Pensions Expert Advisor (re-launch)

The Private Pensions and Arm's-Length Bodies Directorate (PPALB) is responsible for implementing the Government's very ambitious reform agenda for work-place pensions. Having delivered the Pensions Schemes Act the directorate is now working on a full programme of secondary legislation to set out the detail of the policies in close collaboration with the regulators, industry stakeholders and other Government Departments.

The directorate is also taking forward work to prepare for the Pension Commission's final report and prepare for another pensions bill to take forward any policies, as well as the policy implementation of the pensions dashboard.

Spanning both DB and DC work-place pensions we are responsible for a system that manages hundreds of billions and supports millions of individuals in their retirement. We are a highly motivated group of people who put the interest of members at the heart of everything we do and we work with passion and in collaborative ways to deliver a very ambitious agenda. We're looking for a very motivated, knowledgeable, well connected and collaborative individual who contributed to the work with their expertise and their network.

The pension reforms present a once in a generation opportunity to ensure that people in the UK are able to retire with an adequate pension. This is a really important role at the heart of these reforms and we are looking for a motivated, collaborative expert who can get stuck in to help us move the agenda.

The Government is taking forward an ambitious agenda of pension reforms and given the very technical nature of this area is looking for a pension expert who can work alongside officials to act as a trusted adviser to DWP Ministers.

This requires significant impactful personal leadership working collaboratively with senior officials in DWP, Ministers, other Government Departments and external delivery and industry partners. This role will focus on the Governments commitment implementation of the Pensions Schemes Act 2026 and the Governments response to the Pension Commission.

The successful candidate will bring expert and external knowledge of Private and Workplace Pensions policy. They will have strong relationships with industry, think tanks and the private sector and help build bridges into the Department. This is a highly technical and often complex policy area with significant economic and market implications. The postholder will have in-depth understanding of the history, nuances and potential future direction of this policy upon starting the role. However, above all, they will work with and through the policy teams to shape advice and feed into the development of policy in a collaborative and joined up way.

The post holder will support colleagues with the implementation of the Pensions Schemes Act 2016 and the secondary legislation required.

They will bring expert and external knowledge to the Department in the following areas:

• Private and Workplace Pensions policy, including Defined Contribution schemes
• Long-term Ageing Society Issues
• Financial Inclusion

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate their knowledge, experience and skills against the following essential criteria:

Whole System Leadership and Policy Insight

• Experience working at a whole system level, engaging with experts and stakeholders across Government, industry, and the wider pensions ecosystem to develop approaches grounded in a deep understanding of customers, markets, and the levers required to deliver positive outcomesparticularly within complex, economically significant areas such as pensions and financial security.

Senior Stakeholder Engagement, Influence and Ministerial Support

• Has the personal impact to influence, built trusted relationships and challenge at the most senior organisational levels, with experience of managing complex issues at Ministerial/Executive level.

Strategic Policy Leadership and Legislative Delivery

• Significant experience leading high-profile, technically complex policy agendas, including pensions or related areas such as financial inclusion, ageing society