Pension Team Manager

Main area Pension Grade Band 6 Contract Permanent Hours * Full time * Part time * Flexible working 37.5 hours per week (Full Time or Part Time / Flexible working hours may be considered) Job ref 180-F-CVA633-RE Employer Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Addenbrookes Hospital-Division Corporate Town Trumpington Salary £39,959 - £48,117 p.a. pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 02/08/2026 23:59 Job overview 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. Working for our organisation Our Trust Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people – patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing ‘outstanding’ care to our patients and rated ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH’s values – Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent – are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population. CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people’s age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background. Detailed job description and main responsibilities Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities. Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have: * applied for a Graduate visa * or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment This vacancy will close at midnight on the 2nd August 2026. Interviews are due to be held date to be confirmed. Benefits to you At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff. On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only café, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH. CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part‑time working, job‑share, term‑time working and flexible start and finish times. Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered. We welcome applications from the Armed Forces. Person specification Qualifications * Evidence of continuous professional development * Payroll or pension qualification Experience * Previous senior role within a Payroll and Pensions service. * Working collaboratively as part of a team * Relevant experience in running reports, manipulating data and presenting/supplying information from reports * Experience of communicating with a range of people both internal and external to the organisation. * Experience of dealing with complex pension administration cases. * Experience of leading and developing a Pension Administration or Payroll team * Experience of project management and service improvement initiatives Knowledge * Knowledge of confidentiality, data protection and information governance requirements relating to pension records and member data * Understanding and interpreting changes in pension legislation, payroll regulations and other local, national and statutory requirements * Microsoft Office software to complete existing and develop new templates and spreadsheets * Understanding of payroll processes and their interaction with pension administration * In-depth knowledge of pension legislation and auto‑enrolment requirements * Conversant with NHS Terms and Conditions * Working knowledge of NHS pension scheme * Conversant with Medical and Dental T&C Skills * Excellent customer care skills and skill to promote the pension functions * Excellent verbal and written skills, to deal with complex or sensitive Pension information * Meticulous attention to detail and accuracy. * Ability to work flexibly to meet the demands of the service. * Ability to handle sensitive and confidential pension case information with empathy * Excellent organisational and planning abilities to plan and prioritise a range of complex pension activities within defined deadlines. * Ability to analyse complex pension administration data and resolve issues * Strong leadership and people management skills. * High level of IT proficiency (Excel, Word, pension systems). Additional Requirements * The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent. * Able to respond effectively to changing operational demands, including reprioritising workloads and adapting working arrangements to maintain service delivery. * Use of a Computer for long periods of the day. * Ability to work independently and exercise initiative. * Able to manage unpredictable workload, and interruptions J-18808-Ljbffr