Role Purpose

To improve, develop and monitor to a standard of excellence, all aspects of the Pension service, ensuring compliance with all statutory requirements.
Manage an effective and efficient Pension Administration team which delivers a proactive and business focused pension administration service and advice to Council managers through various channels.
Effectively manage the relationships with Council managers and with other LGPS employers, ensuring that the employer and administering authority responsibilities are carried out in line with legislation.

Job Context

Reports to Head of Treasury and Pensions.
Manages 7 Pensions staff.
Lead officer responsible for the administration of the Local Government Pension Scheme, including managing the implementation of relevant legislative changes to the Scheme in Harrow.
Support management in providing advice and support to the Pensions Committee and other member committees and senior management boards on pension related matters.
Manage the relationship with the Pension Fund’s 39 “other” employers, ensuring that they are aware of their responsibilities, including to provide information regarding scheme members and to remit contributions on time.
Assist the Head of HR Operations in the management of the £30m (annually) pensioners’ payroll
Assist the Head of Treasury and Pensions in managing and the £65m Pension Fund income and expenditure budget
Manage all the aspects of the unit’s performance management, ensuring that a high quality service is provided to the scheme’s 18,500 members
The post holder will visibly manage and motivate staff in the delivery of an efficient and effective, customer focussed and business-led Pensions service, including identifying, developing and implementing changes in working practices which would help to improve the service provided.

Main Duties / Accountabilities

To ensure compliance with your responsibilities as laid out in the council’s equal opportunity policy and take an active role in promoting and enabling equality of opportunity, promoting the diverse needs and aspirations of Harrow’s community, ensuring equality and diversity is mainstreamed in all service/directorate activities.
To ensure compliance with your responsibilities as laid out in the council’s health and safety policy and take an active role in promoting a positive health and safety culture.
To promote and participate in the Council’s individual performance and development appraisal initiatives and information management best practice.
To ensure compliance with the council’s data and information security policies and maintain confidentiality.
Harness professional knowledge and skill in managing work of a complex, contentious nature in a changing and demanding circumstances.
To oversee timely responses to:
- O.I. requests.
- Cases raised through the Internal Dispute Resolution Process, including the recording and monitoring of all such cases.
- Cases referred by Pensions Ombudsman, including the recording and monitoring of all such cases

Manage the relationship with LGPS employers to ensure employer duties are carried out in accordance with statute and as prescribed in Service Level Agreements.
Manage the relationship with the supplier of the Pensions Administration System, including maintaining liaison with the relevant” user group” to monitor and oversee developments required to meet legislative changes are prioritised and progressed appropriately.
Identify improvements which could streamline the work of the team and improve the service offered to LGPS scheme members and employers, and lead on developing and implementing those.

Contract

Pensions Team Leader - LGPS

Job Description