Overview
We’re on the hunt for two Partners or retired Partners with calm judgment, clear vision and the curiosity to ask the right questions.
Our ideal Trustee Directors can see through complexity and bring thoughtful insight to the Trustee Board.
The opportunity comes as two Elected Trustee Directors’ appointment terms are coming to an end.
This is more than just a role — it’s a chance to help shape decisions that affect thousands of current, retired and former Partners. It’s a say in what comes next, for all beneficiaries of the John Lewis Partnership Trust for Pensions.
Bring your experience, your perspective, and your steady thinking to the Trustee Board.
Who can apply?
You should be:
- Currently working at the Partnership and actively paying into the Scheme
Or
- A pensioner in the Scheme (unfortunately, you’re unable to apply if you’re in receipt of a dependant’s/survivor’s pension from the Scheme.)
You don’t need to be a pensions expert, but some but some skills and experience can be useful such as problem solving, having an understanding of finance and budgets or general team management. You should have a keen interest to help run our Scheme in the best interest of the beneficiaries who are part of it. You should be someone who knows what it means to be part of a team, who brings your own clear perspective, can get to grips with complex issues, and you want to make a positive impact – your way.
You can’t be a Trustee Director if you’ve ever been bankrupt, if you’ve been disqualified from acting as a trustee of a pension scheme or as a director of a company, or you have an unspent conviction for an offence involving dishonesty or deception.
Timeline
10th February 2026
Applications open
24th February 2026
Applications close
25th February 2026
Shortlisting begins
25th March 2026
Final decision agreed at the Partnership Council
1st April 2026
Start date – the Trustee Services Team will be in touch with next steps
23rd April 2026
Main board meeting (The first meeting successful applicants are required to attend)
Being a trustee
The main skills a Trustee Director needs are the ability to listen to others and to contribute to a discussion.
You don’t need to be a pensions expert, but you should have a good idea of what a pension scheme is and how it works.
Looking after the Scheme means covering a range of areas – financing and budgeting, administration and benefit payments, responsible investment, innovation, communication with beneficiaries, and managing risk.
Think of Trustees as the people influencing how the Scheme is run in the best interests of everyone involved – including you, your fellow Partners and former Partners.
That means:
- Shaping decisions around how the Defined Benefit (DB) and Defined Contribution (DC) sections are run
- Keeping a close eye on how the Scheme’s money is invested and reviewing this regularly
- Making sure everything is managed properly and fairly (good governance)
- Protecting the interests of thousands of beneficiaries, planning for the long term, so the Scheme stays strong for years to come
It’s about protecting your future and making sure decisions are made with care, transparency, and a steady hand.
It’s a big responsibility – and a rewarding opportunity too.
What is expected of a Trustee?
You should be able to:
- Work in the best interest of all beneficiaries (people who are due to be paid out of the Scheme)
- Take time to do a good job and be able to manage the demands of being a Trustee Director with your Partnership role (if you’re not retired)
- Be able and eager to develop knowledge and keep up to date with developments
- Work effectively as a team with other Trustee Directors, Partners, and external advisers, listening as well as taking part in discussions
- Make thought-through decisions, weighing the upsides and downsides
- Apply judgement fairly and consistently
What kind of skills do I require?
It’s important we have a diverse Trustee Board so our Trustee Directors should have the following skills between them (not all Trustee Directors are expected to have every skill):
- Ability to interpret financial and other Scheme data
- Understanding of the Partnership, its culture, and its people
- Understanding the position of our beneficiaries, their challenges, and their expectations
- An understanding of, and an interest in pensions
- Basic understanding of investments
- Understanding of administration processes and controls – not necessarily within pension schemes but in businesses in general
- Ability to understand the Partnership’s performance updates provided to the Trustee from the Partnership and advisers
- Understanding of IT and ability to use a tablet or computer, as all of our meeting papers are accessed via an online portal
- Being aware of the right thing to do and understanding what risks impact our beneficiaries
If you also have previous experience of working on a Board such as being a school Governor, being part of a local charity or even in your day job, this would be helpful but not essential. These types of roles help to bring a diverse perspective to Trustee matters as well as an understanding of the responsibility for oversight and process.
How much of my time will it take up?
You’ll be a Trustee Director for a four-year term.
It does take some time commitment to be a Trustee Director, but the time you do spend is valuable to beneficiaries of the Scheme and will make a difference.
We’ve estimated that the role will take up 15 days each year.
Typically, we’d expect the time commitment to involve:
- Attendance in person at three full-day main board meetings each year
- Attendance in person at a two-day annual strategy meeting once a year, which is normally held at the Partnership property, Longstock House
- Attendance in person at eight half-day subcommittee meetings a year, held quarterly
- Reading and preparation time for each meeting so you can turn up and contribute
- Ad hoc virtual training sessions
What training is provided?
We have a team of Partners (the Trustee Services Team) and outside professional advisers covering the expert skill ranges needed to advise the Scheme. As a Trustee Director, your role is not to give advice but rather to take advice and make decisions based on it.
However, you’ll need at least 10 hours of training each year. Most of this will be provided as part of the meetings you attend or as virtual sessions.
You’ll spend more time on training during your first year – and you’ll be supported every step of the way by the Trustee Services Team.
As part of your onboarding plan, you’ll be asked to:
- Complete the Pensions Regulator’s online Trustee Toolkit (within six months of being appointed)
- Attend two half-day new trustee training sessions held by our advisers
- Complete additional ad hoc training with our advisers and your own independent learning
What will I gain?
You’ll see the Partnership from a new angle, working with other Trustee Directors to link the way the Partnership runs with the Partner experience — helping to ensure the pension scheme continues to deliver for everyone.
This is a high-trust, high-impact role that offers the chance to:
- Help shape a benefit that supports life after work
- Make a difference for your fellow Partners, former Partners and the Partnership
- Stay connected with the Partnership and expand your network
- Build confidence in decision-making and long-term planning
Training and support are provided, and you’ll be joining a team of Trustee Directors who care deeply about doing the right thing for all the Scheme’s beneficiaries.
A day in the life TBC
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How to apply
The nomination form will be available here from 10th February. Please check back then.
The application window is the 10th to 24th February.
