Head of Funding & Actuarial Risk - West Midlands Pension Fund

Head of Funding & Actuarial Risk

£69,148 - £72,602 (Grade 10)

Full Time (Hybrid)

Are you an experienced actuarial or funding professional looking to lead strategic pension funding within one of the UK's largest Local Government Pension Schemes?

About WMPF

WMPF is one of the UK’s largest pension funds providing local authority pension benefits for employees across the West Midlands. We manage and administer the pension interests of over 330,000 scheme members, 800+ employers and currently have over £22 billion in assets under management.

We are recruiting for a Head of Funding & Actuarial Riskto join our continually growing Funding Management area. Our brand-new offices are based at the i9 building in Wolverhampton and is an excellent location for transport links by car, bus, train and tram.

What the day will look like

As Head of Funding & Actuarial Risk, you'll provide strategic leadership across the Fund's funding and actuarial activities. You will:

1. Lead the development and delivery of the Fund's funding strategy and actuarial risk framework.
2. Oversee triennial valuations, employer contribution modelling and covenant assessments.
3. Manage and develop a high-performing specialist team, driving performance and continuous improvement.
4. Provide expert advice and present technical reports to senior leadership, the Pensions Committee and Pension Board.
5. Build strong relationships with employers, actuaries, advisers and external stakeholders, ensuring robust governance and regulatory compliance.

About you

We're looking for a confident and collaborative leader with significant experience in pension funding and actuarial risk management. You'll bring:

1. A professional actuarial qualification (such as FIA/FFA) and a relevant degree, or substantial equivalent experience.
2. Extensive experience leading funding strategies, actuarial analysis and risk management within a complex organisation.
3. Strong leadership and people management skills, with experience developing high-performing teams.
4. Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical information to a range of audiences.
5. A proactive approach to continuous improvement and strategic decision-making.

Why choose the West Midlands Pension Fund?

You will receive a generous holiday entitlement (starting with 26 days a year plus bank holidays). We usually work two days a week in the office and three from home.

We have a modern office environment that offers a relaxed working atmosphere with study and breakout areas, meeting rooms and kitchens with free tea and coffee making facilities. There are also cloakrooms, bike stores, showers and lockers available.

Other benefits whilst working for the fund include the employee awards scheme and on-the-job development where you will be provided with comprehensive study support for professional exams, formal education & structured training and the potential to advance within a growing organisation.

Working at the fund is a great way to start or develop your career and will give you the opportunity to explore, question and collaborate. You will build your skills and knowledge but also a network where everyone is here to help support you learn and develop in a place where you can thrive both professionally and personally making a shared impact.

We are delighted to have been accredited PASA, Investors in People, customer service excellence and we have Bronze Organisational Membership with the British Dyslexia Association and are working towards their Smart Award, which further underlines our commitment to diversity and inclusion.

How we support our colleagues

In addition to our comprehensive benefits package, we encourage a diverse workforce. Plus, our agile, inclusive environment allows you to manage your wellbeing and work/life balance. You also have 24-hour access to an employee assistance programme.

As a new employee of our Funding Management team, you will receive a robust interactive 6-week induction plan providing you the opportunity to engage with key stakeholders across the fund. You will also be enrolled onto a range of professional training courses including an introduction to the LGPS and team building to encourage collaborative working, allowing you to thrive in your new role.

For more information, please email

mailto:WMPFRecruitment@wmpf.wolverhampton.gov.uk

or to apply for this post please visit the following website:-

http://www.wmjobs.co.uk/

For full details of the responsibilities and requirements of this role please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification.