Head of Investment Platform Services (IPS)

Role Purpose:

The Head of Investment Platform Services plays a key role at the intersection of Operations, Technology, Data Management, Change and Investments. This role demands a combination of strategic foresight, leadership, technical expertise, business engagement and supplier management. IPS is being established to centralise relationship management responsibility and be the single conduit for change with key third party suppliers of solutions for investment and related operational functions, notably BlackRock for Aladdin, Finbourne and Murex. This also will involve working with internal teams developing applications and processes employed by these functions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Platform Leadership: Own the strategic direction and operational oversight of the investment and data platforms in support business requirements. This involves ensuring the platform (operating across internal and vendor-developed systems) remains fit for purpose, scalable, and aligned to evolving business and regulatory needs. Provide expert input into enterprise architecture, technology, operations and data strategies
• Vendor Partnership and Performance: Lead the strategic relationship with the external platform providers, ensuring service delivery, contract adherence, roadmap alignment, and long-term partnership value. Drive resolution of escalated issues and influence vendor priorities where needed
• Senior Stakeholder Management: Build and maintain strong, trust-based partnerships with senior stakeholders across investment, operations, risk, technology, and data. Champion the platform's strategic value, align priorities, and ensure business needs are understood and addressed
• Risk and Control Ownership: Take accountability for identifying, assessing, and mitigating platform-related risks. Ensure appropriate governance, documentation, and controls are in place to meet operational, regulatory, and internal/external audit standards. Escalate key risks and dependencies proactively
• Solution Oversight & prioritisation: Facilitate the assessment and design of high-impact platform enhancements, ensuring alignment with business goals, prioritising against the wider book of work and maximising return on investment working closely with architecture and change delivery teams. Sponsor initiatives that unlock value, improve user experience, and reduce manual work or operational complexity
• Change Governance and Delivery: Provide senior representation in change forums and steering groups. Work closely with Change Delivery teams to oversee the successful planning and execution of change initiatives involving the platform, ensuring delivery is controlled, risks are managed, and outcomes meet expectations. Assess and navigate the impact of mandatory platform changes to the wider PIC organisation.
• Culture of Improvement and Enablement: Set the tone for a high-performing, collaborative team environment focused on continuous improvement, knowledge sharing, and collaboration. Promote innovation in how the platform is used to support changing business demands
• Reporting and Strategic Insight: Provide clear, data-driven updates to executive and governance groups on platform performance, change impact, risk profile, and forward plans. Ensure transparency and alignment through high-quality reporting, dashboards, and insight
  
  

Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Technical

• Good working knowledge of various asset classes, including Fixed Income and Derivatives
• Strong working knowledge of investment processes and platforms (e.g. order management, portfolio construction, trading, compliance, settlements, reconciliations, corporate actions)
• Knowledge of the relevant regulatory environment (PRA and FCA)
• Proven experience leading teams with or within change, technology, investment operations or similar teams
• Experience delivering enhancements or solutions on investment platforms
• Track record of engaging with external vendors and internal teams to deliver change
• Experience translating business needs into system or process solutions
• Building trusted relationships across business, technology, and change functions
• Exposure to regulated environments, ideally in asset management or insurance
• Experience with BLK Aladdin, Finbourne LUSID and/or Murex a plus
  
  

Personal

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication skills across multiple audiences
• Ability to lead and build consensus across varied stakeholders
• High level of organisation and self-motivation
• Able to move between strategic thinking and hands on delivery
• Comfortable working independently, collaboratively and on multiple initiatives
  
  

Benefits

In addition to a competitive base salary and the opportunity to participate in our annual, performance-related bonus plan, upon joining us here at Pension Insurance Corporation, you will get access to some great benefits, including private medical insurance, 28 days' annual leave (excluding bank holidays), study support with qualifications, a generous pension scheme and much more.