LGPS Central Limited was established in 2018 to manage the pension scheme investment assets of eight Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) funds across the Midlands. It will ultimately be responsible for managing around £45bn of assets on behalf of one million LGPS members and 2,500 employers. The Company is authorised as a full scope AIFM and regulated by the FCA. Approximately half of the total assets have already transitioned to the stewardship of LGPS Central across a broad range of public and private markets asset classes.
As one of the eight new LGPS asset pools, we form part of a new and significant niche sector in the UK investment and pensions industry which attracts keen interest from National/Local Government, and scrutiny from a wide group of sector and industry stakeholders and pressure groups.
The management of Local Government Pension Scheme funds is going through significant change, providing attractive opportunities for those who have the relevant investment experience and who want to work within a company which values integrity, trust, transparency, diversity, fairness and partnership. LGPS Central Limited aims to be a centre of excellence and we seek candidates who share our values to help us achieve that goal.
The Company is owned by the Administering Authorities of our eight Partner Funds, making them both our shareholders and our clients. This creates an unusual and challenging opportunity in client servicing and shareholder relationship management and reporting.
The Company’s business plan is built around six key objectives, which when combined will provide the investment returns needed by Partner Funds to secure the long-term pensions payments to their members at a cost which is supportable by sponsoring employers, and ultimately local taxpayers. These are to:
- Increase the effectiveness of our Partner Fund relationships
- Extend, enhance and RI&E with a particular focus on climate change
- Effectively manage existing assets
- Transition new assets into the pool
- Continue the enhancement of operational resilience
- Recruit, motivate and retain the “One Central” team
The successful candidates will have the gravitas, leadership qualities, experience and ambition to become key members of Exco and be expected to contribute to the wider development of the Company.
You will join a dynamic team at an exciting time as we move into the next phase of our corporate evolution and focus on the delivery of the benefits of scale to our eight Partner Fund owner/clients, their 1 million pension scheme members and over 2000 sponsoring employers across the Midlands region of England.
The postholders will be required to meet the ‘Fitness and Propriety’ criteria defined in the FCA SMCR regime.
Remuneration for the role will be competitive and dependent on experience.
The role of Chief Stakeholder Officer is to lead and develop its Stakeholder Relationship Team. The successful candidate will bring insight and experience to the Company, especially with regards to Client, Shareholder and broader Stakeholder relationship management.
We are seeking an individual with extensive experience of developing and implementing stakeholder relationship strategies within the UK investment and pensions sector. Experience of successfully building a client relationship/business development team and the systems and processes to support it would be a great advantage. Candidates for this role must also have experience of dealing with UK government, pensions regulators and ideally management of communications and media.
This role is likely to suit someone who has been working within institutional investment management, investment consulting or a multi-employer pension scheme.
Chief Stakeholder officer
Role Purpose:
LGPS Central is looking for an experienced Stakeholder Relations/Investment professional to join our senior management team in the position of Chief Stakeholder Officer (CSO). This is an Exco- level, newly established role.
The CSO will have the key role of developing and implementing our strategy to manage critical stakeholder relationships and the external perception of LGPSC as we move into the next phase of our corporate evolution.
Proactively anticipating our future business needs as we complete the asset transitions from Partner Funds into the LGPSC Pool, the demands around Responsible Investment continue to grow and pooling moves into its next phase will be an essential component of the role.
LGPS Central Limited has been established to manage the investment assets of eight Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) funds across the Midlands. It will ultimately be responsible for managing around £45bn of assets on behalf of one million LGPS members and 2,500 employers. The Company is regulated by the FCA.
The Company is owned by the Administering Authorities of our eight Partner Funds, making them both our shareholders and our clients. This creates an unusual and challenging opportunity in client servicing and shareholder relationship management and reporting. As one of the eight new LGPS asset pools, we also form part of a new and significant niche sector in the UK pensions industry which attracts keen interest from National/Local Government, and scrutiny from a wide group of sector and industry stakeholders and pressure groups.
Reports to:
- The CSO will report to the CEO and will initially have three direct reports:
- Client Relationship Manager, who manages the relationships between LGPSC and its Clients.
- Communications Officer, who co-ordinates the external and internal communications.
- Client Services Support Officer
Need to Do
Outcomes:
The key responsibility and accountability is for proactively planning, developing and delivering LGPSC’s overall stakeholder engagement strategy. This role will be responsible for the effective management of our key stakeholder relationships from a business and service delivery perspective as well as leading on our communications strategy and co-ordinating future public policy positioning.
Deliver in four key areas supporting stakeholders’ key objectives:
- Most important is the outward-facing aspect of the role. Pooling represents a significant transition for our clients/shareholders. Collaboration is key, and the CSO will be responsible for ensuring we have a successful and appropriate level of collaboration with these stakeholders so that we are working in partnership, ensuring we are able to operate effectively with no surprises on either side. The CSO will also be expected to build and sustain strong and effective relationships with our shareholders.
- Our focus on investment performance alongside responsible investment is particularly significant. The CSO will be expected to work closely with the CIO, Director of RI&E and the rest of the investment team to develop and implement a stakeholder relations strategy which ensures all stakeholders understand our activities and achievements.
- Influencing and liaising with central government and operating in the wider political arena, as pooling is a UK government led initiative. The CSO will act as one of the public faces of LGPSC and ensure that key participants within the government are aware of the successes of LGPSC. The CSO will influence and react accordingly to new political developments (both locally and nationally), positioning and promoting LGPSC as a leader in the LGPS space on behalf of its clients.
- LGPSC aspires to operate at the level and with the scope of our major UK and global pension scheme peers. The CSO will be expected to cultivate links with these peer organisations to facilitate sharing of best practice, co-operation with RI&E initiatives and ultimately investing alongside each other.
Duties
The CSO will work closely with the CEO and Board, as a core member of the Executive team to:
- Lead on all stakeholder engagement matters
- Develop and implement a proactive and comprehensive stakeholder engagement (including communications) strategy to deliver effective relationships between LGPSC and all key stakeholders including: Clients, Shareholders, Staff, Peers in the other pools, Government, Other external parties/influencers (including advisors, consultants, managers, regulators, trade groups, professional organisations, public and relevant campaign organisations).
- Ensure LGPSC delivers excellent service to its Clients, including developing thought leadership initiatives to demonstrate the value LGPSC provides from pooling
- Represent LGPSC externally on policy and strategic issues
- Provide key input into the development and delivery of LGPSC’s strategic business plan to meet the objectives set on cost savings and to deliver the benefits of an FCA regulated investment management firm to clients and shareholders.
- Control and manage the operating budget for the External Affairs Team and contribute to the overall financial management of the Company.
- Lead, manage and develop the External Affairs Team, ensuring competent resource, knowledge, and skills are in place and maintained.
- Actively support LGPSC’s diversity programme, both internally and externally, along with all other corporate policy initiatives.
Need to Know
Skills/Knowledge/Experience/Competence:
This role is a new, senior, Exco-level position that requires political “nous”, a proactive commercial focus, empathy and the ability to cultivate strong, professional relationships. The role will be subject to FCA SMCR requirements of fitness and propriety.
The ideal candidate will be a senior business development, investment and stakeholder relations professional with significant experience of working in investment management or investment consultancy, possessing a sharp results focus and previous effective team leadership and inspiration. Importance is placed on proactivity and collaboration.
Essential experience, skills and competencies required:
- Depth of business development, leadership and management skills, detailed knowledge of investment marketing and communications, and of investment management that will support the delivery of our stakeholders’ key objectives.
- Demonstrable ‘C’ level / Board or strategic leadership experience within an investment management or investment consultancy business.
- Established network of professional relationships with pension schemes and investment managers both in the UK and overseas
- Experience of building out a stakeholder strategy including client relationship management and communications in the investment and pensions space.
- Experience with the use of website, social media, public speaking opportunities, events, PR and press to design and deliver a coherent corporate and stakeholder communications strategy.
- Credibility and gravitas to influence stakeholders and ability to build constructive and collaborative relationships at all levels, inside and outside the organisation.
- Proactive approach and proven results focus, including commercial accountability, and ability to prioritise to create own agenda, within a regulated environment.
- Strength as an influencer and communicator with excellent presentation and written skills and ability to support the development of these skills in the wider team.
Qualifications:
- A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline; an MBA or other postgraduate qualification would be an asset.
- CFA qualification would be an advantage
- Demonstrable SMCR standards of fitness and propriety. The role holder will be an FCA certified post, managing certified staff.
Values and Behaviours:
Values:
- We are a great place to work
- We are Client Focus ed
- We are Inclusive
- We are Ambitious
Behaviours:
- Open, fair and transparent, acting with integrity.
- Doing the right thing.
- Honest and trustworthy
- Empowered in making right decisions
- Collegiate and Collaborative.
- Valuing and treating everyone equally.
- Listening to individual ideas to support growth.
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 plus bonus
- 30 days' paid holiday plus bank holidays
- An extra paid Company Day in addition to paid holidays
- Excellent Learning & Development Opportunities
- Welfare and Family-friendly policies
- An enhanced and generous Pension Scheme
- Enhanced pay for new parents
- Access to our Employee Assistance Programme- 24-7 Health & Wellbeing Support
- Hybrid Working
- Brand New Office Space
LGPS Central Limited provides an exciting, supportive and family-friendly working environment, and we are committed to helping our people achieve their full potential and a healthy work-life balance. We are an inclusive employer and offer equal opportunities to all regardless of an individual’s age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. Candidates who declare that they have a disability and who meet the essential criteria for the job will be offered an interview.
