Chief Pensions Officer

Overview

Lead a high-profile pensions service at the heart of one of the country’s most ambitious unitary councils

Buckinghamshire Council is looking for an experienced, strategic and forward-thinking Chief Pensions Officer to lead our Pensions function and shape the future of a complex, high-value service that supports scheme members, employers, residents and the wider Council.

This is a significant senior leadership role, offering the opportunity to provide expert professional advice, lead transformational change, and ensure the effective governance, administration and investment oversight of the Council’s pension responsibilities.

About us

At Buckinghamshire Council, you will be part of an organisation focused on making a real difference for residents, communities and businesses. We offer the opportunity to work on meaningful, high-impact services, contribute to the future of local government, and develop your career in a supportive environment that values wellbeing, inclusion, flexibility and professional growth.

If you are an experienced pensions professional who can combine technical expertise with strategic leadership, strong governance and a passion for public service, we would welcome your application.

About the role

As Chief Pensions Officer, you will act as the Council’s Senior LGPS Officer, providing strategic direction and operational leadership across all pension functions. You will work closely with senior leaders, elected members, partners and external advisers to ensure the service is resilient, compliant, financially sound and positioned to respond effectively to a changing regulatory, financial and political landscape.

You will be responsible for leading a customer-focused and high-performing pensions service, embedding strong governance, driving continuous improvement, and ensuring that decision-making is informed by expert insight, robust financial management and a clear understanding of risk.

• Providing strategic leadership for the Council’s Pensions function, ensuring excellent performance, governance and service delivery.
• Acting as the Council’s principal financial adviser on pensions, supporting senior leaders and decision-makers with clear, credible and timely advice.
• Ensuring compliance with LGPS regulations, statutory guidance, financial regulations, procurement requirements, data protection duties and wider governance expectations.
• Leading and developing a skilled, motivated and customer-focused workforce, creating a culture that values innovation, learning and continuous improvement.
• Building trusted relationships with members, senior officers, stakeholders, partners and advisers to deliver joined-up, effective and sustainable outcomes.

About you

We are looking for a confident and credible pensions leader with substantial experience of delivering pensions services in a large, complex organisation. You will bring expert knowledge of LGPS legislation, governance and pensions administration, alongside strong financial acumen and the ability to operate effectively in a political and partnership-driven environment.

You will be comfortable working at senior level, interpreting complex information, influencing across organisational boundaries and leading through change. Just as importantly, you will be someone who acts with integrity, builds trust, and is committed to creating a positive, inclusive and high-performing culture.

Other information

Salary - £98,600

For an informal discussion about the role please contact [email protected] to make arrangements

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Our values

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserve recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto-enrolment into our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/