Chief Operations & Technology Officer - #139605

LGPS Central (LGPSC) Ltd is the FCA-regulated asset manager for eight local authority pension funds across the Midlands. LGPSC is jointly owned on an equal shares basis by those Partner Fund, and it is responsible for managing almost £45bn of their assets. It is one of eight Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) asset pools in the UK.

LGPS Central’s Partner Funds are:

• Cheshire Pension Fund
• Derbyshire Pension Fund
• Leicestershire Pension Fund
• Nottinghamshire Pension Fund
• Shropshire Pension Fund
• Staffordshire Pension Fund
• West Midlands Pension Fund
• Worcestershire Pension Fund
  
  

LGPS Central is owned equally by all eight of its Partner Funds and is dedicated to the management of local government pension assets. LGPS Central manages assets across public and private markets both internally and through externally appointed investment managers.

The Company is committed to responsible investment and has made responsible investment a core part of the investment process in every asset class.

LGPS Central offers a friendly and diverse, hybrid-working environment with a range of employee benefits. The Company moved to new premises at i9, Wolverhampton Interchange in January 2022, close to local transport links.

Position:

The Chief Operations & Technology Officer (COTO) joins LGPS Central at an exciting time for the company and for Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) pooling in general with developments in the UK pension landscape.

As the COTO, you will be a key member of the executive leadership team, and will be responsible for overseeing the firm’s operational infrastructure and technology strategy. You will also ensure that technology and investment operations are fully aligned with business objectives, regulatory requirements, and client expectations.

This role requires a strategic leader with a deep understanding of investment management operations, emerging financial technologies, and experience of delivering transformation and operational efficiency programmes within their domain.

This role is a certified role under the Senior Manager’s Certification Regime and will be subject to assessments in Fitness and Propriety and any other regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

Operational Leadership

• Oversee the firm’s end-to-end investment operations, including trade execution, settlements, and fund administration and service providers.
• Ensure operational resilience and business continuity planning, mitigating risks associated with market volatility and cyber threats.
• Implement automation and process enhancements to streamline back-office and middle-office functions.
• Maintain a strong culture of risk management, compliance, and internal controls across technology and operations.
  
  

Technology Leadership

• Develop and execute a technology strategy that enhances operational efficiency and supports the firm’s growth ambitions.
• Lead digital transformation initiatives, ensuring the implementation of portfolio management systems and adoption of emerging technologies such as AI, blockchain, and cloud solutions.
• Oversee IT governance, cybersecurity, and data protection in line with FCA and global regulatory standards.
• Oversee the service management relationships with technology and investment operation vendors, ensuring best-in-class infrastructure and service delivery.
• Drive innovation in technology for portfolio management, trading platforms, and client engagement tools.
  
  

Strategic Leadership & Regulatory Compliance

• Serve as a key executive stakeholder in regulatory engagements with the FCA and other governing bodies.
• Collaborate with the Chief Legal Risk and Compliance Officer to ensure technology, operations, and transformation meet all regulatory requirements.
• Provide thought leadership on technology-driven regulatory changes impacting the investment management industry.
• Strong people leadership skills, with the ability to engage, collaborate, coach and inspire.
• Lead a high-performing technology, operations, and transformation team, fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement.
  
  

Requirements:

Key Requirements

• Extensive experience in technology, operations, and transformation leadership within an FCA-regulated investment management firm or financial services organisation.
• Strong understanding of asset management operations, trading platforms, risk management, and regulatory compliance.
• Proven track record in driving digital transformation, innovation, and operational efficiency.
• Expertise in IT infrastructure, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and data analytics.
• Strong leadership, stakeholder management, and strategic decision-making skills.
• Ability to navigate complex stakeholder and regulatory landscapes and implement best practices in financial technology, operations, and transformation.
  
  

Other information:

The recruitment process is designed to provide both parties an opportunity to explore and assess fit in a constructive and transparent way, providing sufficient time to consider technical, leadership cultural and motivational fit.

• First stage discussions will be with John Rainsbury or Braidie Cole of Sanderson Executive.
• Selected candidates will be invited for a fireside chat with Joanne Segars (Chair) and Richard Law Deeks (CEO)
• The next stage will be a formal interview with Anouska Ramsay (Chief People and Transformation Officer) and Richard Law Deeks
• The final stage will consist of a panel interview and presentation with Joanne Segars, Richard Law Deeks and Belinda Moore
• Offer to the successful candidate will then follow Nominations Committee approval.
  
  

Candidates may be required to undertake Personality Profiling Assessment as part of any final assessment.

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
• An enhanced and generous Pension Scheme
• 30 days' paid holiday plus bank holidays
• 2 days paid volunteering days
• An extra paid Company Day in addition to paid holidays
• Excellent Learning & Development Opportunities
• Welfare and Family-friendly policies
• Enhanced pay for new parents
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme - 24-7 Health & Wellbeing Support
• Vitality Private Medical Insurance
• Hybrid Working
• Company Service Awards
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Company Electric Vehicle Scheme
• Nominees of the Family Friendly Employer of the Year 2022 - Personnel Today Awards 2022
• Winner of the Cultural Awareness Initiative of the Year - FT Advisors Diversity in Finance Awards 2023
• Winner of Diversity and Inclusion Award - LAPF In Investments Award 2023