Pensions Director, Change and Business Management

PLEASE NOTE – This is a 12 month FTC The role provides the opportunity to become part of the senior executive leadership of a highly effective in house pensions team of experienced pension professionals for the Barclays UK Retirement Fund (UKRF) pension fund (c200,000 members and c£23bn of assets covering defined benefit and defined contribution), supporting a strategic NED board of Trustees.

The role holder will support the UKRF CEO with effective governance and management of stakeholders across a complex matrix structure working with the internal Pensions and Investment teams, internal Barclays functions and external advisers to ensure excellence in all areas.

The role will focus on the delivery of a portfolio of large strategic and regulatory project activity, leading the project management office supporting senior leaders, simultaneously shaping and executing long-term strategic change.

Key Accountabilities

• Strategic support to develop and maintain oversight of strategic book of project work, including assistance in the development and execution of strategic initiatives, and analysis to support decision-making.
• Management of the project management office including establishing and coordinating activity to enable appropriate planning, resource plan development, budgeting and project management collateral for portfolio of projects including regular stakeholder reporting production.
• Development and management of people plan and strategy to support portfolio of projects, this will include support to executive leadership on communication strategy, management of change and development of associated change skills Communication with internal and external stakeholders, management of communication channels and ensuring effective coordination across different departments and teams.
• Support to and guidance for operational efficiency, including the identification of areas for improvement, streamlining of processes, and implementation of best practices to enhance productivity, effectiveness and experience in management of projects.

Purpose of the role

To provide operating and administrative support to senior leaders, simultaneously shaping and executing long-term strategic change, whilst helping to navigate complex challenges in the performance of their roles

Accountabilities

• Implementation of Target Operating Model, business development, and financial and non-financial resource allocation, providing strategic insight and thought leadership.
• Strategic support to and oversight of demand pipeline and the book of work, including assistance in the development and execution of strategic initiatives, projects, research, and analysis to support decision-making.
• Support to and guidance for operational efficiency and colleague/customer/client experience within the organisation, including the identification of areas for improvement, streamlining of processes, and implementation of best practices to enhance productivity, effectiveness and experience.
• Management of of people plan, talent development and succession planning including the identification of high-potential employees, provision of mentorship and guidance, and support to leadership development and diversity initiatives.
• Communication with internal and external stakeholders, management of communication channels and ensuring effective coordination across different departments and teams.
• Participation in compliance activities such as SMR and other regulatory registrations/certifications, as well as support for crisis management and risk mitigation, including the development of contingency plans, coordination of responses to emergencies, and business continuity.
• Management of all organisational/team requirements relating to technology, real estate, people and communications in conjunction with relevant partners across the firm.
• Enablement of oversight of risk management and compliance with internal and external requirements, including internal Governance on critical control activities in partnership with the CCO team, such as Records Inventory and RCSAs.
• Cost control and workforce management of the Business/Function, including involvement in financial analysis and planning, forecasting, and monitoring of financial performance against targets.

Director Expectations

• To manage a business function, providing significant input to function wide strategic initiatives.
• Contribute to and influence policy and procedures for the function and plan, manage and consult on multiple complex and critical strategic projects, which may be business wide..
• They manage the direction of a large team or sub-function, leading other people managers and embedding a performance culture aligned to the values of the business.
• Or for an individual contributor, they lead organisation wide projects and act as deep technical expert and thought leader, identifying new ways of working and collaborating cross functionally.
• They will train, guide and coach less experienced specialists and provide information affecting long term profits, organisational risks and strategic decisions..
• Provide expert advice to senior functional management and committees to influence decisions made outside of own function, offering significant input to function wide strategic initiatives.
• Manage, coordinate and enable resourcing, budgeting and policy creation for a significant sub-function.
• Escalates breaches of policies / procedure appropriately.
• Foster and guide compliance, ensure regulations are observed that relevant processes in place to facilitate adherence.
• Focus on the external environment, regulators, or advocacy groups to both monitor and influence on behalf of Barclays, when appropriate.
• Demonstrate extensive knowledge of how the function integrates with the business division / Group to achieve the overall business objectives.
• Maintain broad and comprehensive knowledge of industry theories and practices within own discipline alongside up-to-date relevant sector / functional knowledge, and insight into external market developments / initiatives.
• Use interpretative thinking and advanced analytical skills to solve problems and design solutions in often complex/ sensitive situations.
• Exercise management authority to make significant decisions and certain strategic decisions or recommendations within own area.
• Negotiate with and influence stakeholders at a senior level both internally and externally.
• Act as principal contact point for key clients and counterparts in other functions/ businesses divisions.
• Mandated as a spokesperson for the function and business division.

All Senior Leaders are expected to demonstrate a clear set of leadership behaviours to create an environment for colleagues to thrive and deliver to a consistently excellent standard.

The four LEAD behaviours are: L – Listen and be authentic, E – Energise and inspire, A – Align across the enterprise, D – Develop others.

All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right.

They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.