Head of Retirement Operations

Head of Retirement Operations

We’re looking for an exceptional senior leader to head up Retirement Operations at Aviva Life & Pensions Ireland (ALPI). This role leads the full servicing of our retirement products — ARFs, Annuities and Bulk Purchase Annuities — and oversees a large operational team across onshore and offshore locations. With multiple team leads and specialist teams reporting into this role, we’re looking for someone who has already led large, complex operations at scale. If you’re a confident, engaging senior leader with deep knowledge of Irish retirement products — and you’re passionate about delivering brilliant customer outcomes — we’d love to hear from you.

You’ll shape our long‑term servicing strategy, design scalable operating models, and influence senior leadership decisions that impact customer experience, regulatory compliance and business growth. You’ll present regularly at senior governance forums, ExCo and Board committees, and will need the confidence to challenge, influence and set direction.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership and direction to a large retirement servicing function, spanning onshore and offshore teams.

• Shape the long‑term operating model for retirement operations, including service design for ARFs, Annuities and Bulk Purchase Annuities, as well as supporting growth.

• Represent the function at senior governance forums, presenting insights and recommendations to senior leaders and the board.

• Drive strategic initiatives that uplift operational performance, enhance risk culture, improve controls, and support regulatory compliance across all retirement product lines.

• Work closely with pricing, propositions, COO, risk and external stakeholders (including trustees and EBCs) to shape future servicing models.

Skills & Experiences:

• Experience leading large, multi-layered operational teams across multiple locations, including leadership of team leads/managers.

• Strong strategic leadership background, with experience designing or delivering Target Operating Models, scaling new propositions, and driving transformation.

• Significant experience presenting to ExCo, board or senior governance forums, with excellent influencing skills.

• Deep knowledge of Irish retirement products (ARFs, Annuities, BPAs) and associated regulatory and Revenue requirements.

• Strong commercial, analytical and decision‑making skills, with the ability to drive high performance and continuous improvement.

Fitness and Probity 

This is a Regulated Role and will be subject to enhanced pre-employment screening procedures. There will be an on-going requirement for the role holder to maintain fit and proper status

What will you get for this role?

Our purpose - with you today, for a better tomorrow – is a promise we make to our colleagues too.  And one of the ways we live up to that promise is by investing in you.  We have so much to offer when it comes to being an Aviva colleague.

• A competitive market leading salary depending on skills, experience, and qualifications

• Generous pension (employee contribution matching of up to 14% if you contribute 8%)

• Annual performance related bonus and pay review

• Holiday allowance of 29 days plus bank holidays, and the option to buy/sell up to 5 additional days

• Generous Health & dental insurance contributions after six months

• Aviva Matching Share Plan and Save As You Earn scheme and Approved Profit Share Scheme

• TaxSaver Travel Scheme

• Up to 40% discount for some Aviva products plus discounts for Friends and Family

• Professional qualification support and transparent career progression plans

• Brilliantly supportive policies including parental and carer’s leave

• Flexible benefits to suit you, including sustainability options such as cycle to work

• Make a difference, be part of our Aviva Communities and use your paid volunteering days to help others

• We take your wellbeing seriously with lots of support and tools

Aviva is for Everyone

Our diversity and inclusion policies and initiatives are shaping an environment where everyone feels welcome regardless of age, disability, race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, religion, culture, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, pregnancy, maternity or those with other caring responsibilities. Our approach helps to ensure that Aviva is a place which values difference and provides equal opportunities for all.

We flex locations, hours and working patterns to suit our customers, business, and you. Most of our people are smart working – spending at least 50% of their time in our offices every week - combining the benefits of flexibility, with time together with colleagues.

We prefer all applications to be submitted online, however if you require an alternative method of applying please contact Seema at seema.rana@aviva.com