Head of Police Pensions

Hours of Work: Full-Time

Location: Greater Belfast

Closing Date/Time: 28th April 2pm

Reference Number: HRHOPP0725

Job Background: The Head of Pensions is responsible for the management of the operational delivery of pension services to retired (currently circa 12,500 in 3 different schemes) and existing police officers (circa 7,000) in the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), ensuring full compliance with the relevant regulatory requirements. The post-holder will also have responsibility for leading the Pensions Team within PSNI Finance and Governance Branch.

Hours of Work: Monday to Friday, 37 working hours per week with a requirement to work outside office hours when necessary to meet the demands of the role.

Salary: Currently £56,863 - £60,820 moving to £61,673 - £64,469 applicable from 1 August 2025 plus £1,365 environmental allowance.

Main Activities:

• Lead and manage a team of circa 25 people including direct line management of one direct report.
• Ensure the branch delivers on providing timely and accurate pensions payments to former police officers.
• Ensure the branch delivers on receipt and allocation of pensions contributions from serving police officers.
• Ensure the branch delivers on issue to members on accurate annual benefit statements and allowances statements.
• Provide advice, guidance, training and support to staff, scheme members and senior managers on a wide range of operational pension issues.
• Advise key stakeholders on proposed changes to pension regulations and associated impact.
• Manage and facilitate resolution to complex pension issues.
• Manage risks and ensure sound internal financial controls.
• Ensure high standards of governance, clear audit trails, compliance with both scheme regulations and statutory financial reporting requirements and data protection and security.
• Lead on both internal and external audits of the branch and the follow through of recommended actions.
• Represent PSNI on a range of national and local pension forums.
• Attend the NIPB Police Pensions Board and other relevant meetings with key stakeholders as required.
• Assess and manage budgetary needs regularly to inform monthly and annual budget forecasts and profiles.
• Implement the McCloud Remedy and a new Pensions Admin system.

This Job Description reflects the main duties and responsibilities associated with this position. It is not intended to be exclusive or exhaustive.

Person Specification

Essential Qualifications and Experience:

• A university degree or relevant professional qualification together with 3 years leadership and management experience within a pensions environment including staff management.
• OR Significant leadership and management experience within a pensions environment including management of staff.
• AND Demonstrable experience of providing significant contribution to the successful delivery of key operational pension-related objectives.

Essential Skills and Experience:

• Knowledge and understanding of UK public sectors pension scheme rules, scheme administration policies, pensions law and taxation of pensions.
• Interpersonal, oral and written communication skills including the ability to analyse and present complex information clearly and unambiguously to individuals at all levels both inside and outside the organisation.
• The ability to work autonomously in ensuring ongoing compliance with legislation and ensure that robust controls and risk management are in place, including when implementing new ways of working.

Essential Other:

• The successful candidate must have access to a form of transport which will enable them to fulfil the responsibilities of the job in full.
• IT literate specifically in the use of the Microsoft Office suite (Including MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Excel and MS Outlook).

Desirable Skills and Experience:

• Experience of a pensions environment within a large commercial or public sector organisation.
• Contribution to successfully enacting regulatory and legislative changes in the area of pensions.

Shortlisting will be carried out based on the essential criteria. Please note in some instances, for example, where there are a high level of applicants, desirable criteria may be applied. Successful applicants will be retained on a merit list for future opportunities arising.

Selection Methodology: PSNI uses the Competency and Values Framework (CVF) which sets out nationally recognised behaviours and values to support all policing professionals. You will be assessed against the values and at the competencies level as indicated below. This will include both past and future focused questions. Further guidance and information about the Competency and Values Framework (CVF) is available on our website. Please refer to the 2016 version of the CVF document for further information.

Applicants meeting the eligibility criteria and essential qualifications, skills and experience will be required to demonstrate their experience for the following criteria:

Competency and Values Based Interview

Values:

• Integrity
• Transparency

Competencies - Level 3:

• We Deliver, Support and Inspire
• We Take Ownership
• We Are Collaborative