Technical Services Manager

The Scottish Government -
Galashiels

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Job details

Full-time

Benefits

Company pension

Qualifications

Presentation skills
Leadership

Full job description

Job description

The Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA) administers pensions for Scottish Teachers, Police, Firefighters' and National Health Service employees on behalf of the Scottish Government.
We're responsible for protecting the financial futures of over half a million people , that’s around 1 in 10 people in Scotland.
If you’re looking for meaningful work, a supportive environment and a career with purpose, you’ll find it at the SPPA.
Our office is based in Tweedbank in the Scottish Borders, the train station is a short two minute walk away and offers regular services to and from Edinburgh Waverley, making it a convenient and well connected location for commuters.
The surrounding area offers access to green space, walking routes and a strong sense of local community, supporting wellbeing both in and outside of work.
Our modern office building is designed to support flexible and collaborative working, with spaces for teamwork, quiet focus and hybrid working. Colleagues benefit from a comfortable, welcoming environment that reflects our commitment to wellbeing and inclusion.

This role offers the opportunity to:

Shape how pension calculations are delivered at scale across major public sector schemes
Influence the technical direction of a large and complex pensions administration environment

As the Pension Regulations Manager within our Pensions Technical Controls area, you will lead and manage the operational team responsible for the development, maintenance, and assurance of complex calculation models and tools (including but not limited to Excel-based solutions) used to deliver pension benefit calculations that underpin critical pensions, data, and payroll operations. You will act as the technical authority for pensions calculations and controls, ensuring that benefit calculations across multiple public service pension schemes are accurate, compliant, and aligned with legislation and scheme regulations. You will work closely with policy, actuarial, and operational teams to interpret complex regulatory requirements and translate them into robust calculation approaches. Operating within a highly regulated and complex environment, you will provide strategic direction and oversight to ensure these tools are accurate, compliant, and aligned with policy objectives, risk parameters, audit preparedness, and governance requirements. This role demands strong leadership to drive calculator innovation, embed technical controls, and foster a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence

Responsibilities

Operational Leadership: Manage and lead a team of deep pension specialists, ensuring clear objectives, performance management, and professional development to deliver high-quality outcomes.
Calculator Asset Management: This includes oversight of calculations such as: Retirement benefits (final salary and CARE); Transfer values (CETVs); Death benefits and survivor pensions; Pension increases and revaluation; McCloud remedy calculations and underpin protections.
Maintenance & Defect Resolution: Direct and coordinate routine maintenance and defect remediation activities to safeguard accuracy and functionality of Excel calculators.
Risk & Impact Assessment: Lead evaluations of the robustness and compliance of calculation tools, identifying emerging risks and informing mitigation strategies.
Continuous Improvement: Drive the development and implementation of an improvement roadmap for Excel-based calculators, embedding best practices and fostering innovation.
Assurance & Compliance: Personally lead compliance activities around legislation in the sphere of: Public Service Pensions legislation; HMRC tax rules (Annual Allowance, Lifetime Allowance); The Pensions Regulator expectations; Audit and internal control frameworks.
Release Management: Implement and oversee a structured release process to guarantee that only approved and accurate versions of Excel calculators are deployed.

About us

At the SPPA, we are committed to The Fair Work Framework This means offering:

Security and stability
Flexible and hybrid working options
Opportunities to learn and develop
A respectful and inclusive working environment
At SPPA we want our workforce to be representative of Scottish society and we strive to be a workplace where people are welcomed and valued for the contribution they make.
We support flexible working and encourage applications from people from all backgrounds, including those starting their careers, changing careers, or returning to work.
We are committed to removing any barriers to applying for our jobs and aim to offer support and make reasonable adjustments to allow full participation in the recruitment process.
Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service observing the Civil Service Code and working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland.
We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer .
As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules .
You can also find out more about careers at the SPPA here - SPPA Careers | SPPA (pensions.gov.scot )
Working Pattern
Our standard hours are 35 hours per week. We offer a range of flexible and hybrid working options, with two days minimum working on site at SPPA. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.
Security Checks
Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions).
You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website , or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide .
Sponsorship
Skilled Worker sponsorship is not available for this role. As a result, we are unable to appoint candidates who require Skilled Worker sponsorship now or in the future. Applicants must have an existing and ongoing right to work in the UK.
Equality Statement
We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.
Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.
Further Information
Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website .
Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.
We will hold a reserve list for this post for 12 months.

Apply Before: 12th July 2026

Success profile

Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on.

Technical / Professional Skills:

Operational leadership and management - Working.

Data and Insight – Practitioner

You can find out more about the skills required, here

Experience

1. Lead Criterion - Demonstrable background in Interpreting complex pension scheme rules and legislation, designing and validating pension calculation methodologies Leading technical reviews of benefit calculations, Supporting audit activity and regulatory compliance, and Managing technical changes such as McCloud remedy or GMP equalisation.

2. Proven extensive expertise in developing and maintaining complex Excel-based calculation tools, ideally within a pensions environment or a regulated financial services setting.

Behaviours:

Communicating & Influencing - Level 3

Working Together - Level 3

Delivering at Pace - Level 3

Making effective decisions - Level 3

Find out more about Success Profiles .

How to apply

Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 750 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the skills, experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above.

Stage one (CV review):
An initial review will be conducted using the CV and Supporting Statement on the Experience Lead Criteria as listed above.
Candidates who pass the initial review will have their applications fully assessed against all remaining criteria in the Success Profile, including the Behaviours detailed above.
Stage two (interview and assessment): If successful at application review, you will be invited for assessment, which will consist of an interview and job related simulation exercise, where we will test all criteria listed above.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples 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, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.

If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and job related simulation.
Sifting will commence from 13th July 2026.

Assessments are scheduled for w/c 20th or 27th July 2026 , however this may be subject to change.

If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an in-person interview and assessment at the SPPA office in Tweedbank.

Recruitment Principles
As a government organisation, we adhere to the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles and we investigate any complaints received in relation to recruitment cases.

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