The Pensions Administration Standards Association (PASA) has launched a new Career Development Toolkit to support clearer and more consistent career progression across the pensions administration industry.

Developed by PASA's Administration Careers & Development Working Group, the toolkit builds on the Building Career Pathways in Pensions Administration guidance published earlier this year and provides practical resources for individuals, managers and employers.

The framework is structured around nine job families, four capability levels and three skill domains, helping individuals identify development priorities, understand the capabilities required for different roles and explore career opportunities within pensions administration.

The toolkit includes five resources covering career development, professional behaviours, personal development records, management guidance and implementation of the framework.

PASA emphasised that the framework is voluntary and flexible, not a formal qualification or replacement for existing organisational HR processes, and encouraged employers to adapt the resources to their circumstances.

PASA director and board sponsor of the Administration Careers & Development Working Group, Daniel Taylor, said: "Career progression in pensions administration isn’t always easy to see or navigate. People may understand the role immediately ahead of them but have much less visibility of the wider opportunities available or the capabilities they need to develop to reach them.

"This toolkit is intended to make those conversations easier. It provides practical resources for individuals, managers and employers, while recognising organisations structure roles and development differently.

"It doesn’t prescribe a single career ladder. Instead, it helps people understand where they are, where they might go next and the different routes open to them across the profession."

PASA chair, David Fairs, highlighted the importance of developing and retaining skilled administration professionals as the demands on the industry continue to evolve.

"Administration careers now extend far beyond traditional perceptions of the profession. They encompass technical expertise, member service, technology, data, operational risk, project delivery, change, client management and leadership," he continued.

"Making these opportunities and the capabilities underpinning them more visible will support recruitment, development and retention across the industry."

PASA confirmed that it will publish the first detailed Job Family Pathway, covering member operations and casework, in November, outlining capability expectations, learning opportunities and relevant qualifications.

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