Head of Retirement Proposition

At Smart, our mission is to transform retirement, savings and financial wellbeing, across all generations, around the world.

THE ROLE (12 Month Fixed-Term Contract)

As the Head of Retirement Proposition, you will be the driving force behind the end-to-end definition, development, and execution of our Master Trust retirement strategy. Operating within a fast-paced, innovation-driven environment, this role requires a high-agency leader who doesn't just manage a strategy, but actively brings it to life. You will lead the creation of our next-phase retirement proposition, balancing sharp commercial execution with superior member outcomes. A critical focus of this role is solving how we integrate modern guidance and advice models into a digital-first environment. You will provide the strategic direction for the retirement journey, taking proactive ownership of how our offering adapts to changing customer needs and evolving UK regulations, including guided retirement frameworks. This role is ideal for a proactive builder who leverages data analytics and consumer insights to secure a distinct competitive advantage in the DC market.

Key Responsibilities:

• End-to-End Strategy Ownership: Establish and execute the retirement proposition roadmap, taking full accountability for aligning product features with business goals and UK regulatory standards.
• Proactive Product Delivery: Drive the development lifecycle from initial concept through to market launch, collaborating effectively with product and engineering teams to deliver features efficiently.
• Data-Led Refinement: Work closely with Data and Insights teams to actively integrate member behavior data into proposition design, continually refining the user experience.
• Commercial Execution: Focus on optimizing AUM retention and developing practical, innovative decumulation solutions that meet diverse member needs and support business growth.
• Compliance & Governance: Ensure the retirement proposition consistently delivers demonstrable Value for Money while meeting all governance and fiduciary requirements.
• Brand Salience: Act as a subject matter expert for our retirement proposition in key client and industry engagements, raising our profile and driving market thought leadership.
• Market Insight & Growth: Proactively anticipate industry shifts and competitor movements, translating emerging trends into actionable growth opportunities that keep our proposition ahead of the market.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

The skills, experience, and aptitudes we are looking for are listed below but please don’t be discouraged from applying if you don’t meet every single one of these criteria – having a ‘can do’ attitude is sometimes more important than being able to tick every box.

• The Mindset: You are a self-motivated, "go-getter" who thrives on autonomy. You don’t wait for instruction; you look at the strategy, map the path forward, and naturally overcome roadblocks to get things done.
• Domain Expertise: You bring solid experience within Financial Services, with a proven, deeply technical background in DC pension proposition development and retirement strategy. Experience within a Master Trust or a tech-forward Wealthtech environment is highly valued.
• Action-Oriented Leadership: You have a track record of taking hands-on ownership of complex, cross-functional projects. You work comfortably in agile frameworks, bridging the gap between strategic vision and day-to-day execution.
• Problem-Solving & UX Focus: You are highly customer-centric and skilled at simplifying information. You can digest complex regulatory requirements and heavy data analytics, turning them into simple, clear, and intuitive digital customer journeys.
• Stakeholder Influence: You have strong communication skills and the confidence to present complex strategies and influence effectively at Board and Trustee level.

WHO WE ARE

We work in partnerships with governments and financial institutions in the UK and internationally. Our cloud-native digital platform is revolutionising how people around the world think about, and save for, their retirement. At heart, we’re a financial technology business. What we do is all about innovation, and using the power of digital change to put the customer first. Our Engineers will tell you that working at Smart gives you the opportunity to play your part in developing world-class technological solutions, working with – and learning from – like-minded people. You’ll also find that, across our business, our colleagues love Smart’s culture, and how what we do means better financial outcomes for savers. That feels worthwhile, and it means that what we do, collectively, goes way beyond the nine to five of a typical working day.

BENEFITS

• 25 days’ holiday per year, increasing with length of service.
• £500 annual training budget to spend on your professional development.
• Extensive private healthcare, including dental, eyecare and EAP.
• Enhanced sick leave (three months’ pay per year).
• Enhanced maternity and paternity (maternity – 6 months fully paid/paternity – 3 weeks fully paid).
• Death in service insurance cover.
• Fully-paid five-week sabbatical after five years of employment.
• In office wellbeing, such as manicures, massages and barbers.
• Smart employees also enjoy a 50% discount on orders from our sister company Arena Flowers, Britain's most ethical florist.

At Smart, we are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to do their best work. We believe that diverse perspectives help us lead the way in transforming retirement, savings and financial wellbeing. We welcome differences in background, experience, thinking, and identity, and we recognise that innovation is strongest when it is built on inclusion and fairness. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences and do not discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or in the workplace, we encourage you to let us know - we are committed to supporting you. We think Smart is an awesome place to work. If it sounds like somewhere you’d like to work, too, and if you’re ready to play your part in our continued success in the future, then naturally we’d love to meet you.