Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) Operational Policy Manager

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity to lead operational policy for the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) in the academies and FE college sectors. You will provide authoritative leadership on LGPS policy issues, ensuring policy is deliverable in practice, and advising senior leaders and ministers. The role sits in the Funding & Financial Oversight (FFO) Directorate, which ensures the right amount of money goes to the right providers at the right time and is spent in the right way.

About the Department

The Department for Education is responsible for children’s services and education, including early years, schools, higher and further education policy, apprenticeships and wider skills in England. Our vision is to provide world‑class education and care that allows every child and young person to reach their potential regardless of background.

About the team

This position is an exciting opportunity in the Funding & Financial Oversight (FFO) Directorate. FFO makes sure the right amount of money goes to the right providers at the right time, and is spent in the right way. FFO leads on developing the financial and governance framework used by academies and FE college education providers to manage and report on their spending; identifying institutions at risk of financial failure, providing expert financial assessment and advice; and where necessary undertaking investigations into financial irregularity. This work is key to the Department’s aim to maximise value for money achieved from the public funds it pays to the education sector.

The LGPS Operational Policy Team is overseen by a Grade 6 policy lead and is supported by two Senior Policy Advisers (SEO). The team leads the Department’s operational policy for LGPS participation by academies and FE college providers and manage the Department’s two LGPS Crown Guarantees. We work closely with colleagues across the Department and with external partners including the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), the Government Actuary’s Department (GAD), HM Treasury, the Local Government Association, administering authorities, fund actuaries, and other stakeholders.

Job description

As Grade 7 LGPS Operational Policy Manager you will own complex and high‑risk operational policy, providing strategic advice and leadership across the system. You will ensure LGPS policy is workable for the sectors, builds delivery capability, and manages legal, financial and reputational risk for DfE, including ensuring that the Department’s LGPS Crown Guarantees for education providers are fully recognised, understood and reflected by LGPS Funds.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the Department’s operational policy for LGPS participation by academies and FE college providers, including oversight of the Department’s two LGPS Crown Guarantees.
• Maintain expert and current understanding of the LGPS legal, actuarial and regulatory framework; track and assess impacts of proposed or actual changes.
• Provide clear, authoritative advice and options to senior officials and ministers on strategic issues, balancing legal, delivery, financial and reputational considerations.
• Drives a forward‑looking policy agenda by maintaining expert, up‑to‑date knowledge of pensions and advising senior stakeholders on the strategic impact of system‑wide changes.
• Act as lead liaison with MHCLG on policy issues affecting the academies and FE college sectors; act as contact for the LGPS Scheme Advisory Board; and lead DfE engagement for AFASG Working Group 4.
• Commission and manage actuarial advice from GAD; ensure advice is value‑for‑money and informs policy and casework decisions.
• Develop guidance, training and products that translate policy into clear, usable instructions for casework and delivery teams; build organisational resilience and capability.
• Advise regional and casework teams on complex issues at individual trusts and providers, ensuring consistent, proportionate and risk‑based handling.
• Identify systemic risks and opportunities; lead continuous improvement and lessons learned across the LGPS policy and delivery landscape.
• Represent the Department with external stakeholders; build constructive partnerships and negotiate solutions to contentious issues.
• Provide visible leadership to the team, role‑modelling Civil Service values and supporting colleagues’ development, including direct line management of two SEO Senior Policy Advisers.

Person specification

Essential criteria:

Essential experience

• Experience leading complex operational policy and delivery in a regulated, statutory or public sector pensions environment.
• Proven ability to develop and maintain in‑depth knowledge of complex pension policy and operational issues interpret and apply legislation or statutory frameworks to real‑world delivery.
• Track record of advising and influencing senior stakeholders on high‑risk or politically sensitive pension policy issues.
• Experience working across organisational boundaries with delivery partners (e.g. Other Government Departments, local authorities, regulators, scheme managers).
• Strong written and oral communication, producing clear, authoritative advice and briefings for senior audiences.

Essential skills

• Strategic analysis and judgement under ambiguity; ability to weigh evidence, risk and delivery realities.
• Leadership: setting direction, owning decisions, and supporting colleagues through change. Planning and prioritisation to deliver at pace while maintaining quality
• Stakeholder management and influencing across complex systems.
• Policy design translated into workable operational guidance and products.

Desirable Criteria:

• Knowledge of public service pensions; specific LGPS and/or funded defined benefit scheme experience.
• Experience commissioning and interpreting actuarial advice.
• Professional pensions or policy qualification/accreditation (e.g. PMI).

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

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £58,185, Department for Education contributes £16,856 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.

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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Application

To apply for the role you will be asked to submit:

• A CV detailing your employment history including roles held and the skills and experience gained from those roles
  
• A Personal Statement (up to 1,250 words). Which should evidence how your skills and experience demonstrate the listed essential experience and skills.

Sift

Applications will be sifted on the experience shown in your CV and your personal statement against the essential criteria specified in the job advert.

If volumes are high, we may initially sift on the first five essential experience criteria.

Interview

If shortlisted, you will be invited to attend a panel interview where you will be required to deliver a presentation to the panel to demonstrate your skills and suitability for the role as a senior operational policy manager. The presentation will assess the essential criteria, details of which will be sent to shortlisted candidates.

We will also ask questions to assess how you demonstrate the listed behaviours:

• Leadership
  
• Seeing the Big Picture
  
• Making Effective Decisions
  
• Communicating and Influencing

Interviews are expected to take place in June 2026.

Other Information

Interviews may be via Microsoft teams or face to face; the vacancy manager will confirm prior to the Interview.

In your application, please don’t include personal information that identifies you.

This means we can recruit based on your knowledge and skills, and not background, gender or ethnicity - it's called name blind recruitment (opens in a new window).

Please ensure that you remove from your application, all references to your:

• name/title
• educational institutions
• age
• gender
• email address
• postal address
• phone number
• nationality/immigration status

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.

The government is committed to supporting apprenticeships, enabling people to learn and progress in a role whilst earning. We want to monitor the number of people who have completed apprenticeships who are now applying to progress further in their career and are asking this question to all candidates, on all vacancies. You will be asked a question as part of the application process about any previous apprenticeships you have completed. Your response to this question will not affect your application and it is not a requirement of the role to have completed a previous apprenticeship.

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 12 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’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Please refer to the attached ‘Reasonable Adjustments Guide 05_2025 – accessible version’ at the bottom of the advert, for further information.

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.

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.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 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

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.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 : Jamie Callaghan
• Email : james.callaghan@education.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : Centralrecruitment.operations@education.gov.uk

Further information

The Department for Education’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Principles, which outlines that selection for appointment is made on merit based on fair and open competition. You have the right to complain if you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles. In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly with the department concerned via CentralRecruitment.Operations@education.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages

Attachments

DFE Terms & Conditions - accessible version Opens in new window (pdf, 215kB)Reasonable Adjustments guide 05_2025 - accessible version Opens in new window (pdf, 723kB)OGD Transfer Supplementary information - accessible version Opens in new window (pdf, 327kB)