Local Pensions Partnership (LPP) is a pension service provider for Local Government Pension Schemes and other public sector pension funds. It launched in 2016 as a collaboration between the Lancashire County Council (LCC) and London Pensions Fund Authority (LPFA) and is now one of eight national Local Government pools.

Today, LPP manages around £23bn of pension assets for its investors and provides pension administration services to around 655,000 members from 2,100 public and third sector employers across 18 administration partners. It aims to help clients reduce pension deficits, improve investment returns and provide an excellent service to their members via its two core business lines: Local Pensions Partnership Investments (LPPI) and Local Pensions Partnership Administration (LPPA).

LPP has a commercial “profit for clients” ethos that ensures all monies generated are used for the mutual benefit of clients and shareholders. This guiding philosophy ensures it is completely aligned to the needs of its clients and shareholders. It sees itself as an asset owner rather than an asset manager.

The position available is as a Non-Executive Director of the pension administration subsidiary LPPA. LPPA is a stand-alone subsidiary within the LPP Group and has completed a major IT transformation programme. In the coming years the business will be focused on improving member and employer experience and streamlining processes and further automation and innovation initiatives.

The LPPA Board is responsible for overseeing the pensions administration business of Local Pensions Partnership. This includes organising and directing the affairs of LPPA for the benefit of its shareholders and clients. The Board seeks a new Non-Executive Director who will hopefully join by September to participate in some Autumn away days as well as to have a handover period with Robert Branagh and Alan Schofield, the two shareholder NEDS who will be stepping down from the LPPA Board by 31st December 2023.

Main duties and responsibilities

The LPPA Board is accountable to its shareholder, LPP, the Group’s founding shareholders, LCC and LPFA and for ensuring that LPPA Board complies with its Articles, regulations, and statutory & administrative requirements. This includes an awareness of the reputational risks associated with the use of public funds and adherence to the Nolan Principles associated with Public Life.  

The Board has the collective responsibility for:

• Adding value to, and promoting the success of the Company
• Providing leadership within a framework of prudent and effective controls
• Setting strategic direction, ensuring management capacity and capability, and monitoring and managing performance
• Safeguarding values and ensuring LPPA’s obligations to its key stakeholders are met
• Complying with relevant codes of conduct and with the rules relating to the use of public funds; and with the duties referred to in the Companies Act of 2006 and wider applicable legislation and common law duties
• Maintaining high standards of corporate governance
• Leadership succession
• Developing and maintaining a successful culture

Candidates will be able to provide advice, guidance, support and effective challenge to the LPPA Executive to ensure that the Board’s responsibilities are properly discharged. It is also expected that this candidate will become a member of LPPA's Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee.

LPPA is looking to appoint a Non-Executive Director with a working knowledge of, and network within, the UK LGPS and wider public services pensions sector. This would ideally have been gained over a substantial period in a well-run and multi-client / employer / member organisation in the pensions or financial services industry. This could include suppliers / advisors, pension funds or industry bodies.

Candidates will have been exposed to, and will bring some understanding of, pension administration. Experience could have been gained either as a senior executive leader (e.g. Section 151 officer, Head of fund, broad general management positions) or as an active board member within a relevant business, or as a supplier (e.g. lawyer, accountant) or consultant / advisor to the sector.

Candidates do not need prior non-executive experience but must have actively engaged with governance issues and boards / committees (as an executive, key supplier or board member).

Financial acumen is required as this candidate will also serve as a member of the Audit, Risk and Compliance committee, however they do not need to be an accountant.

Additional expertise in either risk management (including actuarial experience) or business development would be beneficial.

Candidates should be excellent at building personal relationships, capable of engaging with a wide range of people, offering well-developed influencing skills and possessed of the art of knowing when to get involved and when to hold back. They will have the ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders and establish credibility as a non-executive of a large pension provider.

Ron Jarman, Chair LPPA
Chris Rule, Chief Executive for LPP and LPPI
Robert Branagh, Group Shareholder Nominated Representative Non-Executive Director (LPFA)
Alan Schofield, Group Shareholder Nominated Representative Non-Executive Director (LCC)
Jo Darbyshire, Managing Director LPPA
Richard Thomas, Non-Executive Director
Elizabeth Woolman, Non-Executive Director

The role is remunerated and reasonable, pre-agreed expenses will be covered. LPPA Board meetings will be held in Preston, Lancashire, where the LPPA head office is situated; but the role may involve travel to other locations for off-site awaydays etc. The time commitment typically 2-3 days per month, but with room for flexibility to meet the needs of the role. All Directors are appointed on 3-year terms and are subject to an annual Group shareholder re-approval process as part of the AGM. 

LPPA welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, belief or disability. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.