Pensions Technical Lead

This role is within a unit where Surrey Police and Sussex Police work in collaboration, whilst maintaining two separate legal entities/employers with different terms and conditions.

Both Surrey Police staff and Sussex Police staff are employed in this unit on their own force terms and conditions.

Successful candidates may be appointed on the terms and conditions of employment of either Surrey Police or Sussex Police, depending on organisational requirements. A discussion will be held with the successful candidate to confirm the details of location, salary, allowances and hours.

Division / Department - People Services
Grade - Surrey Police Level 1 / Sussex Police M1
Status - Full Time or Happy to Talk Flexible Working
Contract Type - Permanent
Salary Grade Range - Surrey Police £45,374 - £57,478 / Sussex Police £49,716 - £54,696
Working Hours - 37.0 Hours per Week
Shift Allowance - No
Politically Restricted - No
Location - Forcewide

The starting salary for this role will usually be at the bottom of the salary range and will be pro-rata if the working hours are less than full time.

Chief Constables' Message

We really welcome your interest in joining our Police Force. It is a privilege to lead the teams in Surrey Police and Sussex Police who continuously work selflessly and tirelessly in order to keep people in our counties safe.

We are looking for talented and inspirational people who put the needs of the public at the heart of everything that they do and who want to make a difference. If you feel you are that person then we want to hear from you.

We wish you all the very best with your application.

The Role & Key Responsibilities

We are seeking applications for someone to join us as a Pensions Technical Lead. From your first day with us you will be pivotal to the delivery of a professional pension service delivering during a time of pension reform challenge.

The Pensions Team are responsible for delivery across a collaborated pension function provided to all employees, stakeholders and partners alongside the execution of all regulatory requirements.

Your role will require you to ensure the force complies with all pension regulatory and legislative requirements and fulfils statutory reporting requirements. You will support the force Pension Board through administration, management, risk logs, technical advice, and training and you will engage with wider stakeholder groups including The Pension Regulator, The Pension Protection Fund, HMRC, Employee Representative Bodies and Pension Scheme providers.

You will ideally be experienced in Police and public sector pensions, have knowledge of Police Pensions (McCloud and Pension Reform) and related pension and workforce changes and you will possess the necessary knowledge and experience of the Police pension scheme.

Skills & Experience

The ideal candidate gets things done, takes ownership and enjoys working with a range of people and technology. More specifically you will have the following experience:

• A lead role in overseeing a collaborated pension function reporting to the Operations Manager, working closely with key stakeholders and partners internally and externally to ensure delivery against strategic plans and events in a complex and political environment.
• Being the technical lead across Surrey and Sussex Police force on complex matters relating to retirement, ill health, transfers, and other applicable employee lifecycle matters.
• Capability to act as a bridgehead between Surrey and Sussex Police forces and external pension scheme administrators for both Officers (XPS Administration) and Staff (LGPS).
• Proactively recognise and deliver support and advice understanding the impact on individuals, teams, and business implications.
• Drive forward continuous improvement within the pensions function and lead complex pension related projects.
• Build and be an integral part of wider stakeholder groups including The Pension Regulator, Pension Boards, The Pension Protection Fund, HMRC, Employee Representative Bodies (Police Federation and Unison) and Pension Scheme Providers.
• Ensure the force complies with all pensions regulatory and legislative requirements and fulfils statutory reporting requirements. Support the force Pension Board through administration, management, risk logs, technical advice, and training.
• Be responsible for data integrity in systems and ensure appropriate and relevant audit controls are in place.
• Work together with team colleagues for continuous development and knowledge enhancement in this specialist field.

Qualifications:

• Diploma or Associate Member of the Pensions Management Institute or equivalent

Why Work With Us?

Policing is an exciting 24/7 business and we all have commitments outside work. We're invested in supporting people to balance their life with work and we encourage flexible working. We are open to conversations about job shares and part time working. We encourage agile working, giving you the opportunity to manage your own diary and work wherever you give the best service to the public. This may include flexi-time and home working.

We take pride in looking after our people and offer a variety of benefits;

• career progression
• contributory pension scheme (LGPS)
• generous annual leave allowance
• discounts for everyday spend
• on-site gyms and a range of sports clubs
• generous and supportive parental leave
• financial and mental wellbeing guidance and support
• discounted contributory healthcare scheme

We are only as good as our people. It's important that our officers and staff can be themselves in the workplace and we know that as an organisation we'll grow from the variety of thinking, approach, and the skills that diversity brings; all of which help us to deliver a better policing service. We strive to ensure how we deliver our services, provide information and how we recruit is open and accessible to all.

We have multiple staff support groups who help to improve our understanding of minority issues and ensure they are reflected in our work. We are proud members of Disability Confident, hold Race Equality Matters Trailblazer status, are a signatory of the Race at Work Charter and are aligned with the Armed Forces Covenant and the HeForShe movement.

We are committed to being an anti-racist police service. We promise to challenge injustice, ensure fairness and to uphold anti-racist principles in both our organisation and our communities. For more information, you can read our full anti-racism statement here .

We value the differences that people bring from all backgrounds and communities. Regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, disability, social status, or religious belief, we would love to hear from you.