Deputy Director – Workforce Pay and Pensions

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 Role

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 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.

Person Specification

While in post, the successful candidate will be expected to perform well across the full range of Senior Civil Service behaviours set out in the Success Profile framework and demonstrate commitment to Civil Service values.

The criteria for the purposes of selection are:

·        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.

To apply for this post please submit your application via Civil Service Jobs by 23:55 on 14th October 2024. We can only accept applications made via the Civil Service Jobs platform.

Some of the Benefits our people love! 

·        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). Additionally, we operate flexitime systems, allowing employees to take up to an additional 2 days off each month 

·        Flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours) 

·        Generous parental and adoption leave packages 

·        Access to a generous Defined Benefit pension scheme with employer contributions of 27% 

·        Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme and season ticket advances  

·        A range of active staff networks, based around interests (e.g. analysts, music society, sports and social club) and diversity  

For more information about the role and how to apply, please follow the apply link. 

If you need any reasonable adjustments to take part in the selection process, please tell us about this in your online application form