Governance / Risk Manager (Pension Fund) in Trowbridge

The client has an in-house pensions team seeking an experienced Governance Manager to oversee governance, risk and compliance for an award-winning Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). The Fund administers pensions for approximately 180 employer organisations and 86,000 members. This senior role combines strategic leadership, stakeholder engagement and regulatory oversight, ensuring governance frameworks remain effective, compliant and embedded across the organisation.

The successful candidate will have strong knowledge of UK pensions legislation and regulatory requirements, together with excellent communication and stakeholder management skills. This role is a permanent contract. The working arrangement will be hybrid working with a minimum of 2 days onsite.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of the Fund's governance framework, ensuring compliance with all relevant pension legislation, regulatory requirements, codes of practice and governance standards.
• Act as the primary governance adviser and key point of contact for internal and external stakeholders on governance, risk, compliance and regulatory matters.
• Support the management and administration of Pension Committee and Local Pension Board activities, including agenda planning, preparation and presentation of reports, governance documentation and meeting support.
• Develop, maintain and review governance policies, procedures, terms of reference, schemes of delegation and other key governance documentation to ensure ongoing regulatory compliance and operational effectiveness.
• Ensure the Fund complies with the requirements of The Pensions Regulator, General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), and all relevant statutory and non-statutory guidance affecting public sector pension schemes.
• Maintain governance assurance processes, monitoring compliance performance and reporting outcomes, risks and recommendations to senior management, Pension Committee and Local Pension Board members.
• Lead on governance-related risk management activities, including maintaining the Fund Risk Register, monitoring controls, identifying emerging risks and ensuring appropriate mitigation plans are implemented.
• Coordinate responses to internal and external audits, ensuring recommendations are addressed, action plans are delivered and governance controls remain effective.
• Oversee governance-related training and development programmes, ensuring Committee and Board members maintain the knowledge and understanding required to perform their duties effectively.
• Lead the management and reporting of governance breaches, regulatory incidents and data protection matters, ensuring appropriate escalation, investigation and resolution processes are followed.
• Support the development and delivery of strategic business plans, governance objectives and performance measures, ensuring progress is monitored and reported regularly.
• Provide governance oversight and support for organisational change initiatives, projects and service improvements, ensuring appropriate controls and assurance mechanisms are embedded.
• Support procurement activities and contract management processes, monitoring supplier performance, contract compliance, extensions and re-tendering exercises where required.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with regulators, auditors, advisers, employers, suppliers and other key stakeholders to promote governance excellence and best practice.
• Provide expert technical advice and guidance on governance, compliance, risk and regulatory matters to senior management and decision-making bodies.

Personal Requirements:

• Degree educated and/or holding a relevant professional qualification in pensions, governance, compliance, risk management, project management or a related discipline, or able to demonstrate equivalent experience.
• Extensive knowledge of UK pension legislation, governance frameworks, regulatory codes and compliance requirements, ideally within the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) environment.
• Significant experience delivering governance, risk and compliance services within a large and complex defined benefit pension scheme or similarly regulated environment.
• Proven experience supporting committees, boards or senior governance bodies, including preparing reports, presenting information and advising stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of governance assurance, risk management frameworks, internal controls and audit processes.
• Experience developing, reviewing and implementing governance policies, procedures and operational improvements.
• Knowledge and experience of GDPR, data protection requirements and regulatory reporting obligations.
• Experience managing procurement exercises, supplier relationships and contract performance.
• Experience in business planning and performance monitoring.
• Experience delivering training and governance awareness programmes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain complex technical and regulatory matters clearly and concisely.
• Strong stakeholder management, influencing and relationship-building skills with the ability to engage effectively at senior levels.
• Proven leadership capability with the ability to motivate colleagues, support change and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
• Strong numerical and reporting skills with experience interpreting performance and governance information.
• An appreciation of the role of public sector organisations and the governance standards expected within highly regulated environments.

Working Hours: 36hrs / Monday - Friday

Pay: £65,516 per annum + Benefits

Please note this role is within the scope of IR35.