Money and Pensions Service
Debt Policy Manager (Local Government and Enforcement Portfolio)
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Bedford
Job Summary
Debt Policy Manager (Local Government and Enforcement Portfolio)
£72,000 per annum
Bedford
Permanent
Hybrid Working
Help shape fairer debt collection practices across England.
We're looking for a strategic and influential relationship manager to lead engagement with local government and enforcement sector partners, helping to improve policy and practice around debts owed to local authorities. This is a unique opportunity to drive change in areas that directly affect millions of people, including council tax arrears, benefit overpayments, parking fines and other local authority debt. Working at the intersection of policy, public services and debt advice, you'll collaborate with senior stakeholders to champion fair, effective and sustainable approaches to debt collection and recovery.
Why This Role Matters
Debt owed to local authorities can have a significant impact on people's financial wellbeing, particularly when collection and enforcement practices are not designed with vulnerability and ability to pay in mind. As the largest funder of free debt advice in England, MaPS has a critical role to play in influencing how local debt is managed and how support is made accessible to those who need it most. This role is central to that mission. By building strong partnerships, monitoring policy developments and assessing the impact of devolution, funding and commissioning decisions, you'll help ensure that local authority practices support positive outcomes for both residents and communities. Your work will directly influence national and regional conversations, strengthen local debt advice provision and contribute to a fairer, more sustainable debt landscape across England.
Job Description
What You’ll Be Doing
The Debt Policy Manager will report directly to the Senior Creditor Strategy Manager and will be responsible for:
- Policy Development and Influence: Lead on policy matters related to local government debts such as council tax and parking fines. Develop positions that support fair debt collection and enforcement practices.
- Stakeholder Engagement and System Leadership: Build and maintain relationships with local authorities and other relevant stakeholders. Act as a key contact for policy discussions related to local authority debt and enforcement.
- Devolution and Place-based Insight: Monitor the impact of devolution and provide strategic insight on local authority behaviours and outcomes.
- Enforcement Policy and Practice: Lead engagement with stakeholders involved in local authority debt enforcement. Promote balanced approaches to debt recovery.
- Debt Advice Funding and System Sustainability: Assess funding risks and opportunities for local authority debt advice. Inform strategy on funding sustainability.
- Policy and System Leadership: Facilitate cross-sector collaboration to improve access to debt advice and develop initiatives that enhance engagement at a local level.
Person specification
What You’ll Bring
To be successful in this role, you’ll need:
- Strong understanding of public sector debts, particularly local authority debt management.
- Knowledge of the local government landscape in England, including policy, finance, and governance.
- Experience in policy development, analysis, and influencing within government or related sectors.
- Familiarity with revenue collection and enforcement practices.
- Awareness of debt advice provision and funding models.
- Excellent stakeholder engagement, written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver to tight deadlines.
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About Us
MaPS is based in bright, modern offices in Bedford, and we’re here to help people across the UK feel more confident and informed about their money.
Our Values Guide How We Work Together
- Caring – for colleagues and the communities we support
- Connecting – building supportive, positive relationships
- Transforming – creating impact that truly matters
We’re proud to foster an inclusive, welcoming culture. Our colleague networks include LGBTQ+, neurodiversity, women’s health, men’s health and ethnicity groups — and we welcome applications from all backgrounds.
What We Offer
- 30 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays
- Pension contributions matched 2 to 1 (employer contribution up to 10% of your salary)
- Season ticket loan
- Cycle to work scheme (up to £3,000)
- Subsidised eye tests & flu jabs
- Life assurance
- EAP Assist & Life
- Enhanced family and sick pay
- 2 paid volunteering days
- Recognition scheme
- Retail discounts portal
Flexible Working
We believe work should fit around life. This Bedford-based role offers genuine flexibility so you can balance work, family, and personal commitments. We come together for purposeful team collaboration to stay connected and drive great results.
Career Development
We love supporting internal growth and progression, while continuing to follow fair and open Civil Service recruitment practices.
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
Important Information About Applying
Please apply only via official MaPS links - we can’t accept applications via email or unauthorised sites. MaPS is unable to offer visa sponsorship.
Reserve List: If you're successful at interview, we may place you on a reserve list for up to 6 months. If a similar role becomes available, you may be offered it without the need for another assessment.
If you believe your application hasn’t followed the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles, you can contact resourcing@maps.org.uk. If unresolved, you may then contact the Civil Service Commission.
Our Recruitment Process
We Keep Things Simple, Fair, And Transparent
Step 1: CV Submission
Applications open: 18th August 2026
Closing date: 01st September 2026
To Apply, Please Submit
An up-to-date CV demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the job specification.
Step 2: Telephone Interview
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Taking place between: 19th August 2026 and 03rd September 2026
Candidates who meet the initial criteria will be invited to a friendly and informal telephone interview with the Reed team. This is an opportunity to discuss your experience in more detail and learn more about the role.
Step 3: Final Stage Interview
Scheduled for: 15th – 16th September 2026
(please note dates are subject to change)
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a final-stage interview at our Bedford office.
The interview will last approximately one hour and will be conducted by a panel of three interviewers. As part of the assessment, candidates will be asked to deliver a presentation and participate in a competency-based interview designed to explore their experience, skills, behaviours, and alignment with the requirements of the role.
Everything we do aligns with the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.
Job Reference: MaPS01287
Close Date: 01/09/2026
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact
Name: Sabreena
Email: MoneyAnd.Pensions@reed.com
Recruitment team
Email: MoneyAnd.Pensions@reed.com
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