Are you passionate about making a real impact in the world of pensions and investments? LGPS Central is on the lookout for an experienced and skilled Senior Project Manager to help shape the future of local government pension scheme (LGPS) services.
The Senior Project Manager will lead the delivery of complex, strategic change initiatives across LGPS Central. These projects will range from operating model changes and regulatory implementations to systems upgrades and transformation programmes that align with our pooled investment model.
This is a 12-month fixed-term contract, offering a unique opportunity to make a significant impact in a high-profile role.
What You’ll Be Doing
* End-to-End Project Management. Define, plan, and manage the full lifecycle of both strategic and operational projects, ensuring alignment with LGPS pooling objectives, regulatory standards, and organisational priorities. This includes setting clear scopes, deliverables, and stakeholder expectations from initiation to delivery.
* Cross-Functional Stakeholder Engagement. Build and maintain trust-based relationships with internal teams (e.g. investments, finance, IT, governance, operations) and external partners. Facilitate collaborative engagement through regular workshops, steering groups, and communication forums to support project alignment and momentum.
* Effective Planning and Risk Management. Oversee project timelines, resource allocation, interdependencies, risks, and budgets. Actively manage and escalate issues or blockers, ensuring that delivery remains on track and compliant with governance, audit, and reporting requirements.
* Governance and Executive Reporting. Maintain comprehensive project documentation, including RAID logs, business cases, status updates, and benefits realisation trackers. Prepare and present governance packs to steering committees, risk panels, and senior leadership, ensuring transparency and informed decision-making.
* Change and Transformation Delivery. Support change impact assessments and the successful embedding of new processes, systems, or ways of working. Identify key enablers, blockers, and risks to ensure adoption of change initiatives, including elements of the Target Operating Model (TOM), where applicable.
* Outcome-Focused Delivery. Drive tangible outcomes that contribute to long-term value, regulatory compliance, and strategic goals. Ensure delivery meets defined KPIs and benefits realisation criteria, with a continuous improvement mindset throughout the project lifecycle.
About Us
LGPS Central (LGPSC) Ltd is the FCA-regulated asset manager for eight local authority pension funds across the Midlands. LGPSC is jointly owned on an equal shares basis by those Partner Fund, and it is responsible for managing £45bn+ of their assets. It is one of eight Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) asset pools in the UK.
LGPS Central’s Partner Funds are:
* Cheshire Pension Fund
* Derbyshire Pension Fund
* Leicestershire Pension Fund
* Nottinghamshire Pension Fund
* Shropshire Pension Fund
* Staffordshire Pension Fund
* West Midlands Pension Fund
* Worcestershire Pension Fund
LGPS Central is owned equally by all eight of its Partner Funds and is dedicated to the management of local government pension assets. LGPS Central manages assets across public and private markets both internally and through externally appointed investment managers.
The Company is committed to responsible investment and has made responsible investment a core part of the investment process in every asset class.
LGPS Central offers a friendly and diverse, hybrid-working environment with a range of employee benefits. The Company moved to new premises at i9, Wolverhampton Interchange in January 2022, close to local transport links.
Requirements
* Proven experience in managing complex change programmes within financial services, preferably LGPS or public pensions
* Strong knowledge of project management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, PRINCE2)
* Experience managing multi-functional project teams, including third-party vendors and consultants
* Excellent organisational, analytical, and stakeholder engagement skills
* Strong understanding of investment operations, governance, and compliance frameworks
* Comfortable working in a hybrid environment, with three office-based days in Wolverhampton.
Qualifications:
* Degree or equivalent experience in Project Management, Finance, Business, or related field
* Recognised project management certification (e.g. PRINCE2, PMP, AgilePM)
* Change management certification (e.g. Prosci, APMG) desirable
* Asset Management or Banking experience desirable
What do we offer?
We are proud to provide our people with a premium and exclusive benefits package and we are continually improving the rewards we offer. Here are a few of the valuable rewards that you will enjoy:
* Competitive salary
* An enhanced and generous Pension Scheme
* 30 days' paid holiday plus bank holidays
* 2 days paid volunteering days
* An extra paid Company Day in addition to paid holidays
* Excellent Learning & Development Opportunities
* Welfare and Family-friendly policies
* Enhanced pay for new parents
* Access to our Employee Assistance Programme - 24-7 Health & Wellbeing Support
* Vitality Private Medical Insurance
* Hybrid Working
* Company Service Awards
* Cycle to Work Scheme
* Company Electric Vehicle Scheme
* Nominees of the Family Friendly Employer of the Year 2022 - Personnel Today Awards 2022
* Winner of the Cultural Awareness Initiative of the Year - FT Advisors Diversity in Finance Awards 2023
* Winner of Diversity and Inclusion Award - LAPF In Investments Award 2023