Data Manager - Annuities (BPA)

We’re looking for a Data Manager – Annuities (BPA) to join our Data / Transitions & Onboarding team. If you’re looking for a new challenge with an organisation committed to putting customers first, aiming high and working together, you’ll thrive here.

Job Type: Permanent

Location: This role will be based in either the Birmingham, Telford, Edinburgh or London offices with time spent working from home and in the office. Flexible working: All roles are open to part‑time, job‑share and other types of flexibility. We will discuss what is important to you and balancing this with business requirements during the recruitment process.

Salary and benefits: From £75k depending on experience plus bonus, private medical cover, 38 days annual leave, excellent pension, 12x salary life assurance, career breaks, income protection, 3x volunteering days and much more.

Who are we? We’re Standard Life, a retirement specialist focused entirely on retirement savings and income. We champion the belief that everyone’s journey to and through retirement can be better, and for more than 200 years, we’ve been helping our customers plan and prepare for their financial futures. Life today is increasingly complicated, uncertain and unpredictable. People move through different careers, face unexpected moments and navigate important choices. We offer our colleagues flexibility, trust and benefits that work for whatever life brings. In return we expect curiosity, connection, accountability and high standards. We make room for what matters – so you can bring your best, every day.

The role The Data Manager – Annuities is a senior operational and technical role responsible for the end‑to‑end management of pension scheme data across BPA transactions, from initial data receipt through to buy‑in, buy‑out, and handover into Business‑as‑Usual (BAU). The role leads a specialist data team to ensure the accuracy, completeness, and integrity of all member and payroll data, supporting critical activities such as benefit specifications, data validation, true‑ups, and roll‑forwards. Working closely with Transition Managers, outsourced administrators, and internal stakeholders, the role is accountable for delivering high‑quality data outcomes that underpin member benefit accuracy, regulatory compliance, and successful scheme transitions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and develop a high‑performing BPA data team, setting the data strategy, embedding robust governance frameworks, and acting as the SME for pensions and BPA data.
• Own the end‑to‑end BPA data lifecycle, ensuring data accuracy through validation, reconciliation, and delivery of key activities including cleanses, true‑ups, roll‑forwards and payroll validation.
• Provide technical oversight of benefit specifications, ensuring alignment between scheme rules, data outputs and calculations, and supporting complex benefit scenarios with actuarial and operations teams.
• Support transitions and stakeholder integration, partnering with onboarding teams, administrators and clients to ensure data readiness and successful scheme migrations.
• Maintain strong controls, governance and risk management, implementing reconciliation frameworks, audit trails and ensuring compliance with regulatory and internal standards.
• Drive continuous improvement and transformation, enhancing data processes, increasing automation, and supporting the Target Operating Model to improve efficiency and reduce manual intervention.
• Oversee third‑party data relationships, ensuring data quality, effective data exchange, and clear accountability across outsourced providers and partners.

What are we looking for?

• Proven experience in Defined Benefit (DB) pensions and BPA data, with strong technical knowledge of pensions data, calculations and member benefits.
• Experience leading and developing large, high‑performing teams, with the ability to drive delivery, quality and continuous improvement.
• Strong experience in data controls, reconciliation and data quality processes within a regulated environment.
• Highly developed stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to build relationships and drive outcomes across teams.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving capability, with a focus on delivering accurate, insight‑led solutions.

We want to hire the whole version of you. We are committed to ensuring that everyone feels accepted and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. If your experience looks different from what we’ve advertised and you believe that you can bring value to the role, we’d love to hear from you. If you require any adjustments to the recruitment process, please let us know so we can help you to be at your best.

We’re Standard Life.