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Job Description & Requirements

Place of Work: London

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: Full Time

The Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) has circa 396,000 members, and over £60 billion in assets, we’re one of the largest private pension schemes in the UK and in the top 50 worldwide. Established in 1974, we’re entrusted by over 350 higher education sector employers to manage and administer the pension scheme and its investments through our two companies, Universities Superannuation Scheme Limited and USS Investment Management Limited. Our purpose
Working with Higher Education employers to build a secure financial future for our members and their families.

The role
This is a new role within the Investment Product Management (IPM) Team. The IPM Team provides the “voice of the client” within USSIM (the wholly-owned investment manager and advisor of USS, the pension trustee company). The IPM Team is a central team responsible for the oversight and governance of our investment mandates and execution, as well as external manager selection and monitoring, product development across DB and DC.
The role will primarily involve assisting with challenge and oversight to ensure the investment mandates within the scheme are implemented in the best financial interests of the scheme and members.
This will also include input into the oversight of the investment management arrangements and assist with steering reporting and changes through the required governance processes.
As a new role, there will be the ability to shape how it develops, and some flexibility depending on scheme needs. Key responsibilities

Key part of IPM team, focusing on the governance of internal managers. Working with the Investment Strategy & Advice team to understand developments and investment requirements across the USS business

Work with the investment desks, the Investment Strategy & Advice Team, the Performance and Investment Risk team and wider teams within USSIM to:
identify where new investment mandates are needed to meet the scheme’s requirements
clarify the objectives of the investment mandates
consider whether implementation via internal managers or external managers is in the best financial interests of the scheme
develop mandate guidelines that reflect the scheme investment objectives and requirements
ensuring monitoring is in place to ensure the mandate is meeting the clear objectives of the mandate

To work with a virtual team across investment operations, compliance, investment desks, Responsible Investment, legal, and finance to help to create, monitor and ensure that the mandates are implemented as intended.

Consideration of how ESG and the scheme’s Net Carbon Zero ambition are integrated and embedded within the investment mandates

Support with the provision of investment advice to the Investment Committee

Support with the development of the USS DB & DC investment product over time to become market leading

Understanding of regulatory change impacting DC & DB investments

Your experience

Self-starter in identifying new projects and opportunities
Competent at prioritisation, process organisation, and management of multiple workstreams
Attention to detail; particularly when reviewing documents
Ability to deliver high quality work under constrained timelines
High level of structure and organisation and the ability to work across teams
Ability to communicate effectively in both written papers and oral presentations
Pragmatism – ability to focus on key factors/ variables/ narratives as appropriate
A great attitude – proactive and enthusiastic, keen to provide views and challenge
Strong compliance culture and high personal ethical standards
Strong stakeholder focus and ability to understand the relationships between USSIM, the pension scheme our members and stakeholders
Proficient at prioritisation, project organisation and management of multiple workstreams
Good IT skills (including Excel and Powerpoint

USSIM is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We recognise the diverse lifestyles and priorities of our employees and have reflected this in in the company’s Flexible Working Framework, which, wherever possible, supports employees to find a balance that works for them whilst ensuring we always put our members’ interests first.