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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead complex pension and medical retirement casework in a dynamic public sector environment.
- Company: Prominent public sector organisation with a focus on governance and compliance.
- Benefits: Local Government Pension Scheme, free parking, gym access, and health services.
- Other info: Hybrid working available with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in pensions management while working with senior leadership.
- Qualifications: CIPD/MCIPD qualified with 10+ years in pensions governance and policy development.
The predicted salary is between 67500 - 82500 £ per year.
Key Details
- Location: Chelmsford, Essex - minimum 2 days per week on-site in Chelmsford, Essex (hybrid working available)
- Contract Type: Interim
- Sector: Public Sector
- Benefits: Local Government Pension Scheme, free parking, gym access, health & wellbeing services, staff discount scheme
- Salary: Circa £75,000 Pro Rata depending on experience. There is room to negotiate for the right candidate.
The Opportunity
Pursuit Executive is working on behalf of a prominent public sector organisation to appoint an interim Deputy HR Pensions Manager. This is a senior specialist role with genuine breadth and impact, offering the chance to lead complex pension and medical retirement casework within a large, operationally demanding environment. You will act as the professional lead for pension governance and compliance, ensuring statutory obligations are met under the relevant public sector pension schemes. This is a role for someone who is CIPD / MCIPD qualified who combines deep technical expertise with the gravitas to operate confidently at the most senior levels of an organisation.
What You Will Be Doing
- Acting as principal lead for all medical health retirement processes, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations, employment law, and pension scheme rules across both officer and staff populations
- Managing and resolving complex pension and medical retirement casework, including medical appeals, discretionary pension decisions, forfeiture cases, internal dispute resolution complaints, and ill-health retirement assessments
- Representing the organisation at formal hearings, including medical appeal proceedings and pension complaints investigations
- Maintaining Pension Boards and acting as principal liaison with Board Chairs to ensure all statutory responsibilities and governance requirements are fulfilled
- Providing authoritative advice and guidance to the Chief Officer, Scheme Managers, and senior stakeholders on all aspects of pension policy, regulations, and governance
- Leading the development and refinement of pension and medical retirement policies and operating models, including change activity arising from upcoming legislative reform
- Undertaking statutory reviews of medical retirement pension allowances on behalf of the Scheme Manager, and producing reporting on outcomes
- Liaising at a national level, interpreting regulatory updates and ensuring the organisation's interests are represented in relevant external forums
- Line managing an HR & Pension Adviser, managing workloads, performance, and quality of service delivery
What We Are Looking For
Our client is seeking a candidate with a strong blend of technical expertise, personal credibility, and operational leadership. You will need to demonstrate:
- A background in HR and/or pensions, having operated at Head of Service, Senior Lead, or Principal Adviser level (or equivalent)
- Substantial experience - typically 10+ years - in pensions governance, policy development, and the management of statutory pension responsibilities
- Deep knowledge of public sector pension schemes and/or LGPS regulations, with the ability to interpret and apply them in complex, sensitive contexts
- Hands-on experience of ill-health retirement and injury pension processes (highly desirable)
- A proven track record of representing an organisation at formal hearings and making defensible decisions with legal, financial, and reputational consequences
- Experience advising Chief Officers and senior stakeholders, and engaging confidently with trade unions, staff federations, and staff associations
- Degree-level education (or equivalent experience), supported by a relevant professional qualification such as CIPP, PMI, or MCIPD
- Familiarity with The Pensions Regulator's Code of Practice and public sector pension administration requirements
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex pension matters clearly for non-specialist audiences
Next Steps
Please submit your CV for consideration by clicking 'Apply'. Only those with full rights to work within the UK will be shortlisted for this role. Your application will be treated with the strictest of confidence.
Interim Pensions Manager in Chelmsford employer: Pursuit Resources Group
Contact Detail:
Pursuit Resources Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Interim Pensions Manager in Chelmsford
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the pensions and HR sectors. Attend industry events or webinars to meet potential employers and get your name out there. Remember, sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation thoroughly. Understand their pension policies and any recent changes in legislation that might affect them. This will help you demonstrate your expertise and show that you’re genuinely interested in the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your responses to common interview questions, especially those related to pensions governance and compliance. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and highlight your achievements effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in leaving a positive impression. It shows your enthusiasm for the role and keeps you on their radar as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace Interim Pensions Manager in Chelmsford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Interim Pensions Manager role. Highlight your relevant experience in pensions governance and HR, and don’t forget to showcase any qualifications like CIPD or MCIPD that make you stand out.
Showcase Your Expertise: In your application, emphasise your deep knowledge of public sector pension schemes and your hands-on experience with ill-health retirement processes. We want to see how your expertise aligns with the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and concise. Use straightforward language to explain complex pension matters, as this will demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively with non-specialist audiences.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, we treat every application with the utmost confidentiality.
How to prepare for a job interview at Pursuit Resources Group
✨Know Your Pensions Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of public sector pension schemes and LGPS regulations. Be prepared to discuss how you've applied this knowledge in complex situations, as the interviewers will want to see your technical expertise in action.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
This role requires strong operational leadership, so think of examples where you've successfully managed teams or projects. Be ready to share how you've led complex casework and navigated challenging situations, especially in a public sector context.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that ask you to solve hypothetical problems related to medical retirement processes or pension governance. Practise articulating your thought process and decision-making skills, as this will demonstrate your ability to handle real-life challenges.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Since you'll be advising senior stakeholders, prepare to discuss your experience in engaging with them effectively. Think about how you've communicated complex pension matters to non-specialists and how you've built relationships with trade unions and staff associations.