Director, Pensions - Vancouver, Canada - The University of British Columbia

Description

Job Category

Job Profile

Job Title

Department

Compensation Range

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above.

Job End Date

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Description Summary

The Director, Pensions is a strategic leadership position responsible for the planning, development, implementation, communication, and management of the Pension Administration Office, which oversees the administration of the University's faculty and staff pension plans in alignment with overall human resources and institution-wide goals. The role is responsible for the strategic direction and operational effectiveness of a team of professional, technical, and support staff providing pension administration, systems, finance, communications, and office administration. As a leader in human resources, this position contributes to strategic organizational initiatives, policy and program development, and major projects.

Organizational Status

Reports to the Executive Director, Organizational Health, Benefits and Pensions. Directs a team of professional, technical, and support staff in the Pension Administration Office.

Consults with and receives direction from the Executive Director, Pensions for the Faculty Pension Plan and the Staff Pension Plan as well as the Executive Director, Investments for the Faculty Pension Plan, together the Executive Directors. Liaises externally with the plans' custodians and insurance carriers.

Work Performed

In collaboration with the Executive Directors, sets the strategic direction for the Pension Administration Office within the context of University-wide human resources strategies and in support of the University's overall mission and direction.

Develops appropriate procedures and mechanisms to legally and administratively manage the faculty and staff pension plans in accordance with trust and plan documents, ensuring compliance with applicable provincial and federal legislation.

Manages a team of professional, technical, and support staff in the Pension Administration Office including establishing priorities and objectives, allocating necessary resources, coaching and managing staff performance, and providing training and development opportunities.

Performs ongoing quality assessments of in-house administration systems to maintain high quality standards. Prioritizes and initiates system development and change requests to ensure the plans systems are up-to-date and utilized for maximum effectiveness.

Participates in the annual human resources budgeting process, manages assigned budgets and funds, and provides reports, analyses and updates for same. Contributes to and participates in the development of the annual budgets for the faculty and staff pension plans.

Provides leadership and expertise in the identification, planning, development, communication and implementation of comprehensive programs and processes that are responsive to ever changing institutional and community contexts. Participates in projects with the potential for legal, financial and reputational impact across the organization.

Represents UBC Pension Plans externally at industry functions on a provincial and national basis.

Monitors trends and emerging thinking in the pension and investment industry and the changing regulatory environment. Proactively reviews and analyzes the faculty and staff pension plans policies, procedures, systems and processes in relation to changing requirements and conditions.

Acts with delegated authority and independent judgement for the Executive Directors, as required.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Strategic and operational decisions and recommendations regarding pension and investment practices may have University-wide legal, financial, contractual, reputational, and operational implications.

Supervision Received

Works under the broad direction of the Executive Director, Organizational Health, Benefits and Pensions, with guidance and direction from the Executive Director, Pensions for the Faculty Pension Plan and the Staff Pension Plan as well as the Executive Director, Investments for the Faculty Pension Plan. Results are reviewed for achievement of overall objectives and strategic goals.

Supervision Given

Directs the activities and manages the performance of a team of professional, technical, and support staff in the Pension Administration Office.

Minimum Qualifications

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of ten to twelve years of related experience including at least five years of managerial experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one's own
- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one's own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

- University degree in actuarial science preferred.

Experience dealing with a variety of pension plans in a consulting or administrative capacity with leadership responsibilities in a large, complex unionized environment.

University experience preferred.

Comprehensive knowledge of human resources principles and practices, and in-depth knowledge of pension plans.
- Demonstrated technical knowledge of relevant government programs and legislation pertaining to pension plans, including tax and benefits legislation.
- Ability to read and interpret plan documents and government legislation.
- Knowledge of financial markets and investments.
- Demonstrated ability to think critically and strategically, and from an organizational perspective, and to translate into practical, implementable solutions appropriate to the organizational context.
- Demonstrated experience in managing projects, meeting deadlines, and resolving unexpected and/or ambiguous situations or issues.
- Ability to shape, lead, assess, and change strategic and operational initiatives in a large, complex, multi union organization.
- Ability to communicate well, both orally and in writing, to make effective presentations, and to prepare senior level reports.
- Proven ability to manage staff, delegate and oversee workflow, and provide coaching and corrective action to develop staff and manage performance.
- Ability to work effectively with others at all levels of the organization.
- Ability to promote and foster a positive atmosphere and relationship between the University and its employee groups.
- Ability to motivate and engage others.
- Proven capacity to identify and establish effective partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Strong facilitating and negotiating skills.
- Ability to influence and persuade without formal authority.
- Ability to exercise sound judgment and make effective decisions.
- Ability to take risks and foster risk taking in others.
- Ability to effectively lead and manage change.
- Ability to manage conflict and reach resolution in the face of multiple, competing interests.
- Ability to identify and respond to emerging trends and best practices.
- Ability to set priorities and manage competing projects, issues, and initiatives.
- Ability to achieve overall objectives in the context of broad direction.
- Ability to research and analyze complex information, identify trends, and develop policies, programs, and strategies that meet the needs and interests of multiple stakeholders.
- Ability to effectively manage budget and staff resources.
- Strong computer skills, high level of experience in using a variety of tools including Word and Excel.
- Proficient in the use of standard reporting tools used to access information from databases including MS-Access.