Proposition Director - Individual Pensions in London

At Smart, our mission is to transform retirement, savings and financial wellbeing, across all generations, around the world. The Proposition Director – Individual Pensions will lead the development and management of the company's individual/member pension proposition, ensuring it delivers excellent customer outcomes, meets regulatory standards, and achieves commercial goals. This role focuses on designing and evolving propositions — including building a pension plan for life and retirement income solutions — that meet the needs of workplace employers, direct customers and advised markets.

The role requires a strategic thinker capable of shaping propositions that reflect customer expectations, regulatory change, and the competitive landscape, while maintaining a strong commercial focus. Ideally comes with relevant experience from a retail pension provider.

• Proposition Strategy & Market Positioning
  • Define and deliver a clear retail pensions proposition strategy aligned with the provider's vision, purpose, and growth objectives.
  • Identify customer needs and market trends, shaping propositions that support long-term financial wellbeing and retirement readiness.
  • Develop differentiated propositions for key customer and adviser segments, ensuring competitive advantage and alignment with brand values.
  • Drive innovation in areas such as digital experience, ESG integration, flexible retirement, and lifetime income solutions.
• Product & Proposition Management
  • Own the product lifecycle for the retail pension suite — including design, enhancements, pricing, and review.
  • Ensure products are compliant, profitable, and operationally effective, with clear governance under FCA (if relevant) and TPR requirements.
  • Work closely with compliance, operations, and technology teams to ensure propositions are sustainable and scalable.
  • Oversee value assessments and ensure compliance with relevant regulations, ensuring fair value and positive customer outcomes.
• Customer & Market Insight
  • Use insight, analytics, and research to drive proposition design and continuous improvement.
  • Understand customer journeys, behaviours, and barriers to engagement across accumulation and decumulation phases.
  • Benchmark propositions against competitors and identify opportunities for differentiation and market leadership.
• Stakeholder & Partnership Leadership
  • Collaborate with Distribution, Marketing, and Customer operation teams to ensure propositions are effectively positioned and understood by advisers and customers.
  • Build strong relationships with technology partners, platforms, and investment providers to enhance the end‐to‐end proposition.
  • Present strategy and performance updates to executive committees and governance forums.
• Commercial & Strategic Delivery
  • Set and achieve commercial targets for the retail pensions portfolio, including assets under management, new business growth, and retention.
  • Monitor key performance indicators, identifying risks and opportunities for improvement.
  • Balance commercial objectives with the provider's duty to deliver good customer outcomes and regulatory compliance.
• Leadership & Team Development
  • Lead, motivate, and develop a high‐performing propositions team.
  • Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and collaboration across the organisation.
  • Mentor team members to build deep subject‐matter expertise and commercial acumen.

• Extensive experience in UK retail financial products within a provider, life company, or platform environment.
• Proven ability to design and deliver customer‐centric pension and saving propositions.
• Deep understanding of FCA and TPR regulatory frameworks, including Consumer Duty and fair value requirements.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience managing product performance and P&L accountability.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence at senior levels.
• Experience with digital or platform‐led pension models.
• Understanding of ESG and sustainable investment trends.
• Professional qualifications in pensions or financial services (CII, CFA, PMI, or equivalent).
• Experience working across advised, workplace and D2C channels.

• 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, eye care and EAP.
• Enhanced sick leave (three months' pay per year).
• Pension scheme via salary sacrifice. Smart will match your contributions up to 7% of your salary.
• 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.