About this role
Job summary
Due to ongoing service pressures, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced Pensions Team Manager to provide immediate technical leadership within our Payroll & Pensions function.
This is a senior, operationally critical role requiring pensions expertise, strong reporting skills and confident leadership. The post holder will manage the day-to-day delivery of pensions services while working closely with experienced payroll colleagues to address the recognised links between NHS payroll and pensions workload.
This role is not suitable for developing or trainee pensions candidates. We are specifically seeking someone who already has the technical knowledge, judgement and confidence to lead complex NHS pensions activity in a large organisation.
Significant experience in pensions administration, ideally within the NHSStrong understanding of pension regulations and statutory requirementsProven leadership experience, including staff management, development and performance oversightHighly developed analytical and reporting skillsA clear understanding of payroll processes and their impact on pensions outcomesConfidence handling complex, non-routine and sensitive pension cases
In return you will be a part of a friendly, supportive and experienced Payroll & Pensions team, Flexible working arrangements, including up to 50% home working, access to the NHS Pension Scheme and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a senior, influential role.
Main duties of the job
Day-to-day management of the Pensions Team, including Team Leaders and Pensions OfficersProviding hands-on technical oversight of pensions processing, ensuring accuracy and regulatory complianceLeading annual and monthly statutory processes including Annual Returns / SD55s, reconciliations and data submissions.Acting as the main Trust contact for NHS Pensions and NEST.Using strong payroll knowledge to identify, challenge and resolve root-cause issues impacting pensionsProducing, interpreting and presenting pensions performance and workload reportingManaging complex and sensitive cases, including ill-health retirement, redundancy, MARS and death in serviceLeading service improvements, process development and the introduction of new systems or ways of working
About us
Our Trust
Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people - patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing 'outstanding' care to our patients and rated 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH's values - Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent - are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.
CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people's age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.
Job description Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.
Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:
- applied for a Graduate visa
- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment
This vacancy will close at midnight on 31st May 2026.
Interviews are due to be held on 10th June 2026.
Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.
On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.
CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
oRelevant Pension/Payroll degree or equivalent experience oEvidence of continuous professional development
Desirable
oPayroll or pension qualification
Experience Essential
oPrevious senior Payroll & Pensions role. oWorking collaboratively as part of a team oRelevant experience in running reports, manipulating data and presenting/supplying information from reports oExperience of communicating with a range of people both internal and external to the organisation. oExperience of dealing with complex pension cases. oExperience of leading and developing a team.
Desirable
oNHS Payroll/Pension experience oESR experience oExperience of project management and service improvement initiatives
Knowledge Essential
oConfidentiality and Data Protection oUnderstanding and interpreting changes in local, national and statutory regulations oProject Management oMicrosoft Office software to complete existing and develop new templates and spreadsheets oUnderstanding of payroll processes and their link to pensions. oIn-depth knowledge of pension legislation and auto-enrolment requirements
Desirable
oConversant with NHS Terms and Conditions oWorking knowledge of NHS pension scheme oConversant with Medical and Dental T&C
Skills Essential
oExcellent customer care skills and skill to promote the pension functions oExcellent verbal and written skills, to deal with complex or sensitive information. oMeticulous attention to detail and accuracy. oAbility to work flexibly to meet the demands of the service. oAbility to handle sensitive and confidential information with empathy oExcellent organisational and planning abilities to plan and prioritise a range of complex activities within defined deadlines. oAbility to analyse complex data and resolve issues oStrong leadership and people management skills. oHigh level of IT proficiency (Excel, Word, pension systems).
Additional Requirements Essential
The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent. Flexible and adaptable to change. Commitment to continuous improvement and learning. Ability to work independently and exercise initiative Able to manage unpredictable workload, and interruptions
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details Employer name Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address Campbell House
Trumpington
CB2 9FF
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.cuh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)