Deputy Director, Workforce Pay and Pensions
HM Treasury
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 14th October 2024
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About the job
Job summary
About HM Treasury
If you’re interested in making a difference to people’s lives, the Treasury can offer you an exciting opportunity to influence decision making that affects the whole of the UK. Working at the heart of government, we collaborate across government to promote responsible public spending and drive strong and sustainable economic growth.
Our work ranges from protecting customers through the regulation of the financial sector, helping to reduce carbon emissions and creating a greener economy, to promoting British trade around the world and supporting people across the country on jobs, growth and more.
We are part of the Darlington Economic Campus, a pioneering new cross-government hub which brings people together to play an active role in the most important issues of the day whilst working closer to the communities we serve. The campus provides the opportunity for people from all over the UK to help shape the future of the country, and our flexible working practices ensure you can collaborate effectively with our partners. It’s central government, made more accessible to you!
We are really to encourage applications for upcoming roles on Campus and as such we are holding a Careers Day on 1st October which we thought might be of interest to you.
There will be multiple sessions throughout the afternoon to help you better understand our recruitment process and perfect your examples when it comes to application and interview. The sessions will begin at 1pm so arrival for 12:45 at the latest, they will be running until 4:30pm. You will leave the day with a greater understanding of what is expected from our Success Profiles approach and a relevant buddy who will be able to help you on the day and moving forwards. If this would be of interest to you, please contact daniel.wood@businessandtrade.gov.uk for further details.
Job description
About the Group
The Public Spending Group is a high-profile and rewarding place to work. We help the Chancellor decide what to spend £1.2trillion a year on and ensure government delivers value for money for the taxpayer. We are responsible for reporting to Parliament and the public on how taxpayers’ money is spent. We drive forward improved outcomes and efficiency in public services and make sure value for money is at the centre of decision-making through better evaluation, data and analysis.
We advise on overall government policy on public sector pay and pensions, the biggest single driver of public spending. We collaborate with and directly support departments to deliver the Government Finance Function strategy, building finance, debt and risk capability across government and developing the management information, tools and frameworks to better understand and ensure value for money.
About the Team
The Workforce Pay and Pensions (WPP) team sits at the heart of Public Spending group, working closely with teams across Whitehall to set, deliver and maintain Government’s overarching policy positions on public sector pay and pensions. The team is also responsible for leadership of the implementation of the McCloud remedy. WPP is of crucial importance to managing public spending and delivering high quality public services. Spending in this area is one of the largest areas of public expenditure, around £182bn a year. The team’s remit therefore covers around one in every four pounds the Government spends.
There is a strong emphasis on handling and engagement as our work attracts significant media and parliamentary pick up. The team includes policy officials and analysts, and we work very closely with department specific spending teams in Public Services group. You will also need to build positive relationships with senior officials in other departments, lawyers and actuaries as well as the TUC.
About the job
This is an excellent job, right at the heart of HM Treasury and Government, advising on some of the most complex and consequential issues for public service delivery and public spending. It requires working closely with senior officials across government to provide the best possible advice to the Chancellor, Chief Secretary and, working with EDS, the Prime Minister on all issues related to public sector pay, industrial relations and pensions.
Key accountabilities These include:
- Lead the Public Spending Group, as part of the Group Management Team, to ensure a balanced, resilient, diverse and effective working environment, including leading on specific projects and in particular, lead the WPP team, with direct responsibility for 18 staff including direct line management of [3 people.
- Build positive relationships with key stakeholders, including the trades unions, workforce leads in government departments, the Government Actuary, and teams across the Treasury.
- Managing the annual pay round that settles pay rises for around six million public sector workers, working very closely with Treasury ministers, departments, and the Pay Review Bodies.
- Advising the Chief Secretary and Chancellor on pay and pension policy across the public sector, ensuring funds effectively target recruitment and retention problems and drive up productivity in these workforces including the civil service workforce and working with Cabinet Office to embed effective strategic workforce planning.
- Work with EDS to advise the Chancellor and Prime Minister on industrial relations issues.
- Leadership in HMT and across Whitehall of the implementation of the McCloud remedy scheme, which includes close working with HMRC, departments and public sector pensions schemes.
- Maintain delivery of current pensions system, ensuring delivery of relevant statutory instruments, high quality OBR forecasts
- Working with legal counsel, advise Ministers on handling legal cases affecting public sector remuneration, including judicial reviews, equal pay and discrimination cases with several billion pounds at stake.
Experience of working on public sector pay and/or pensions policy is valuable but not essential for the role.
Candidate Drop-In Session
We will be running a candidate drop-in session for this role to give you greater insight about the role as well as the chance to learn more about HM Treasury and the recruitment process. If you would like to join us, then use the appropriate link below to join the call at the right time.
Thursday 10th October 2024 @ 14:00 – 14:30 Join the meeting now
If you would like to speak to the hiring manager informally prior to the closing date for applications to find out more about the job, please contact Nick Donlevy (nick.donlevy@hmtreasury.gov.uk)
Person specification
Please review the Candidate FAQ document that is attached to the advert for guidance on how to complete your application.
For your application, please send us a CV and a personal statement setting out how you meet the following skills, behaviours and experience. This should be no longer than 1250 words, and include no more than 250 words on each criteria below;
- Ability to articulate key choices and trade off’s for senior Ministers and connect these to developments in the broader political and economic context.
- Ability to set direction for and support the wellbeing of a team under pressure.
- Ability to communicate with clarity and integrity while respecting the needs, responses and opinions of others.
- Proven ability to build effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, sharing information, resources and support.
- Experience of operating at a senior level in a complex policy environment and leading policy development at a senior level across government are essential criteria for the role.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Leadership
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
Benefits
- 25 days’ annual leave (rising to 30 after 5 years), plus 8 public holidays and the King's birthday (unless you have a legacy arrangement as an existing Civil Servant)
- Flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours)
- Generous parental and adoption leave package.
- A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and average employer contributions of 28%
- Onsite restaurant and coffee bar. The London office also offers a gym, showers and prayer room
- Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme, season ticket advances and payroll giving
- Access to a retail discounts and cashback site
- A Rental Deposit Advance Scheme to help meet the total costs of deposits for privately rented homes
- A range of active staff networks, based around interests and diversity
Flexible Working Arrangements
HM Treasury views flexible working as essential in enabling us to recruit and retain talented people, ensuring that they can enjoy a long-lasting career with us. All employees have the right to apply for flexible working and there are a range of options available including; part-time, compressed hours and job sharing. Additionally, we operate flexitime systems, allowing employees the flexibility to adjust their working patterns throughout the week which is subject to operational needs and line management approval.
At HM Treasury we have an incredibly broad remit; our work touches every citizen of the country. So, it’s important our employees come from the widest possible range of backgrounds, bringing us the widest possible range of perspectives and ways of thinking. We are committed to ensuring that all staff can realise their potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.
HM Treasury operates an office based working approach across all Treasury sites - Darlington, London, and Norwich, and along with the rest of the Civil Service, has an expectation of a minimum of 60% attendance in the office, along with working remotely. This blended working approach allows you to work collaboratively, meet stakeholders face to face, support others and promotes a healthy work life balance (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. All our offices have been recently modernised and designed to collaborate and connect with colleagues as well as desk and quiet space to allow a range of ways to work.
The office working expectation is linked to the location of the role. If you apply to a post in a single location, then you will not be able to meet this expectation at any of our other sites or move your role to another location.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Recruitment Timeline
Closing date: Monday 14th October 2024
Shortlisting: w/c 14th October 2024
Interviews: w/c 4th November 2024
This timeline is indicative and may be subject to change. We will inform you if there is a substantial change to the recruitment timeline.
If your contact details change at any time during the selection process, please ensure you update your Civil Service Jobs Profile.
Please note that only applications submitted through Civil Service Jobs will be accepted.
Location-Based Reserve Lists
You will be placed on a reserve list if your application is successful, but we cannot offer you a post immediately. Where more than one location has been advertised, candidates will be approached for roles in merit order according to the first preferred location stated on your application form.
Please note that a place on the reserve list does not guarantee an offer. We would still encourage you to apply for other HM Treasury opportunities that you are interested in. If you are offered a role in your first preferred location and you decline the offer or you are unable to take up the post within a reasonable timeframe, you will be removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances.
Eligibility Statement
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role in the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government. Checks will be performed as part of pre-employment checks in line with this. Please refer to the Candidate FAQ document attached to the advert for more information.
Everyone working with government assets must complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks. Additionally, individuals appointed to the Treasury group will be subject to National Security Vetting. The level of security vetting required for this role is Counter Terrorist Check (CTC)
To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out, applicants will need to have lived in the UK for at least 3 out of the past 5 years. In exceptional circumstances, a lack of residency would not be a bar to security clearance however the Department will need to consider eligibility on a case by case basis once the advert closing date has passed.
Please read the Vetting Charter for information on what to expect during the vetting process and what will be expected from you. Many areas of your life may be explored during your vetting journey, and it is important that every individual, regardless of their background and experiences, should feel comfortable going through this personal process, whilst having confidence that it is fair, proportionate, and inclusive.
These short videos address common concerns and preconceptions which applicants may have about national security vetting. If you have questions relating to security clearances, please contact HMTSecurityVetting@hmtreasury.gov.uk
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.
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Working for the Civil Service
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Nick Donlevy
- Email : Nick.Donlevy@hmtreasury.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : hrrecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk
Further information
