About the job

Job summary

Please refer to Job Description

Job description

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.

Job Title/ Position        Judicial Pensions Technical Team Lead
Band/Grade    HEO
Number of Vacancies    1
Business Group    Pensions Operations
Directorate    Financial Management and Control
Location    National
Hours    37
Working Pattern     Permanent 
‘For nationally advertised campaigns, candidates will be appointed to their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) on the completion of pre-employment checks.’ 
Role Type/ Team    Pensions Operations

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 is responsible for operational delivery of policy and legislative changes being made through the Judicial Pensions Reform Programme, including legally required remedies following litigation losses such as the McCloud judgment.  We are also responsible for ongoing effective administration of the judicial pension schemes via the third-party administrator and support to the statutory Judicial Pension Board.

The Technical Pensions Team provides specific and researched advice on judicial pension scheme related issues, as well as resolving specific issues relating to pension benefits and other matters. This could be to, and on behalf of, any other teams across the MoJ, including Policy teams, other Pensions Operations Teams, the Third-Party pension administrator, senior managers as well as to members of the judiciary.

Role Purpose

We are looking to recruit a permanent Technical Team Lead. The successful candidate will deliver reliable and clear technical expertise and guidance to stakeholders within the Judicial Pension Scheme (including the wider Pension Operations Team, the Scheme Administrator, and scheme members/judges). The role holder will carry out investigations and assurance-based activity to ensure that casework and queries are effectively managed, within the bounds of scheme legislation and regulation.

Responsibilities

The job holder will be required to undertake the following duties and responsibilities.

 

• Line management of one EO Technical Support Officer.
• Contribute to the development of processes for delivering technical input to the wider Pension Operations Team and external teams.
• Maximising the potential and improving the capability of the team through performance management and encouragement of proactive personal development.
• Provide technical input to the wider Pension Operations Team and their casework, in written format and verbally.
• Provide technical explanations to members/judges, where required, in written format and verbally.
• Provide technical guidance to the Scheme Administrator, where required, in written format and verbally.
• Interrogation of complex pension scheme legislation and guides to ensure technical input is accurate and reliable.
• Identify and manage risks to your area or work, in particular any risks to deliverables and timeframes.
• Deputise for SEO Technical & Assurance Team Manager as necessary.
• Lead EO recruitment campaigns, including interviewing, where required.

Key skills and knowledge

Essential

• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to understand, simplify and explain complex issues.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office
• Interpersonal skills and the ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with colleagues.
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently under own initiative.
• An eye for detail and analytical ability.

 

Desirable

• Understanding of Defined Benefit/Public Sector Pensions.
• Knowledge of courts and the judiciary.

Success Profiles  

Success Profiles will enable a fairer and more inclusive method of recruitment by enabling us to assess the range of experiences, abilities, strengths, behaviours and technical/professional skills required for different roles. This flexible approach to recruitment focuses more on finding the right candidate for the specific role. To find out more about Success Profiles to support your application please click here for further guidance.

Civil Service Behaviours

The following Level 3 (HEO and SEO or equivalent) Civil Service Behaviours are essential to this post and will be assessed upon application:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

To apply please complete the online application form. Applications will be sifted by a panel who will look at the Civil Service Behaviour framework and what is evidenced in your application. Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour, Delivering at Pace.

Candidates who are successful following the sift process will be invited to interview, where the behavioural elements will be tested further alongside other elements of the post. Further details will be provided to shortlisted candidates in advance of the interviews.

Travel

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working.  Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

A base location near or within the region will be allocated to the successful candidate, as set out below. The post holder is expected to meet their own travel costs to and from their base location. If required to attend a location other than their base location, post-holders may be entitled to claim some or all any extra expense (beyond the usual base location travel costs) in line with the T&S policy.

The successful candidate will be appointed to either one of the locations specified in the advert or, if nearer to their home, an alternative MoJ office location in the region which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed upon completion of pre-employment checks.

You are advised to access the JCC/JSO office map, which is updated whenever a new JCC/JSO site opens,  to determine potential travelling times and distances to MoJ locations before applying for a job.

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £32,827, Ministry of Justice contributes £8,896 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a 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. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.