Pension Scheme Governance Specialist
Grade 6 & R&O
Directorate: Market Oversight
Starting salary: £63,089 per annum
Contract type: Permanent
Location: Brighton (Hybrid – 6 days per month in the office)
Role and Responsibilities
The Pension Scheme Governance Specialist supports the effectiveness of the Trusteeship, Administration, and Defined Benefits Supervision (TADBS) team within the Market Oversight directorate.
Key duties include overseeing scheme and professional trustee firm governance frameworks, ensuring integrity, transparency and best‑practice compliant systems and processes.
Provide subject‑matter expert assessments of pension scheme management, governance and compliance; coach and train internal staff on governance and management.
Lead a team of Lead Specialists and Specialists within Trusteeship, Administration and DB Supervision, responsible for operational delivery, portfolio and risk management, and external engagement on key issues or complex interventions.
Qualifications and Experience
* Strong understanding of UK pensions legislation, TPR Codes of Practice and scheme governance requirements.
* Practical experience in scheme and corporate governance and pension administration across various scheme types (DB, DC, MT, and PSPS) and with consultancy services.
* Applied knowledge of the interaction between scheme management, governing documents, trust law, case law, tax and pensions law, and Pension Ombudsman findings.
* Understanding how decision‑making aligns with regulatory requirements and the saver’s best interests.
* Highly technical proficiency and ability to assess governance materials against practical application, identifying root‑cause risks or issues.
* Confidence to engage and influence at all levels, holding difficult conversations when pushback is unreasonable.
* Capability to coach and train colleagues on governance standards and brief senior leaders on industry trends.
* Ability to seek advisor or legal support when required to form robust governance views.
* Professional qualification in pensions (e.g., Pensions Management Institute, Chartered Insurance Institute) or governance (e.g., ICSA/CGIUKI).
* Experience managing, coaching, mentoring and motivating others.
* High attention to detail and ability to manage confidential and sensitive information.
* Demonstrated credibility, resilience and relationship‑building with internal and external stakeholders.
* Commitment to ethical governance and saver‑first principles.
* Proactive, collaborative, solution‑focused and self‑starter, able to shape and drive the role forward.
* Respect for diversity, inclusion and transparency.
Benefits
25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, flexible 35‑hour week and hybrid working model.
Competitive parental leave, Civil Service Pension (average employer contribution 28.97 %), and access to the Edenred benefits portal (retail, gym, tech and restaurant discounts, cycle‑to‑work scheme).
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
TPR is committed to diversity, inclusion and equality and will provide a fair recruitment process for all candidates.
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