Transition Leader

At Spence & Partners (part of 3173 Group), we're on a mission to simplify and enhance the pensions industry. We believe in delivering smarter, more effective solutions that help pension schemes thrive. Since our founding in 2000, we've earned a reputation for practical and innovative advice, with a commitment to meeting the evolving needs of Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution schemes.

We're looking for graduates to start in September 2026 who are eager to make an impact. You'll have the opportunity to work with a diverse team of experts, learn from industry leaders, and contribute to projects that help empower trustees, employers, advisers, and members. With a culture built on collaboration and excellence, we offer a dynamic environment where you'll grow professionally and personally.

Our cutting-edge integrated actuarial and administration platform, industry partnerships, and agile approach to problem-solving are just a few ways we're reshaping pensions. As part of our team, you'll be at the heart of these innovations, contributing to meaningful change in the sector.

As a Graduate, a structured training plan will help you grow your knowledge and drive your career. Working with our team you will create a personal development plan to support your development in the company and the industry.

In support of our Pensions Management teams, you will contribute to a wide range of work within the pensions sector, incorporating technical support to the Trustees and Sponsoring Employers of pension schemes, as well as our work with the Pension Protection Fund and Pensions Regulator. This provides the opportunity to enhance your technical abilities and develop core technical pensions management competencies on a daily basis, whilst working in a challenging environment as part of a rapidly growing, innovative pension consulting firm. You will liaise with colleagues throughout our office locations and work on clients from a diverse range of industries.

We are looking to hire a Transition Leader who wants the opportunity to continue their career within an award-winning and growing organisation.

To make an impact in this role, you will be a highly motivated individual who is comfortable taking responsibility for the governance, quality, and delivery of transitions of new Defined Benefit (DB) and Defined Contribution (DC) pension schemes.

You will be a "problem solver" able to liaise with other stakeholders within Spence and our wider Group to identify and deliver solutions to challenging problems.

You will also have the experience and gravitas to positively contribute to our drive to win new business – assisting with writing relevant sections of tender responses and participating in pitch and site visit activity. We would also be looking for you to use your experience to help us drive continuous improvement in our wider processes in order to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the Business.

Working in a flexible environment, you will be prepared to stay ahead of developments within the pensions industry, and the broader business environment, to support our Business in its commitment to excellent client service and our objectives for significant financial growth. You have the ability to share your technical knowledge efficiently and purposefully with clients and colleagues and understand the importance of building and maintaining relationships with clients, networking contacts and your colleagues.

This role will be attractive to an existing leader in the installation and transition space who wants to grow their experience and take on a leadership role. Proven client and project management skills, as well as evidence of the ability to build and manage relationships, will be key to your success in the role.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Transition Leader reports to, and is a member of the Spence Operations Board.

The Transition Leader role has ultimate responsibility for the delivery of all activities relating to the transfer of services to Spence within agreed commercial and risk budgets.

The Transition Leader will be a key part of our professional team, which includes actuaries, investment consultants and administration colleagues, in providing strategic and compliance-based pension services and advice to trustee and corporate clients.

The role will include direct oversight for managing and developing of a team of project managers and business analysts. In carrying out the role you will work closely with the leader of the coding, data, and technology team to ensure resources are deployed in the most effective manner and client transitions are delivered successfully.

Core responsibilities

• Overall responsibility for successful delivery of client transitions
• Manage overall pipeline of transitions, working closely with new business teams
• Manage overall resourcing position in connection with a fast-moving new business pipeline
• Agree commercial and risk metrics for client transitions
• Develop and manage a team of Business Analysts and Project Managers
• Develop and maintain installation project collateral
• Engage with leads of related teams (e.g. Data and Coding) to ensure alignment of resource and goals
• Engage with leads of BAU teams (e.g. Pensions Delivery) to agree quality thresholds for handover to production
• Act as senior project oversight on strategically significant transition projects
• In conjunction with relevant team leads, continually improve process documentation for further commercial efficiency and risk management

Business growth responsibilities

• Support in tender activity including pitches and site visits
• Regularly contribute to our marketing collateral
• Identify and share opportunities for product and service enhancements through client proposition and revenue generating opportunities

Personal growth responsibilities

• Actively build skills and experience towards your own defined development goals

• Keep abreast of all regulatory and governance changes

• Attend training, both technical and other business skills as required

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• Experienced DB pension industry background in the transition space with minimum 10 years experience in similar role
• Strong risk and commercial management skills
• Able to demonstrate good technical understanding of pension legislation, regulations and other relevant guidance, codes of practice, including scheme management and compliance, best practice guides and a knowledge of defined benefit and defined contribution schemes
• Evidence of project and client management responsibility and ability to progress with multiple strands of activity
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, with the ability to articulate technical points into lay terms
• Use of computerised systems e.g. Microsoft Office products; in particular Excel, Word and PowerPoint; and the ability to learn and utilise bespoke systems and procedures.

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

• Experience of new business activity including new business pitches, networking and attending industry events.