Senior Team Leader - Redundancy Payments Service

Job summary

The Insolvency Service is a leading Government agency which plays a crucial role in providing essential services to the public and to business. The work we do is important to the proper functioning of markets, the economy in general and support for thousands of people each year who are in financial difficulty.

Inclusive and diverse teams are important to us. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups underrepresented in our workforce. The Insolvency Service strives to ensure that the agency is a safe, inclusive, and welcoming place for everybody to bring their true self to work and to help the agency to achieve its diversity objectives. We have 9 active employee network groups available to join or become an ally, these include, Carers Network, Disability network group, Employee Assistance, Representatives, FACES Network Group, LGBT+, Mind Matters, Part Time Workers, The Shed - Men’s Network Group and Women’s Network Group.

We offer full-time, part-time, job share and flexible ways of working. We value capability, technical skills and experience and we place great emphasis on lifetime development to support our people. We encourage our employees to become more involved in areas they feel strongly about, whether it be for the benefit of the agency, though our Engagement network or in their own local communities via volunteering opportunities.

The Insolvency Service is a great place to work, learn and grow your career!

The role offered is with the Business Service Division (BSD) of the insolvency service. BSD is an operational delivery directorate, covering some 300 staff, providing high volume, often transactional services to the public or supporting the provision of these services by others.

BSD supports the main purpose of the Insolvency Service, delivering economic confidence through:

• Supporting those in financial distress, tackling financial wrongdoing and maximising returns to creditors.
• Making statutory redundancy payments to employees of insolvent companies.
• Managing the Debt Relief Order process and administering the online bankruptcy application process and Breathing Space process.
• Identifying wrongdoing associated with Debt Relief Orders and redundancy payment applications.
• Providing a first point of contact for all insolvency service enquiries.
• Processing distributions to creditors from PPI compensation payments.
• Providing estate accounting and other business services to the Agency.

Job description

The Redundancy Payments Service (RPS) deals with 60,000 to 100,000 applications from people in financial distress each year. RPS pays out around £250m to £400m each year to employees of insolvent companies, who would otherwise be left without redundancy payments and other associated payments.

The roles on offer are responsible for line managing either a team of EO case workers or EO team leaders and their AO case officer teams. Senior team leaders in RPS will be asked from time to time to move to a similar role in other teams within RPS for both development and operational needs.

As a senior team leader in RPS you will manage a multi-faceted, fast paced operational delivery team to deliver quality services against challenging KPI’s covering all team specific related tasks. As a skilled people manager, you will lead your team in delivering complex and bespoke workstreams, building capability within a challenging yet supportive environment, identifying best practice and driving forward operational efficiency.

The post holder will need to be detail orientated with an eye for numerical and behavioural patterns, produce evidence-based analysis to assess risks, investigate complaints, identify errors and report suspected fraud. A key aspect of this role will be to understand how operational processes and procedures can be improved to make a positive difference to our customers.

Responsibilities:

As a senior team leader in RPS you will be responsible for:

• line management of EO grade team members
• working with the RPS management team to plan and prioritise activities in line with personal and team objectives
• driving forward improvements to operational delivery processes to deliver quality services to customers
• for the accuracy of Management Information and data requests
• maintaining own and team’s technical knowledge, including identifying and responding legislative, caselaw, and government policy changes; liaising with colleagues and stakeholders over matters of uncertainty or discretion
• building a productive and engaged team - communicating clear goals, ensuring teams have support and tools in place to perform effectively, and building awareness of how our work aligns to wider Insolvency Service objectives
• identifying, analysing, managing the risks and issues which may impact on the success and delivery of their team’s objectives
• actively managing resources to achieve success and offering up any surplus capacity to other teams. Drafting clear and compelling business cases for additional resource when needed. Ensuring the team strikes a balance between customer service, accuracy and efficiency
• for the well-being and engagement levels of their team
• managing performance, conduct and attendance issues
• deputising for the SEO Senior Operational Delivery Lead as required
• establishing a good understanding of the various projects and activities taking place within RPS and promoting them within their team.

Person specification

Experience of managing teams through change.

• highly organised with the ability to successfully manage competing priorities and deal with fluctuating levels of work
• strong communication and influencing skills to confidently engage with colleagues at all grades across the business in a variety of meetings and forums
• ability to work under pressure to tight deadlines and successfully manage competing priorities. Keeping your own and the team's efforts focussed on the goals that really matter and taking ownership and accountability for decisions and commitments
• a pro-active ability to find solutions to problems or challenges
• experience and confidence with using MS Office applications (Outlook, Word and Excel), AI tools and all other INSS IT applications.

The post holder can be based in any of the RPS sites (Edinburgh, Leeds, Birmingham and Newcastle) but travel between these sites may be required and this may necessitate overnight stays.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £35,645, Insolvency Service contributes £10,326 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

We want you to have a good work-life balance and want to support you in all that you do, so we offer a great benefits package including:

• flexible working arrangements and flexi-time
• full time new entrants to the Civil Service and those Civil Servants on modernised terms and conditions will be entitled to 25 days leave increasing on a sliding scale to 30 days after 5 years’ service
• in addition to this you are entitled to 8 public/bank holidays plus an additional day of privilege leave
• competitive maternity, paternity and parental leave
• 5 days paid leave for learning and development
• 5 days paid for volunteering
• a Cycle to work scheme
• staff have access to an employee assistance programme, Workplace Wellness, for confidential, independent support and advice during difficult times in either their professional or personal life

Your pension is a valuable part of your total reward package where the employer makes a significant contribution to the cost of your pension. Your contributions come out of your salary before any tax is taken. This means, if you pay tax, your take-home pay will not be reduced by the full amount of your contribution; and your pension will continue to provide valuable benefits for you and your family if you are too ill to continue to work or die before you retire. For more information, visit www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk

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, Strengths and Experience.

As part of the sift process, you will be asked to complete:

• CV
• Personal Statement

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the CV, assessing candidates against the essential criteria. Only those who meet the essential criteria at this stage will proceed to a full assessment of their application. If a candidate does not meet the minimum requirements during the initial sift, the remainder of their application will not be reviewed. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview.

Your CV should provide a clear overview of your employment history, key responsibilities, relevant qualifications, and the skills and experience you’ve gained throughout your career including any notable achievements.

Note: Your CV will be scored as part of the assessment process and will be assessed against the criteria outlined in the job advert.

Your personal statement should be no more than 750 words and must demonstrate how your personal skills, qualities, and experience align with the requirements of the role. Please ensure your statement references the essential criteria outlined in the person specification.

If successful at the sift stage, at interview, you will be assessed on the following:

• Behaviours - assessed through:

• • Behaviour 1 - Leadership

• • Behaviour 2 - Communicating and Influencing

• • Behaviour 3 - Managing a Quality Service

• Strengths

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Sift – Week commencing 19th January 2026

Interview – week commencing 2nd February 2026

Location - MS Teams

Your interview will be conducted by video. You will be notified of this if you are selected for interview. Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.

Visa Applicants

To sponsor a candidate under the Skilled Worker visa, a sponsorship licence is required. The Insolvency Service does not currently hold this licence and therefore, cannot legally sponsor Skilled Worker visa applicants.

Hybrid Working

Insolvency Service operates a hybrid working policy subject to business need, giving people the flexibility to choose when and where they work and collaborate with others.

Individuals are expected to work from one of the office locations stated in the advert to connect with their colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs. There is flexibility to split the working week, spending a minimum of 60% in the workplace, which includes the office, site visits, court etc.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Insolvency Service from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

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

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service/Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

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

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 Government Recruitment Service via InsolvencyRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as 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.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Feedback

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.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 : Lucy Graham
• Email : Lucy.graham@insolvency.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : InsolvencyRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel there have been procedural irregularities at any stage of the recruitment process or that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact hr.recruitment@insolvency.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive you can then contact the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

Applying for a Job - A Candidate Guide (1) Opens in new window (pdf, 3061kB)Insolvency Service Candidate Information Pack (Sept 2025) Opens in new window (pdf, 6459kB)