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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. We are responsible for effective administration of the judicial pension schemes via the third-party administrator and support to the statutory Judicial Pension Board.

The Operational Delivery Team is responsible for delivery of policy and legislative changes being made, including legally required remedies following litigation losses. We work closely with the third-party administrator, Government Actuary’s Department (GAD), legal and policy colleagues to ensure the projects are delivered to time and quality.

Role Overview

The Pensions Operations Delivery Lead will be responsible for managing the delivery of operational aspects of critical litigation projects. This role ensures that all project objectives are achieved ensuring alignment with regulatory and scheme requirements, creating operational efficiency and ensuring member satisfaction. The individual will work closely with cross-functional teams, other government department stakeholders, and external providers to deliver on these projects to a high quality.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in driving operational excellence and successful project delivery.

Key Responsibilities

Project Delivery & Management

• Lead the operational delivery of critical litigation pensions projects, ensuring timelines and objectives are met. Coordinate resources within the pensions operations team to execute project tasks effectively.

Communication & Stakeholder Engagement

• You will need to work with energy, pace and be a diplomatic communicator who relishes the challenge of achieving objectives through mutually beneficial relationships with a diverse stakeholder community.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal teams and third-party providers.

• Communicate progress, risks, and challenges to senior stakeholders and escalate issues where necessary.

Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure that all project activities satisfy relevant court remedies, pension regulations and industry standards.

• Identify risks associated with operational delivery and implement mitigation strategies.

Process Improvement & Innovation

• Find opportunities for improving the delivery of the projects and work effectively with others to continually review these in the light of changing policy.

• Work with others in an inclusive way to solve problems and share good practice.

• Excellent analytical skills providing you with the ability to rapidly structure a problem;

Team Leadership & Support

• Provide leadership and guidance to team members involved in operational delivery.

• Ensure appropriate training and resources are available for staff to execute project tasks.

• Foster a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement within the pensions operations team.

Personal Specification

• Effective communication skills with the ability to negotiate and influence stakeholders to help shape outcomes;

• Initiative and decisiveness, making sound decisions based on evidence;

• Good organisational and planning skills, taking responsibility for delivering outcomes on time to required standard;

• The ability to work collaboratively as part of a multi-disciplinary team, maintaining positive working relationships with colleagues and external stakeholders;

• The ability to produce and present complex information in a clear and concise way for non-technical audiences;

• Building strong relationships with a range of stakeholders across the department to embed collaborative working. 

• Be able to work independently, as well as part of a team, helping to balance the changing demands.

• Be adaptable and flexible.

• Tenacity, determination and resilience - these are demanding roles that requires the ability to resolve issues and the ability to make robust decisions often at pace.

• An ability to build professional relationships across organisational boundaries, actively encouraging and providing opportunities for others to share ideas and/or contribute to your work.

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Proven experience in pensions operations, with a focus on project delivery.

• Demonstrable project management experience, including planning, execution, and delivery.

• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.

• Ability to analyse complex issues, identify risks, and implement practical solutions.

Desirable:

A knowledge of public sector pension schemes

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.

The following Level 4 (Grade 7 and Grade 6) Civil Service Behaviours are essential to this post and will be assessed upon application:

• Leadership

• Changing and Improving

• Seeing the Bigger Picture

• Making Effective Decisions

Lead behaviour - Leadership

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, Leadership.

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.