Senior Pensions Consultant

Job summary

The Government Actuary’s Department (GAD) is a non-ministerial department. Our mission is to improve the stewardship of public sector finances by supporting effective decision-making and robust financial reporting through analysis, modelling and advice.

Pensions Administration Consulting is a newly established and growing specialist team within GAD. We partner with a diverse range of public service clients, providing expert consultancy on strategic administration projects for some of the UK’s largest pension schemes.

We are seeking a Senior Pensions Consultant with substantial experience in pensions administration. This high-impact role will focus on developing and delivering innovative consulting services, driving business growth, and building strong, enduring relationships with key clients and stakeholders across the sector.

Key challenges you will help clients address include:

• Ensuring member benefits are paid correctly, and on time.
• Improving the quality and completeness of scheme data.
• Preparing for the launch of pensions dashboards, transforming member and administrator interactions.
• Enhancing scheme governance and operational effectiveness.
• Supporting members’ understanding of their pensions and enhancing the service they receive.
• Delivering change projects, such as provider transitions or system transformations, efficiently and effectively.

As a Senior Pensions Consultant, you will:

• Provide high-quality advice to government departments and other GAD clients on the administration of member benefits.
• Identify and develop new consulting opportunities, working with colleagues to shape and promote service offerings.
• Lead client engagements, nurturing relationships to understand needs and deliver tailored solutions.
• Act as a subject matter expert, supporting actuarial colleagues on complex administration and governance issues.
• Collaborate with scheme administrators, sponsoring departments, and external stakeholders to achieve optimal member outcomes.

We welcome applicants with a strong track record in pensions administration, strategic consultancy, and business development, who are keen to shape the future of public sector pensions administration.

Further information on GAD and the role is provided in the attached pack.

N.B. GAD may work with recruiters on this campaign provided prior agreement is reached for this specific campaign

Job description

1. To provide high quality pensions advice to the sponsors and administrators of public service pension schemes.
2. To lead in the identification and development of new areas of support for our clients.
3. To take a lead in the management and delivery of ongoing and new projects.
4. To maintain and develop relationships with new, existing or potential clients.
5. To develop technical client content relating to pensions administration and scheme governance.
6. To develop and utilise public and private sector networks to increase our understanding of issues affecting the pensions industry and use those learnings to help develop solutions for our clients.
7. To proactively monitor current issues affecting pensions administration, seeking to identify areas where GAD can provide support with administration challenges.
8. To take the lead in working with colleagues across GAD teams to ensure administration consultancy support is appropriately scoped, resourced and delivered in an efficient and timely manner, with a focus on providing added value to our clients and value for money.
9. To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of pensions, particularly public service pensions, and distill this information for clients and colleagues.
10. To lead in the learning and development of other pensions administration colleagues.
11. To regularly update public service pension scheme colleagues, wider teams throughout GAD and senior stakeholders on pensions administration issues and progress.
12. To act as a role model in the learning and development of other pensions administration consultancy colleagues through the support and ongoing development of junior staff.
13. Agile working within other GAD teams or government departments from time to time during key periods.

These job descriptions are a broad reflection of the required duties. They are not exhaustive and changes will be made based on GAD’s needs at the discretion of the Head of the Pensions Administration Consulting Team.

Person specification

We are seeking an experienced pensions professional who can make an immediate impact, taking a lead role in partnering with clients and colleagues to scope, design, and deliver project outputs that address complex technical pension challenges.

You will be instrumental in identifying, developing, and championing new consulting offerings, driving business growth and expanding the range of support we provide to clients. This will require a strong collaborative approach, commercial awareness, and the ability to take ownership of project workstreams and client relationships.

You will also contribute to policy development and departmental decision-making, working closely with scheme administrators to design and implement processes and materials that enhance service delivery for members. In addition, you will play a key role in ensuring the successful delivery of GAD’s work to clients, supporting our mission to improve public sector pensions administration.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Changing and Improving

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Proven knowledge of defined benefit occupational pension schemes, including administrative functions and scheme governance. (Essential)
• Experience of working in pensions administration or a wider function of the occupational pensions industry (Essential)
• Knowledge of public service pension provision (Desirable)
• Pensions qualification (PMI or similar) (Desirable)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £66,361, Government Actuary's Department contributes £19,224 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

As well as competitive salaries, we offer a substantial package of benefits:

• Exceptional learning and development opportunities that you can explore alongside your day-to-day work.
• 25 days annual leave per year, increasing to 30 days after 5 years’ service. In addition, we offer 9 days public and privilege days leave per year (pro rata for part time staff)
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• 5 days of paid volunteering leave
• Up to 9 months maternity leave on full pay + generous paternity and adoption leave
• Staff reward and recognition bonuses that operate throughout the year.
• Occupational sick pay
• Family-friendly policies such as help with caring responsibilities, special leave, generous paid maternity, paternity, and adoption leave.
• Access to employee assistance programme which offers staff 24/7 confidential support and resources such as counselling, debt guidance and management advice.
• The opportunity to join a trade union.
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity.
• Salary advances for travel costs,