Lead Senior Policy Advisor – Not-For-Profit Pensions Trade Association

Excellent opportunity for a Lead Senior Policy Advisor to join the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Trade Association established in 1923, with a mission is to help everyone achieve a better income in retirement. The ideal candidate will have experience in financial services policy, ideally pensions.

Role Info:

Lead Senior Policy Advisor – Not-For-Profit Pensions Trade Association
London, EC1Y
£50,000 – £60,000 Depending on Experience
Plus up to 15% Company Pension, Life Assurance, Income Protection 27 days annual leave, fresh fruit in office, access to flexible working

About Us:

We work to get more people and money into retirement savings, to get more value out of those savings and to build the confidence and understanding of savers.

We represent:

+ Over 1,300 pension schemes with 20 million savers. These include defined benefit, defined contribution, master trusts and local government funds.
+ £1 trillion in assets
+ Some 400 businesses which provide essential services and advice to UK pensions providers.

We bring together the industry and other parties to raise standards, share best practice and support our members. We work collaboratively with members, government, parliament, regulators and other stakeholders to help build sustainable policies and regulation which deliver a better income in retirement.

The Lead Senior Policy Advisor Role:

You will lead dedicated elements of the Association’s public policy work programme, and any other relevant areas identified by the Director of Policy and Research. Your work will promote a sustainable, long-term operating environment for members, and influence the shape the direction of government and regulatory policy so that everyone has a better income in retirement. You will maintain the Association’s standing as a strong voice in policy and industry debates with insightful, evidence-based views.

Key Responsibilities include:

+ Being responsible for developing policies which influence the outcome of public policy in the interests of our strategic and tactical objectives. You will raise our profile on relevant issues so that we are associated with clear and persuasive views and policy positions. This will involve the production of high-quality policy papers, consultation responses, and evidence-based research reports.
+ Guided by your Head of Team, and working closely with the PLSA Policy Board and other PLSA governance committees/ working groups, you will implement policies from the Association’s work programme.
+ Providing practical support to members on policy-related issues, for example through the production of guides, through presentations or direct engagement.
+ Providing high quality support to the Policy Board and relevant PLSA governance bodies to ensure that we understand the views of the pensions industry and draw on their expertise.
+ Providing advice on relevant issues to the Policy Board, other PLSA governance bodies, the Heads of Teams, the Director of Policy and Research and Chief Executive, as required.
+ Acting as a spokesperson for the Association on your areas of responsibility at industry events and in the media.
+ Representing the Association at meetings and events, including meetings with senior officials and Ministers, Parliamentarians and industry leaders. You will deputise for the Heads of Teams, or Director of Policy and Research where appropriate.
+ Building strong links with Government and regulators in the UK and EU, with trade associations and with the Association’s fund and business members so that we are well networked and able to influence the right people at the right time.
+ Providing insight for the programme development for our conferences and events, ensuring relevant and interesting content.

Person Specification:

Essential experience and knowledge requirements:

+ A knowledge and understanding of policy issues as they affect pensions (DB and DC).
+ A solid understanding of how pension schemes operate.
+ Proven experience of operating at a senior level in a complex organisation.
+ Experience of public speaking, for example at industry events.

Desirable experience:

+ Experience of applying pensions know-how in a public policy setting, e.g. some experience of dealing with, and lobbying, Government.
+ Substantial experience in a governance or stewardship role, preferably with significant experience of pension fund perspectives.
+ Experience of dealing with the media (print and broadcast).
+ An understanding of working in a membership organisation and within a political environment.

Key skills and personal attributes:

You will:

+ be able to work to the Association’s values:
– acting as an authoritative expert;
– being helpful in your interactions with colleagues, members and stakeholders;
– being optimistic and seeing the potential in any situation; and
– welcoming people and their views, especially when they challenge your own.
+ be personally credible with a professional demeanour that generates the trust and confidence of a range of audiences.
+ be persuasive with creative flair – able to make the case and to present strong, well-reasoned, arguments.
+ be able to work autonomously and plan effectively.
+ be educated to degree level or equivalent.
+ have excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills.

Interested? Apply here for a fast-track path to the Hiring Manager

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If you have any pre-application questions please contact us first quoting the job title & ref. Good luck, Team RR.