Pensions Fund Governance Manager

Pension Fund Governance Manager

Contract: 3 Months / Hybrid 2-3 days onsite

Location: Trowbridge

Job Purpose

The Fund Governance Manager leads the governance framework and assurance systems for a local government Pension Fund. This role acts as the primary specialist for governance, compliance, and regulatory matters, providing authoritative advice to Pension Fund, Pension Committee, Local Pension Board, and wider stakeholders.

The postholder is responsible for ensuring the Fund complies with all regulatory requirements, including the Pensions Regulator Code of Practice 14, GDPR, auditing frameworks, and all statutory/non‑statutory guidance. They will lead governance strategy development, maintain all core governance documents, oversee procurement compliance, and ensure effective contract management for third‑party suppliers.

Key Responsibilities

Governance Leadership & Compliance

• Act as the Fund’s lead specialist on all governance-related matters, including regulatory interpretation and implementation.
• Ensure full compliance with the Pensions Regulator Code of Practice 14; monitor breaches, maintain the breaches log, and coordinate reporting to the Regulator, Information Commissioner, Committee and Pension Board.
• Lead GDPR compliance for the Pension Fund, ensuring breaches are recorded, resolved, and reported within statutory deadlines.
• Maintain and update the Fund’s governance policy, compliance statement, scheme of delegation, and all key procedures.

Committee & Board Management

• Support the management of the Pension Committee and Local Pension Board, including:
• Agenda planning and report production
• Committee paper preparation and presentation
• Member liaison and coordination
• Monitoring and reporting on training and knowledge requirements
• Evaluating effectiveness of the Committee and Board
• Produce high‑quality governance reports for senior stakeholders.

Strategy, Policy, and Planning

• Ensure the Fund’s strategic and policy documents (e.g., Funding Strategy Statement, Investment Strategy Statement, Communications Policy, Administration Strategy, Discretions Policies) are up to date, aligned to Fund objectives, and reviewed regularly.
• Maintain the Fund’s rolling business plan, reporting progress to stakeholders.
• Contribute to long‑term strategic planning and organisational improvements.
• Lead responsibility for the Fund’s Risk Register.
• Participate in the Compliance, Risk and Operational Controls (CROC) working group to identify, assess, and mitigate risks.
• Ensure audit recommendations are managed through completion, and provide assurance reporting to the Committee and Board.

Procurement & Contract Management

• Support or lead Fund procurement exercises as required.
• Oversee contract management, supplier performance, extensions, and re‑tenders.
• Ensure compliance with procurement and contract governance standards.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as a key contact for governance matters with:
• The Pensions Regulator
• Scheme employers (170+ organisations)
• Internal governance bodies
• Auditors, actuaries, and other external professionals
• Support the Employer Funding and Risk Manager to ensure employers meet their governance obligations.
• Act as a senior member of the Pension Fund Management Team, providing specialist expertise.
• Offer guidance to colleagues on governance best practice.
• Support effective governance oversight for all Pension Fund projects.

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience at an equivalent professional level.

Knowledge & Experience

• Extensive knowledge of Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) regulations.
• At least 5 years’ experience administering a large defined benefit pension scheme.
• Proven experience delivering governance services for a major pension scheme.
• Strong understanding of defined benefit scheme operations, financials, and risk.
• Experience of procurement, compliance standards, and business planning.
• Proven track record of delivering improvements in complex environments.
• Supervisory experience.

Skills

• Excellent communication (written and oral).
• Strong analytical, organisational and time‑management skills.
• Ability to work under pressure with competing priorities.
• Advanced negotiation, influencing and stakeholder management capability.
• High level of interpersonal skills, diplomacy, and professionalism.
• Strong ICT skills, including MS Office and specialist systems.
• Ability to motivate others and support cultural and operational change.
• Experience of the LGPS and Firefighters Pension Scheme.

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