Defence Business Services (DBS) - Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) Operations Delivery Manager - #1699095

Glasgow, Scotland, G2 8EX

Job Summary

Are you a dedicated person who is passionate about making a difference?

Would you like to work for the Ministry of Defence? 

Defence Business Services (DBS) is one of the largest shared service organisations in Europe that provides a wide range of corporate services, to over 1.2 million end users, including serving and past military and families, as well as MoD civil servants and industry. DBS delivers large scale administration and smaller specialist services to enable the wider MOD to focus on its core aims, maintaining the UK’s Defence and Security. Services include Human Resources, Pay, Veterans, Finance and Procurement.

•  Our Vision - To support UK defence customers with outstanding service every time.
•  Our Mission – Together we will proudly support Defence, continuously improving and delivering flexible, timely, sustainable and value for money services that underpin the whole force and enhance operational capability. 
  
  

DBS is committed to creating a great place to work for all our colleagues. We are building an inclusive culture and respectful environment that reflects the diversity of the society. 

We want to maximise the potential of everyone who chooses to work for us through opportunities to develop your skills and experience. We also offer a range of flexible working patterns and support to make a fulfilling career accessible to you and offer a Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%. Where your role permits, we support a blended working approach alternatively known as hybrid working.

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working.  This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.

Come and join the DBS community today!

https://youtu.be/gUw0ToaRGgk

Job Description

We are looking for an exceptional person with proven experience and passion for pension administration and to manage our large operational delivery team.

We are looking for a dynamic and enthusiastic individual able to engage and motivate a large team of case workers and excel in a fast-paced, quality drivendelivery team.

As the manager of a delivery team, you will have the ability to analyse complex legislative and policy challenges and to assure the quality of discretionary decisions and overall service to our customers. Consulting and working in partnership with a variety of stakeholders on complex scheme administration issues.

So what are the key responsibilities of the AFPS Manager?

The primary purpose of the role is to manage the AFPS Operational delivery team, to develop and implement and maintain services that assures the timely and accurate advice and guidance on complex discretionary casework. The AFPS Manager works closely with policy staff in Main Building, London and internal Veterans UK change staff as well as our delivery contractor (currently SSCL). The post holder also works closely with a variety of different stakeholders including providing advice/information to DBS Secretariat and the single service Pay Cols.

Main Responsibilities:

• Make effective decisions to maximise effective use of resources; providing clear direction and communications to enable the casework team to deliver accurate, timely discretionary pension appeals and dispute decisions.
• Deliver a quality service, as Pensions subject matter expert, provide advice and detailed briefings and communications on AFPS schemes to Senior Managers, Pension Boards, commercial partners and external customers that affects complex case decisions, policy challenges and legislative change.
• Form and promote effective partnerships relationships with: Armed Forces Compensation Scheme/War Pension Scheme; Scheme Policy department and ourexternal commercial partners and Equinity Paymaster.
• Analyse, prepare and disseminate accurate and timely AFPS pensions policy and guidance.
• To monitor and control delivery all AFPS discretionary case work and associated ministerial correspondence.
• Provide updates and presentations at various pension working groups.
  
  

The mission of Vets UK, and Armed Forces Pension Scheme Administrator is to provide world class, cost effective operational support and administration to the

UK Armed Forces, veterans and their families.

Organisation Chart

The successful candidate will report to the Assistant Head Veterans UK (AFPS). This role currently has line management responsibilities for 1 C2 staff and

countersigning responsibilities for Band D and E staff.

We are looking for an exceptional person with proven experience and passion for pension administration and to manage our large operational delivery team.

We are looking for a dynamic and enthusiastic individual able to engage and motivate a large team of case workers and excel in a fast-paced, quality drivendelivery team.

As the manager of a delivery team, you will have the ability to analyse complex legislative and policy challenges and to assure the quality of discretionary decisions and overall service to our customers. Consulting and working in partnership with a variety of stakeholders on complex scheme administration issues.

So what are the key responsibilities of the AFPS Manager?

The primary purpose of the role is to manage the AFPS Operational delivery team, to develop and implement and maintain services that assures the timely and accurate advice and guidance on complex discretionary casework. The AFPS Manager works closely with policy staff in Main Building, London and internal Veterans UK change staff as well as our delivery contractor (currently SSCL). The post holder also works closely with a variety of different stakeholders including providing advice/information to DBS Secretariat and the single service Pay Cols.

Main Responsibilities:

• Make effective decisions to maximise effective use of resources; providing clear direction and communications to enable the casework team to deliver accurate, timely discretionary pension appeals and dispute decisions.
• Deliver a quality service, as Pensions subject matter expert, provide advice and detailed briefings and communications on AFPS schemes to Senior Managers, Pension Boards, commercial partners and external customers that affects complex case decisions, policy challenges and legislative change.
• Form and promote effective partnerships relationships with: Armed Forces Compensation Scheme/War Pension Scheme; Scheme Policy department and ourexternal commercial partners and Equinity Paymaster.
• Analyse, prepare and disseminate accurate and timely AFPS pensions policy and guidance.
• To monitor and control delivery all AFPS discretionary case work and associated ministerial correspondence.
• Provide updates and presentations at various pension working groups.
  
  

The mission of Vets UK, and Armed Forces Pension Scheme Administrator is to provide world class, cost effective operational support and administration to the

UK Armed Forces, veterans and their families.

Organisation Chart

The successful candidate will report to the Assistant Head Veterans UK (AFPS). This role currently has line management responsibilities for 1 C2 staff and

countersigning responsibilities for Band D and E staff.

Person specification

Previous experience with operation delivery of Pension Administration,

Knowledge of Tax, Annual Allowance would be desirable

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service
• Leadership
• Working Together
  
  

Alongside your salary of £44,590, Ministry of Defence contributes £12,917 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• An environment with flexible working options Monday-Friday
• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service (pro rata). In addition to 8 public holidays per year, you will also receive leave for HM The Sovereign's birthday
• Hybrid working where role permits
• An opportunity to be considered for Reward and Recognition
• Family-friendly policies including - parental leave and adoption leave
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• Professional and personal development of skills
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• Minimum of 15 days special leave in a rolling 12 month period for volunteer reserve commitments
• Special paid leave to volunteer up to 6 days per year
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%
  
  

Allowances

The post does not offer relocation expenses.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.

Employment Hours

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Selection process details

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

Please ensure that at the application and interview stages of the campaign you review the Success Profiles Framework to assist you in the demonstration of your skills and experience.

Your suitability for the role will be assessed using the Success Profile elements that have been chosen for this campaign. Each element will be scored accordingly, and the successful candidate will be appointed on merit.

Applications Will Be Sifted On All Success Profile Elements, But In The Event Of a High Number Of Applications, An Initial Sift Will Be Conducted On The Following Success Profile Elements:

Primary: Behaviour - Managing a Quality Service

At application stage you will be assessed against the following:

Behaviours

• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service
• Leadership
• Working Together
  
  

When choosing your Behaviour examples, please make sure you use real life scenarios that relate to your own experiences. Whilst technology may help to enhance your written submission, presenting the ideas of others or those generated by technology, could result in your application being rejected.

Experience

• Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.
• Candidates will need to provide a Personal Statement in no more than 750 words detailing the following:
  
  

Please provide information of how you meet the criteria set out in the job description. You may wish to further include examples of how you have tackled similar tasks or demonstrated the skills outlined in the job advert.

At interview You Will Be Assessed Against The Following:

Behaviours

• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service
• Leadership
• Working Together
  
  

Experience

• Candidates will be assessed against their experience at the interview stage of the vacancy based on their CV and personal statement.
  
  

In The Rare Case Where Individuals Have Exact Matching Scores, The Order Of Merit Will Be Determined Based On The Behaviour Scores At Interview In The Following Order:

• Career - Job History
• Career - Previous Skills
• Career - Personal Statement
• Career - Qualification Details
• Behaviour - Making Effective Decisions
• Behaviour - Managing a Quality Service
• Behaviour - Leadership
• Behaviour - Working Together
  
  

If Candidate Scores Are Still Exact, The Merit Order Will Then Be Determined On The Sift Score In The Following Order:

• Career - Job History
• Career - Previous Skills
• Career - Personal Statement
• Career - Qualification Details
• Behaviour - Making Effective Decisions
• Behaviour - Managing a Quality Service
• Behaviour - Leadership
• Behaviour - Working Together
  
  

We want to offer opportunities to all who are successful at interview for our roles, but this isn’t always possible, so we do hold candidates on an active reserve list for 12 months.

Application sifting to take place early June

Interviews are currently taking place via MS Teams and will be conducted mid June

A minimum of 2 full working days’ notice will be provided for interviews. We endeavour to stick to these dates, but these are subject to change around business needs.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: [email protected]

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – we may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. 

The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected, and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn. 

To assist with your application please find attached -  

DBS Candidate Information Guide - Working for Defence Business Services - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

(26) UK Ministry of Defence: Life , LinkedIn

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

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.

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 the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

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 : Aileen Charlton
• Email : [email protected]
• Telephone : 03001543057
  
  

Recruitment team

• Email : [email protected]
  
  

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles and would like to raise this, please contact [email protected] in the first instance. If the role has been advertised externally (outside of the Civil Service) and 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: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitment/complaints/