Head of Digital Transformation & Operations - AI - Pensions Administration

Our client is seeking a high-calibre leader for a new Head of Operations & Digital Transformation role within its fast-moving, regulated Financial Services environment. This is a pivotal position designed for a driven delivery focused professional able to spearhead AI-led change management while maintaining the stability of a large-scale pensions administration operation servicing over three million members.

This important multifaceted role requires a "left and right brain" approach: the ability to dramatically transform a business while delivering a stable and effective day to day operational capability.

Key responsibilities include:

• Driving Digital Transformation: Implementing cutting edge AI and technology-enabled solutions to convert manual, process-driven tasks into an efficient, streamlined and modern delivery model.
• Operational Excellence: Ensuring the day-to-day functions of the pensions administration operation continue to run smoothly during significant structural change.
• Leadership: Managing large, blended teams across both onshore and offshore locations.
• Stakeholder Influence: Navigating complex organizational interactions and driving cultural alignment to ensure the success of the new business strategy.

The successful candidate will be a "best of the best" professional who is resilient, enthusiastic, and ready to make a significant career impact.

• Experience: You must have a proven track record of leading or supporting complex change initiatives within a regulated environment (eg, Banking, Insurance, Wealth Management etc.)
• Skills: A strong background in organizational change and operational development is essential - you must be able to describe how you have delivered large scale business transformations backed up with real-world examples.
• Mindset: Our client is seeking someone hungry for a challenge who can visualize the future of digital member interaction in a pensions administration context while clearly understanding current delivery processes.
• Pensions Knowledge: While a background in pensions is considered a significant bonus, it is not a core requirement, as the focus is on operational and digital agility and delivery. Experience of regulated financial services environments is essential.

A snapshot from the hiring manager: The Head of Pension Services & Digital Operations is a senior leadership role responsible for driving the strategic, operational, and future state specification/transformation of our digital first pensions administration. This key role requires the delivery of operational excellence and digital innovation, simplifying and streamlining processes, and championing automation and platform modernisation while overseeing both stable and reliable business operational service delivery and facilitating global transformation.

A core part of this role is transforming the Service Centre proposition and Administration operating model through the implementation of innovative technology and AI - embedding intelligent automation to boost efficiency, reduce cost to serve, and enhance scalability. As a senior operational and digital leader, you will shape strategy, be responsible for the specification of technical changes, and define the future direction of our end-to-end pension services. Another critical element of the role is providing senior leadership and direction during complex client situations, including rapid troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and timely resolution of high priority.

This important, exciting opportunity is ideal for a driven business change and transformation professional looking for a step up to a new role with a global FS company which recognises talent and rewards successful delivery. A comprehensive job specification is available.

£150k-£180k + 40% bonus & additional benefits