Ministry of Justice UK
Technical Pensions Lead (Ref: 21650)
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Job Summary
Job Title: Technical Pensions Lead
Grade: 7
Business Group: Chief Operating Officer Group
Contract Type: Permanent
Directorate: Financial Management & Control
Team: Judicial Pensions
Location: National
Ministry of Justice an Inclusive Employer
We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer of choice and ensuring equity of opportunity for all. We welcome the unique contribution diverse applicants bring in terms of their culture, ethnicity, race, nationality or national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, religion or belief, disability status, sexual orientation, educational or social background or any other factor. To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity
Overview
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is one of the largest government departments, employing around 70,000 people and with an annual budget of approximately £9 billion. Each year, millions of people use our services, including at 500 courts and tribunals and 133 prisons in England and Wales. Our principal role is to uphold the rule of law, the cornerstone of the British way of life, and we deliver services which are some of the most fundamental in a democratic society. MoJ supports the Secretary of State for Justice, who is also the Lord Chancellor, and his ministerial team to deliver the Government’s priorities. Our vision is to deliver a world-class justice system that works for everyone in society.
The Pensions Operations Team sits within the Financial Management and Control Directorate of the Ministry of Justice. The Team vision is to deliver a high-quality service to the Judicial Pension Scheme enabled by good quality data, robust contract management of the third-party administrators to deliver value for money. It aims to provide operational delivery of policy and legislative changes to create a sustainable long-term delivery model.
About The Role
Lead for the Technical Team ensuring correspondence is responsible for providing expert advice on Judicial pensions legislation, regulatory compliance, governance arrangements and scheme assurance. The role ensures that the pension scheme operates in accordance with legislative requirements, regulatory expectations and best practice, while supporting effective decision-making by senior leaders, trustees, pension boards and governance committees. The role holder will also handle complex complaints, particularly where complaints involve maladministration, interpretation of scheme rules, service failures, discretionary decisions, regulatory breaches, or potential escalation to the Pensions Ombudsman (TPO) or Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure (IDRP).
The post holder will lead the preparation and maintenance of governance and assurance documentation, oversee compliance monitoring, manage regulatory change programmes, and provide technical expertise on complex pension matters.
Main Activities / Responsibilities
The job holder will be required to undertake the following duties and responsibilities:
Pensions Regulation and Compliance
- Provide expert advice on pensions legislation, regulations and guidance, ensuring the scheme remains compliant with legal and governance requirements.
- Monitor regulatory developments and assess their impact on pension scheme operations and administration arrangements.
- Develop and maintain policies, procedures and control frameworks to support effective compliance.
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Governance and Assurance
- Lead the preparation of annual governance statements, reports and assurance documentation.
- Support governance committees, pension boards and senior leaders with high-quality papers, technical advice and clear decision-making support.
- Maintain governance frameworks, coordinate audits and monitor delivery of recommendations and management actions.
Risk Management
- Identify, assess and monitor pension scheme risks, maintaining governance and compliance risk registers.
- Escalate material risks and issues through appropriate governance channels.
- Develop mitigating actions and monitor progress against agreed plans.
Technical Pensions Expertise
- Provide expert advice on complex pension matters, including benefit structures, legislative changes and regulatory requirements.
- Interpret scheme rules and policy changes, acting as the subject matter expert for pensions governance and compliance.
- Review and challenge advice from third-party advisers and administrators.
Stakeholder Management
- Build effective relationships with trustees, pension boards, senior leaders, advisers, administrators, regulators and assurance providers.
- Present complex technical information clearly and influence decision-making through evidence-based recommendations.
- Leadership of the Technical Team, setting direction, supporting performance and developing capability. The role includes direct line management responsibilities.
Regulatory Change and Continuous Improvement
- Lead impact assessments for new legislation and regulatory developments.
- Manage implementation of regulatory change programmes and related delivery activity.
- Drive continuous improvement by strengthening governance, compliance, controls, reporting and member outcomes.
Essential Criteria
Knowledge And Experience
- Significant experience of pension scheme governance and regulatory compliance.
- Strong understanding of pensions legislation and regulatory requirements.
- Experience of preparing governance statements, annual reports or assurance documentation.
- Experience of managing governance and risk frameworks.
- Experience of advising senior stakeholders on complex technical issues.
- Experience of working with pension administrators, legal advisers, actuaries and auditors.
- Experience of managing complex pension complaints, disputes or appeals.
Skills
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Strong written communication skills with the ability to prepare high-quality reports and board papers.
- Ability to interpret complex legislation and regulatory guidance.
- Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.
- Excellent organisational and project management capabilities.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience within a public service pension scheme.
- Experience of advisory board, trustee board or committee support.
- Experience of implementing major regulatory change programmes.
- Knowledge of Public Service Pensions Act requirements and governance frameworks.
Application process
You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework.
Sift
Behaviours / Experience
Please provide examples of how you have met each of the behaviours and technical skills below:
- Making Effective Decisions (Lead Behaviour)
- Leadership
- Communicating & Influencing
Please see essential criteria when writing your behaviours.
Please refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details, including by grade:
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Experience
Please submit a statement of suitability in 250 words on how your skills and experience align with the essential criteria of the role. Please submit an anonymous copy of CV.
If we receive a large number of applications, we will carry out an initial sift on the lead criteria of CV.
Candidates invited to Interview
Please note that interviews will be carried out remotely via MS Teams. During the interview, we will be assessing you on Behaviours, Experience, Technical Skills and Strengths from the Success Profiles framework.
Behaviours
- Making Effective Decisions (Lead Behaviour)
- Leadership
- Communicating & Influencing
Technical
You will be asked a question regarding your pension technical experience.
For any enquiries please contact Rebecca.peake@justice.gov.uk.
Person specification
Please Refer To Job Description
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Leadership
- Communicating and Influencing
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
You will be asked a question regarding your pension technical experience.
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £58,511, Ministry of Justice contributes £16,950 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
- Access to learning and development
- A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance
- A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
- Annual Leave
- Public Holidays
- Season Ticket Advance
For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.
Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ
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
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.
https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.
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 (
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