Pension Team Manager

Job summary

Due to ongoing service pressures, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced Pensions Team Manager to provide immediate technical leadership within our Payroll & Pensions function.

This is a senior, operationally critical role requiring pensions expertise, strong reporting skills and confident leadership. The post holder will manage the day-to-day delivery of pensions services while working closely with experienced payroll colleagues to address the recognised links between NHS payroll and pensions workload.

This role is not suitable for developing or trainee pensions candidates. We are specifically seeking someone who already has the technical knowledge, judgement and confidence to lead complex NHS pensions activity in a large organisation.

Significant experience in pensions administration, ideally within the NHS.Strong understanding of pension regulations and statutory requirements.Proven leadership experience, including staff management, development and performance oversight.Highly developed analytical and reporting skills.A clear understanding of payroll processes and their impact on pensions outcomes.

In return you will be a part of a friendly, supportive and experienced Payroll & Pensions team, Flexible working arrangements, including up to 50% home working, access to the NHS Pension Scheme and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a senior, influential role.

Main duties of the job

Day-to-day management of the Pensions Team, including Team Leaders and Pensions Officers.

Providing hands-on technical oversight of pensions processing, ensuring accuracy and regulatory compliance.

Leading annual and monthly statutory processes including Annual Returns / SD55s, reconciliations and data submissions.

Acting as the main Trust contact for NHS Pensions and NEST.

Using strong payroll knowledge to identify, challenge and resolve root-cause issues impacting pensions.

Producing, interpreting and presenting pensions performance and workload reporting.

Managing complex and sensitive cases, including ill-health retirement, redundancy, MARS and death in service.

Leading service improvements, process development and the introduction of new systems or ways of working.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• oRelevant Pension/Payroll degree or equivalent experience
• oEvidence of continuous professional development

Desirable

• oPayroll or pension qualification

Experience

Essential

• oPrevious senior Payroll & Pensions role.
• oWorking collaboratively as part of a team
• oRelevant experience in running reports, manipulating data and presenting/supplying information from reports
• oExperience of communicating with a range of people both internal and external to the organisation.
• oExperience of dealing with complex pension cases.
• oExperience of leading and developing a team.

Desirable

• oNHS Payroll/Pension experience
• oESR experience
• oExperience of project management and service improvement initiatives

Knowledge

Essential

• oConfidentiality and Data Protection
• oUnderstanding and interpreting changes in local, national and statutory regulations
• oProject Management
• oMicrosoft Office software to complete existing and develop new templates and spreadsheets
• oUnderstanding of payroll processes and their link to pensions.
• oIn-depth knowledge of pension legislation and auto-enrolment requirements

Desirable

• oConversant with NHS Terms and Conditions
• oWorking knowledge of NHS pension scheme
• oConversant with Medical and Dental T&C

Skills

Essential

• oExcellent customer care skills and skill to promote the pension functions
• oExcellent verbal and written skills, to deal with complex or sensitive information.
• oMeticulous attention to detail and accuracy.
• oAbility to work flexibly to meet the demands of the service.
• oAbility to handle sensitive and confidential information with empathy
• oExcellent organisational and planning abilities to plan and prioritise a range of complex activities within defined deadlines.
• oAbility to analyse complex data and resolve issues
• oStrong leadership and people management skills.
• oHigh level of IT proficiency (Excel, Word, pension systems).

Additional Requirements

Essential

• The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent.
• Flexible and adaptable to change.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and learning.
• Ability to work independently and exercise initiative
• Able to manage unpredictable workload, and interruptions

Closing Date: 2 August 2026