events, including conferences, forums, and stakeholder meetings.

This role is integral to maintaining compliance with complex statutory regulations and underlying legislation, supporting the delivery of the Fund’s strategic business plan, and ensuring effective communication and engagement with all stakeholders.

This job role is within the Corporate Services, level CORP11 job profile. Please locate this via:

Job profiles - Corporate services

To hear more about this opportunity please contact taryn.ahlberg@hertfordshire.gov.uk for an informal discussion about the role.

We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.

Interview Date: 16th, 17th, 18th June 2025

Benefits of working for us

How to apply

As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert / job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.

Additional information

Disability Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

English Fluency
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.