Overview

Providing a professional and competitive pension is a core part of what helps attract and retain great teachers. As the Deputy Director of the Teachers' Pension Scheme, you would lead the work to deliver one of the biggest standalone programmes in the Department and be responsible for a Division of 40 highly motivated and professional staff.

We are a large directorate spread right across the country, with expertise covering strategy, policy, delivery, communications, digital, user research, commercial, pensions, regulation (and more). This is fantastic in terms of the diversity and experience we bring to our work, and as a deputy director you will also be a key leader within the Directorate as a whole.

We want high standards, alongside a culture that is fundamentally supportive and allows everyone to bring their best. We are looking for someone who leads in this way. Our Department - and this role - have a purpose and mission at the heart of public service. We are looking for a leader with extensive experience of building highly motivated and engaged teams to deliver complex programmes of work. In particular you will be responsible for:

Responsibilities

• Delivering successfully as the SRO for the Teacher Pension Service overall including through effectively leading a 40 strong team


• Deliver the transition of the contract to a new service provider, such that we achieve our strategic objectives of ensuring the scheme continues to be high service / low cost and makes the greatest possible contribution to teacher recruitment and retention.


• Oversee the management of the existing contract, ensuring the ongoing delivery of value for money through existing and developing commercial arrangements.


• Ensure that the design and delivery of the scheme aligns with wider policy / delivery requirements in the public sector pensions space.


• Oversee the implementation of arrangements to ensure that the discrimination - which was part of 2015 public sector scheme reform - is addressed promptly and accurately.


• Lead the scheme's relationships with its two statutory boards, ensuring that these are well positioned to add value to our management of the scheme, and the development / application of scheme-specific policy.


• Oversee the financial management of the scheme - including OBR and cash forecasting and production of the scheme's annual accounts to a sustained high (unqualified) standard.


• Ensure our management of the scheme is built on clear, coherent and proportionate system of programme management


• Oversee the robust management of our running costs ensuring value for money for scheme members and employers.


• Ensure the scheme is robustly represented in cross government decision-making on wider matters of scheme administration, and that decisions which impact on affordability are factored into decision-making on school funding.


• Oversee the division's parliamentary correspondence and its role in the formal complaints / dispute resolution process for the scheme.

A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.

A Statement of Suitability up to 750 words, detailing how you meet the essential criteria in the person specification section above and on slide 6 of the attached candidate pack.

It is important that, through your CV and Statement of Suitability, you provide evidence and examples of proven experience for each of the Essential Criteria detailed.

If there are a high number of applications, we shall sift on the first two criteria.

Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel only has limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification.

If you are unable to apply online, please contact scs.recruitment@education.gov.uk in the first instance. Please visit our career site for further information on the Civil Service application process.

Selection Process

• Shortlisted candidates will participate in a Staff Engagement Panel focused on how you lead and manage your team (typically lasting 30 minutes). This will take place on the w/c 28th October via MS Teams


• Take part in a formal interview, which will include:




• A presentation (details will be provided to shortlisted candidates).


• Interview questions based on the essential criteria to further assess your experience.




• The interview panel will be chaired by Patrick Carey (Director for School Workforce) and include representatives from DfE Commercial and DfE Schools Group. The interviews will be in the week commencing the 3rd of November 2025 in Sanctuary Buildings, London.

As part of the recruitment process, we may request references.

Other Information

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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

We reserve the right to raise the minimum pass mark in the event of a high volume or strong field of candidates.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK from the location options provided and not from overseas.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Department of Education of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks.DFE@education.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated.

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

Candidates will be posted in merit order based upon location preference. Where more than one location is advertised you will be asked to state your preferred location.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

Terms and conditions of candidates transferring from ALBs and NDPBs

Bodies that are not accredited by the Civil Service Commission and are not able to advertise at Across Government on Civil Service jobs will be treated as external new starters and will come into DfE on modernised terms and conditions with a salary at the band minimum.

Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission but do not have civil service status will be offered modernised terms and will not have continuous service recognised for leave or sickness benefits. Salaries should be offered at band minimum, but there is some flexibility where this would cause a detriment to the individual.

Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission and do have Civil Service status will be treated as OGD transfers. Staff appointed on lateral transfer will move on to pre-modernised DfE terms (unless they were on modernised terms in their previous organisation). Staff appointed on promotion will move on to modernised DfE terms. Staff will transfer over on their existing salary (on lateral transfer) and any pay above the DfE pay band maximum will be paid as a mark time allowance. Staff moving on promotion will have their salaries calculated using the principles set out in the attached OGD transfer supplementary information.

Reasonable adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Department of Education via centralrecruitment.operations@education.gov.uk soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.


• Complete the "Assistance required" section in the "Additional requirements" page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you are deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Childcare Vouchers

Any move to Department for Education (DfE) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

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

This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.

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.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard 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

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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. The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. We run a Disability Confident Scheme 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.

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 and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

• You can deliver major projects in a complex environment, balancing delivery and commercial risk to achieve outcomes.


• You can effectively lead large multi-site and diverse teams, creating a culture that motivates and gets the best from your people.


• You can manage budgets, leading through business planning processes and overseeing commercial engagements


• You have excellent senior stakeholder relationship building, communicating and influencing skills - leveraging relationships to secure outcomes, and influencing others whilst demonstrating political awareness.


• You can contribute to wider strategy and policy discussions, in relation to both teacher recruitment and to the wider public sector pensions landscape

Desirable criteria will be assessed at interview, in the event of a tie break situation, to make an informed decision.

Alongside your salary of £81,000, Department for Education contributes £23,465 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department's transfer / promotion policies.

As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK.

You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years' service. In addition, all staff receive the King's Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days' bank and public holidays.

We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.

Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances, but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role.

Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.

As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.