Job ref: 218957
TPR grade: Advisory 6 - Principal
About us
More than half the UK working population rely on The Pensions Regulator (TPR) to regulate their retirement savings. With a career at TPR, you’ll be joining an organisation that will impact on millions of lives for decades to come.
Everyone at TPR plays an important role in helping to keep more than £2 trillion of savings safe. We’re committed to bringing people into TPR who are ready to make a difference and put UK savers at the heart of what we do.
It is important to us that TPR remains a great place to work. We do all we can to help our people reach their full potential with learning, secondment, and development opportunities. We put our 900+ employees first, supporting flexible working and offer a diverse, lively, and inclusive environment. This includes our Disability Network, Family Network, LGBT+ Network (Proud), Minority Ethnic (ME) Network and Women’s Network, which offer spaces to connect.
Our new corporate strategy outlines a bold and challenging vision of how pensions regulation should evolve to keep pace with a change in the scale and nature of the industry. We are at the start of that journey. Join us to find out what part you can play.
We operate a hybrid working model, with regular attendance in our Brighton office to connect with colleagues across the business.
Role
We’re looking for a legal advisor, providing specialist pensions law advice, in relation to all types of occupational pension schemes. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to advise in relation to regulatory activity as well as policy initiatives across TPR’s directorates, which encompasses a broad range of activity.
Responsibilities
You will:
- provide robust, legal advice to the Regulator which will include advice on the development and review of regulatory codes and guidance, implementation of new legislation and on the availability of the Regulator’s powers to deliver mitigations to the risks to good member outcomes and take enforcement action where appropriate
- contribute to the development of well-informed, consistent legal lines to take drawing on external advice as necessary
- support the Head of Legal Services and Lead Lawyers
- provide legal risk mitigation advice in particular in relation to the development of operational policies and working processes and specialist consultancy in additional areas of individual specialisms (including public law, equality, judicial review risk mitigation, DPA and FoIA legislation including in relation to public service pension schemes)
- enable lines of business to manage public law risk through training and embedding of public law principles
- provide legal advice and analysis on cases for submission to the Determination Panel, Tribunals and the Courts
Essential and desirable criteria
- Current legal practising certificate in England and Wales.
- Relevant legal knowledge including recent experience advising on Trust Law, Pension Schemes Acts 1993, 2015, 2017 and 2021, Pensions Acts 1995, 2004, 2008, 2011 and 2015, Public Service Pension Schemes Act 2013 and working knowledge of Data Protection Act / Freedom of Information principles.
- Demonstrable recent previous experience of advising trustees and employers of occupational pension schemes and detailed knowledge of the challenges facing pension schemes.
- Knowledge of the operation of master trusts.
Person specification
- Identify, prioritise and plan effectively.
- Deliver appropriate outcomes in line with our objectives.
- Evaluate, learn, adapt and improve.
- Understand our audience.
- Communicate clearly.
- Build good working relationships.
Salary and benefits
As well as a salary starting from £89,459 per annum, we offer:
- Civil Service Pension arrangements, which are recognised as some of the best in the pensions world
- discretionary bonus arrangements
- access to performance related pay progression
- 25 days annual leave provision
- flexible working arrangements
- development opportunities
- enhanced parental leave arrangements
- a free employee assistance programme
- an excellent office location in Brighton
How to apply
To apply please email recruitmentteam@tpr.gov.uk quoting role reference number 218957 along with:
- a covering letter with details of how your skills and experience meet the role requirements
- a copy of your CV
- details of your notice period
Current employees in their first 12 months of employment who want to apply for this vacancy should first contact their line manager to discuss their application.
We are an inclusive employer and offer equal opportunities regardless of an individual’s age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
As a Disability Confident employer, we’re committed to the recruitment, employment, retention and development of people with disabilities and to improving their employment opportunities. Candidates who declare that they have a disability and who meet the essential criteria for the job will be offered an interview.
Applications will be considered on a part time and job share basis. If you want your application to be considered as part of a job share, please apply with the hours you are available to work.
In accordance with Home Office guidance, the successful candidate will be required to provide their right to work in the UK before they start employment. Unfortunately, TPR is not able to offer sponsorship at the time. TPR is a UK-based organisation with a working location in Brighton, candidates must live in the UK to be employed by us.
TPR is an arm’s length government body and part of the public service.
Any offer of employment will be subject to the receipt of satisfactory background screening checks and criminal record checks (BPSS).
Whilst it is our aim to respond to all applicants, if you have not heard from us within 21 days of the advert closing, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion. Specific feedback will only be provided if you have attended an interview or assessment.
If you have any queries about this role, or if you have a disability and wish to request a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process, please email recruitmentteam@tpr.gov.uk.