Staff - Non Union

Job Category

M&P - AAPS

Job Profile

AAPS Salaried - Human Resources, Level C

Job Title

Manager, Staff Pension Plan Administration

Department

Leadership | Pension Office | Central Human Resources

Compensation Range

$7,622.83 - $11,886.67 CAD Monthly

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

October 11, 2025

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

Job End Date

Ongoing

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 Summary

The Manager, Staff Pension Plan Administration is responsible for managing the administration of the UBC Staff Pension Plan (SPP) including providing leadership related to opportunities, risks, and potential outcomes of administrative decisions, and managing clerical and professional staff supporting the SPP administration.

This position manages, initiates, and develops new procedures to meet the changing policies and regulations of the Plan, both federally and provincially.

• Maintains and monitors the integrity of the Pension Administration System (PAS) and recommends program system changes and enhancements.
• Responsible for answering enquiries from members, other UBC departments, outside financial institutions, the Plan’s service providers and government agencies, as required.
• Leads and manages a team and fosters a collaborative environment to ensure that the Plan administration is efficient and effective with member service being the key focus.

The UBC Staff Pension Plan is a target benefit plan with over 19,000 members and an asset value of approximately $2.9 billion. The SPP is administered by the UBC Pension Administration Office (PAO) under the direction of the Staff Pension Plan Board and in partnership with the VP, Human Resources (VPHR) portfolio.

Organizational Status

This position reports to the Director, Pensions. Consults with the Executive Director, Pensions, systems staff, and Plan Accountant. Directly supervises the staff pension administrative staff.

The Manager works internally with the University community and works closely with the Plan Custodian and Actuary. Manages key external relationships with outside agencies to ensure the Plan’s administration adheres to rules, legislation and privacy laws.

Work Performed

• Manages and administers the Staff Pension Plan benefits in compliance with the Plan Text, provincial legislation and federal legislation. Ensures strict application of rules on retirement age, inter-plan transfers, marriage breakdown entitlements, and the accuracy of contribution and benefit records. Keeps administrative procedures and the Pension Administration System (PAS) current with changes to pension and Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) regulations.
• Authorizes all termination and retirement calculations, refund payments, pension payments, death benefits, reciprocal agreements, and related correspondence. Is responsible for the verification of pension calculations and refund payments provided by staff. Approves monthly contributions to the Plan’s Custodian and/or payments from the Plan in Workday, in the absence of the Director.
• Manages a team of clerical and professional staff including recruiting, onboarding, training, performance reviews, disciplinary action and terminating. Establishes deadlines to manage overall workflow. Develops cost proposals and recommendations for additional resources to Director, Pensions.
• Designs and facilitates the monthly webinars for members and the department/faculty-specific "getEducated" seminars. Conducts personalized retirement information sessions to support members’ understanding of their options and their impact of their decisions.
• Reviews and responds to, or re-directs to staff, emails from the Staff Pension Plan website. Corresponds with members and UBC employees on issues relating to the pension plan such as eligibility, calculation of pension contributions, member benefits on termination or retirement, and government legislation.
• Annually, updates members accounts with rates of return, and reviews and approves inconsistent administrative errors in the system with payroll.
• Ensures the accuracy of contributions from employee and employer which are transferred monthly to the Plan’s Custodian.
• Oversees the testing, production and mailout of annual member statements in collaboration with the Pension Analyst and communication team, while also managing pension-related data submissions to and queries from the CRA for T4 reporting, including Pension Adjustments (PAs) and Pension Adjustment Reversals (PARs).
• In collaboration with the Pension Analyst, Plan Accountant, Plan Actuary, Plan Auditors, and/or IT team, manages and oversees a schedule for pension plan monthly and yearend processes such as cost of living (COLA) increase for retired members, pension adjustments for payroll T4’s, updates to system tables, PAS system audits, and annual reviews.
• Responsible for ensuring data integrity within the Pension Administration System (PAS) system through analysis, monitoring and oversight of database updates, while jointly maintaining system security with the Senior Systems Analyst. Reviews and prioritizes staff system requests, recommends enhancements, and stays alert to regulatory changes that may affect PAS. In addition, identifies opportunities to improve administrative efficiency and manages the risks and impacts of related decisions.
• Manages all aspects of Plan member records, both paper and electronic, by establishing procedures that meet legal and audit requirements. Collaborates with senior management to review and enhance the pension governance model, ensuring ongoing compliance with fiduciary standards, and regularly reviews all member communications, including PAS forms, Pension Guides, and Fact Sheets, to ensure consistency, accuracy, and compliance with the Staff Pension Plan Text and applicable legislation.
• Manages processes with the Pension Analyst for the Tri-Annual Actuarial Valuation. Ensures the information and data used is accurate before going to the Actuary. Oversees the reconciliation of plan membership on an annual basis to ensure that all member changes including enrollments, deferrals, payments, and retirements are accounted for.
• Works with the Director, Pensions to develop the annual SPP administrative budget in alignment with PAO goals and objectives. Researches and prepares information (quantitative and qualitative) to be inserted into the annual budget for the Staff Pension Plan. Brings forward any extraordinary items to the attention of the Director, Pensions.
• Explains and interprets prior plans including Sunlife, TIAA, CREF, and DGA for active, deferred, and retired members, identifying options available to members. Maintains communication with providers of these benefits and obtains yearly updates that are included in calculation of annual retiree COLA increases.
• Serves as a resource for interpreting the Plan Text, prior plans, UBC policies, Workday/Payroll operations and applicable pension legislation, while also advising the University and members on retirement incentive programs.
• Keeps abreast of changes to pension legislation, including the Pension Standards Act and Regulations, and the Income Tax Act and Family Relations Act, as they relate to pensions. Networks and communicates regularly with other pension administrators from the industry to ensure best practices are being followed.
• Prepares written communications on behalf of the Director, Pensions, the Executive Director, or Board members, and serves as back-up to the Director and/or Executive Director when needed to address urgent issues, maintain effective operations, and ensure timely delivery of member services.
• Performs other duties as required.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
The leadership and managerial decision making can have a damaging effect and impact on the reputation of the Pension Office including the team managed by this role, senior leadership and members of the plan. Inaccuracies could impact future financial security to plan members, possible lawsuits to the plan, and financial loss. Fines from CCRA and the PBSA may arise from missing or incorrect reporting.

Supervision Received
Receives direction and guidance from the Director, Pensions. May solicit advice, but resolves situations independently and utilizes own judgement. Given a very wide latitude to exercise independent judgement in problem solving and in the administration of the pension plan. The Director Pensions is advised of any technical problems and matters involving policy.

Supervision Given
Manages and provides leadership and guidance to SPP clerical and professional staff.

Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of five to seven years of related 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

• Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS), Certification in Pension Plan Administration (PPAC), or other related credentials is strongly preferred.
• Progressive experience in the pensions field working within a complex organizational environment. In depth knowledge of target benefit plans and the ability to read and interpret Plan documents and government legislation.
• Strong understanding of pension legislation and regulatory requirements in British Columbia and industry best practices.
• In-depth knowledge of UBC and government benefit programs, income tax regulations, financial planning strategies, and other retirement products.
• Commitment to professional growth, staying current with industry trends, and applying best practices in pension governance.

Skills

• Thorough knowledge of pension plan administration, including approving pension payments within a pension administration system, with excellent attention to detail.
• Strong people leadership skills with the ability to lead teams and foster collaboration.
• Strong interpersonal, presentation, oral, and written skills, with the ability to convey complex concepts to diverse audiences through both in-person and remote information sessions.
• Innovative and results-oriented, with strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills. Able to manage multiple priorities, plan and lead projects, and work effectively under pressure to meet deadlines.
• A solid orientation to computerized administration systems. Advanced computer experience required in using a variety of tools including word processors, spreadsheets, and report writers. Proficient in the use of standard reporting tools in pension administration systems to access information and be able to produce statistical reports when required.
• Must be able to exercise tact and discretion and use sound judgement and diplomacy.