Pensions Administrator

The Defra Group Pension team is responsible for providing an HR expert service to Core Defra, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Rural Payments Agency, Veterinary Medicines Directorate, the Environment Agency, and Natural England, as well as several other smaller agencies and bodies. Pensions is a complex and challenging area in HR, and the team consists of subject matter experts and specialists who provide pension expertise and guidance.

We work closely with our third-party providers and stakeholders to deliver a seamless service to the business, working collaboratively on high profile projects and the delivery of critical business as usual activities.

It is a fast-paced environment and, to be successful, we need to respond quickly to changing demand and priorities while maintaining high standards and professionalism.

We have an exciting opportunity for you to join our team as a Pensions Advisor. This will give you the chance to get involved with a number of ongoing projects. You will learn more about the implementation of our new HR and payroll system synergy, build relationships with 3rd party pensions, HR and payroll administrators and work with cross government working groups and different areas of the business.

We are a small, flexible team so your role could cover a variety of areas including:

• Responsibility for the daily management of the pensions service across Defra Group. This involves monitoring mailboxes, responding to queries and investigating complaint cases.
• Undertaking complex case management such as ill health retirements for deferred and active members, death grant payment cases and the implementation of child and dependent pensions.
• Representing the team by contributing to HR and Cross Government Working Groups including attendance at meetings and forums.
• Supporting team members on Commercial Pension Activity relating to closed and active pension schemes.
• Management of closed pension scheme administration to include liaison with 3 party providers, calculation of annual pension increase and budgetary management of invoice payments.
• Advising and guiding HR Business Partners (HRBPs), HR Caseworkers and Expert Service Colleagues on complex issues. Providing support for the most difficult cases which cannot be resolved within the normal rules or precedents and provide novel solutions where required.
• Reviewing processes and process documentation and using your knowledge of automation to make improvements to the way we operate alongside 3 party providers.