Deputy Director - Pension Data Platform (Service Owner)

Job summary

The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) is a vital Government organisation, we help to safeguard the future financial wellbeing of the UK population; by building a better, more confident future. Our mission is to give every citizen of the UK access to high-quality money and pensions guidance how and when they need it. MaPS is at an important moment, taking on greater long-term responsibility for nationally significant services, with a clear public mission and a growing role at the centre of pensions and financial wellbeing policy.

We are at a critical point in our history as we deliver the Pension Data Platform (PDP); a new core digital infrastructure that will enable the secure exchange of pensions information across the UK ecosystem and a UK first. Delivered by MaPS on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions, PDP is a long-term national asset that must operate securely, reliably and at scale, while evolving in line with policy, regulation and user need.

As a result of our growing criticality as an organisation and the delivery of PDP as a major new platform, we are now seeking an outstanding senior digital leader. This is a new role offering the chance to shape not just a critical live service, but how MaPS operates as the steward of trusted national digital infrastructure for the future.

Job description

As an experienced leader with strong stakeholder skills, you will have end-to-end responsibility for the Pensions Data Platform (PDP), not only critical national infrastructure but the first UK pensions dashboard ecosystem. As Deputy Director and Service Owner, you will take full accountability for the Pensions Data Platform, leading its shift from programme delivery into a robust, long-term live service.

You will drive performance, resilience, governance and continuous improvement across the platform, and bring together technology, suppliers, operations and stakeholder engagement into a single, high-performing service. Acting as a visible leader across government, regulators and industry, you will build confidence in both the platform and MaPS as its long-term owner.

Person specification

As Service Owner, you will:

• Lead overall accountability for live service across the Pensions Data Platform, including performance, resilience, risk, assurance, stakeholder confidence and continuous improvement.
• Ensure the successful onboarding our incubator architecture and engage with our suppliers in a way that continues positive partnerships but drives performance and accountability.
• Engage with the financial services industry as a partner as part of our continued and future close working relationships.
• Utilise your understanding of good product delivery and GDS ways of working.
• Lead the service through critical operational events, including launch and development.
• Build and lead a multidisciplinary DDaT service function, strengthening internal capability and fostering a clear, accountable and outcomes-focused team and culture.
• Oversee governance and supplier performance, ensuring value for money, robust decision-making and strong external relationships across government, regulators and industry.
• Engage with a wide range of government stakeholders both internally and externally to a very senior level, understanding how policy should be translated into digital product and platform service delivery.

As a senior leader with the judgement and operational grip to lead a complex live service in a regulated environment, this is an opportunity to be responsible for future critical national infrastructure and a first for this Country. Your success in post will be witnessed on an international stage and demonstrate your ability as a digital and technology professional, across both government and the financial services industry. This really is a unique opportunity not to be missed.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the following criteria

1. Senior leadership of a complex digital, operational or service-based organisation, ideally in a regulated, high-dependency or public-service environment.
2. Strong operational judgement and grip, including experience of managing significant service risk, leading through ambiguity, and responding effectively to incidents or periods of operational pressure.
3. Credibility with senior stakeholders across a complex landscape, including government, regulators, suppliers, industry bodies or equivalent external partners.
4. Experience of building and embedding effective service models, including governance, assurance, prioritisation, performance management and clear end-to-end accountability.
5. Strong commercial, financial and supplier management judgement, including experience of mixed delivery models and building internal capability over time.

Experience of pensions, financial services or regulated digital ecosystems would be valuable, but is definitely not essential, and experience of GDS-assessed services, service standards or the Technology Code of Practice is desirable.

Benefits

• 30 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays
• Pension contributions matched 2 to 1 (employer contribution up to 10% of your salary)
• Season ticket loan
• Cycle to work scheme (up to £3,000)
• Subsidised eye tests & flu jabs
• Life assurance
• EAP Assist & Life
• Enhanced family and sick pay
• 2 paid volunteering days
• Recognition scheme
• Retail discounts portal

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

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 (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Timetable

Please note the timeline may be subject to change.

• Application Closing date: Monday 8th June 2026
• Longlisting: Friday 12th June 2026
• Global Resourcing Interviews: 16th-23rd June 2026
• Shortlisting: Friday 26th June 2026
• Assessment: w/c 29th June 2026
• Panel Interview: w/c 6th July 2026

How to Apply

Please send the following information by no later than Monday 8th June 2026;

• Your CV, with educational and professional qualifications and full employment history, including an explanation of any gaps in your employment history, and details where possible of budgets and numbers of people.
• A short covering statement of no more than two A4 sized pages (1000 words) explaining why this appointment interests you and how you can evidence your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria within the job description document;

Global Resourcing will confirm receipt of your application via email, which will also include a link to complete an online diversity monitoring survey. All data is reported in an anonymous and aggregate format and will not be seen by anyone assessing your application;

Whilst we recognise that AI tools such as ChatGPT can be invaluable in supporting candidates by assisting with the creation of CVs & cover letters, it's essential to review and personalise these drafts to ensure they authentically reflect your unique skills, experiences, and personality. This personal touch not only enhances these documents impact but also demonstrates interest, genuine engagement, and individuality to potential employers.

Global Resourcing have been retained exclusively to manage this executive search campaign. By applying you consent to be contacted by Global Resourcing regarding this opportunity.

We look forward to receiving your application.

Completed applications should be sent to:

Dave Flynn
Phone: 020 8253 1806
Email: Maps-SO@global-resourcing.com

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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Dave Flynn
• Email : Maps-SO@global-resourcing.com
• Telephone : 020 8253 1806

Recruitment team

• Email : Maps-SO@global-resourcing.com

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