Welcome, and thank you for your interest in becoming South Yorkshire Pensions Authority’s next Service Manager - Corporate Governance Services (Deputy Monitoring Officer)

We are proud of the track record that South Yorkshire Pensions Authority (SYPA) has built over many years. As we continue to evolve and build for the future, we are seeking an exceptional governance professional who can help us strengthen our governance arrangements, support effective decision making and ensure we continue to deliver the highest standards of accountability, transparency and public service.

SYPA occupies a unique position within the Local Government Pension Scheme. As both a local authority and a pension fund, we remain one of the UK's few single-purpose pension organisations. As a public sector body our Values and Behaviours are central to everything we do. We are committed to being honest and accountable, professional, progressive and empowering. We take pride in fostering a culture where colleagues are supported to succeed, ideas are welcomed, and everyone works together to achieve the best outcomes for our members, employers and stakeholders.

We serve over 180,000 scheme members and around 565 employers, managing a pension fund of more than £12 billion. Our achievements have been recognised through numerous awards, reflecting the dedication, expertise and innovative approach of our talented teams.

This is an exciting time to join our Governance and Corporate Services function. As Service Manager - Corporate Governance Services, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring SYPA continues to operate within a strong governance framework, delivering high-quality services that support Members, senior leaders and colleagues across the organisation. As Deputy Monitoring Officer, you will provide expert advice on governance, constitutional matters and regulatory compliance, helping to uphold the highest standards of corporate governance and ethical conduct.

This role offers a varied and rewarding portfolio of responsibilities. You will lead services spanning corporate governance, democratic services, information governance, organisational resilience, complaints and appeals, and policy development. Working closely with colleagues across SYPA, you will help shape governance arrangements, drive continuous improvement and ensure the organisation remains responsive to an evolving legislative and regulatory landscape.

As an experienced governance professional, you will bring the ability to build effective relationships, influence at all levels and translate complex governance requirements into practical and proportionate solutions. You will have a genuine passion for public service and a commitment to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and accountability.

Importantly, this role provides the opportunity to help shape the future of a newly developed role. You will play a key role in strengthening organisational resilience, supporting succession planning and enhancing the governance support available across SYPA. We are looking for someone who is collaborative, proactive and motivated by the opportunity to make a lasting impact.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a respected, award-winning organisation with a reputation for professionalism, innovation and strong governance. I am looking for someone who shares our values, enjoys working collaboratively, and is motivated by helping others succeed. In return, you will join a supportive leadership team that is committed to investing in people and creating an environment where individuals can thrive both professionally and personally.

Our Barnsley office provides a modern working environment, with free on-site parking and excellent transport links, while our hybrid working arrangements offer flexibility to support a healthy work-life balance. We are also committed to investing in our people through learning, development and professional growth opportunities.

If you are inspired by the opportunity to help shape the future of governance at SYPA and make a meaningful contribution to an organisation that serves communities across South Yorkshire, we would be delighted to hear from you. Following an initial conversation with our recruitment partners at NY Resourcing, I would be pleased to speak with prospective candidates who would like to learn more about the role and the opportunities available at SYPA.

Take a look at our LinkedIn page to find out more about us and see what we’ve been up to recently! #WeAreSYPA

Jo Stone
Head of Governance and Corporate Services
South Yorkshire Pensions Authority

About the role

Job title: Service Manager - Corporate Governance Services (Deputy Monitoring Officer)
Location: Barnsley / Hybrid
Contract: Full-time (35 hours per week Monday to Friday) / Permanent
Salary: £47,738 - £51,928 (2026/27 pay award pending) plus: benefits and relocation support
Line Management: 4

As Service Manager - Corporate Governance Services, you will play a pivotal role in helping South Yorkshire Pensions Authority maintain the highest standards of governance, transparency and accountability. Reporting to the Head of Governance and Corporate Services (Monitoring Officer), you will act as Deputy Monitoring Officer and lead the delivery of a broad range of governance and corporate services that support the effective operation of the Authority.

This is a strategic and influential leadership role that combines professional governance expertise with operational management responsibility. You will lead and develop a specialist team, fostering a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement and excellent customer service. Working closely with senior leaders, Members and external stakeholders, you will provide expert advice on governance, decision-making and regulatory compliance, ensuring the Authority continues to meet its statutory obligations and best practice standards.

Your work will span a diverse portfolio of responsibilities, including corporate governance, democratic services, information governance, complaints and appeals, policy development, organisational resilience and business continuity. You will play a key role in supporting committee and decision-making processes, maintaining effective governance frameworks and ensuring robust controls are in place across the organisation.

As Deputy Monitoring Officer, you will provide trusted advice on constitutional, governance and legal matters, helping to safeguard SYPA’s reputation and support sound decision-making. You will also contribute to strategic projects and organisational initiatives, identifying opportunities to modernise services, improve processes and strengthen governance arrangements across SYPA.

This newly established management role offers a unique opportunity to shape and develop a vital service area, helping to build resilience, strengthen succession planning and enhance the breadth of governance support available to the organisation. It is an excellent opportunity for an experienced governance professional looking to further develop their leadership career within a supportive, forward-thinking and values-driven organisation.

What's In it for You?

In addition to the chance to take up this highly varied and interesting role and the competitive salary offered, we provide the following additional valuable benefits:

Annual Leave

We have a generous annual leave policy that offers between 28 days and 36 days annual leave depending on length of service, plus all statutory bank holidays. The Authority directs its staff to use part of this leave entitlement to facilitate a closure of the offices over the Christmas period. In addition to the above are all statutory public holidays, usually 8 per leave year. Carry forward of up to 5 days unused leave is allowed in any year.

Flexible Working

The Authority’s normal working week is 35 hours (7 hours per day Monday to Friday).

The Authority operates a scheme of flexible working which allows staff to mix working from home with attendance in the office. For full time members of staff, the policy requires office attendance on a minimum of two days per week. Senior Managers are expected to be flexible in their attendance in the office to facilitate the effective functioning of the organisation.

Ability to access this policy is subject to having a suitable workspace at home which will be remotely assessed from a health and safety point of view. The Authority provides equipment such as laptop stands and additional screens to ensure that working at home is as easy as working in the office.

Certain key meetings are required to be in person such as appraisals and the regular Senior Management and Leadership Team meetings, as well as all formal meetings of the Authority.

This postholder will be expected to manage their time to achieve an appropriate work life balance and facilitate the achievement of the organisation’s objectives.

Family Related Leave

The Authority also aims to be a family-friendly employer, with policies to support this including entitlement to 12-months’ maternity leave, 6 months of which is paid at full pay, provision of 6 weeks’ maternity support / paternity leave paid at full pay and equivalent adoption leave entitlements. Further details can be provided on request.

Pension

All staff are automatically enrolled in the Local Government Pension Scheme which provides a salary-related pension. Employee contribution rates are graded according to salary; more details can be found on our website here: Contribution Pay Bands.

Travel and Subsistence

The postholder will be reimbursed for reasonable travel and subsistence costs in line with the Authority’s policies which promote travel by public transport wherever possible, and limit reimbursement of car mileage to the relevant HRMC rate.

Relocation

A relocation package of up to £8,000 is available and details will be provided to the successful candidate.

Professional Subscriptions

The Authority will pay one relevant professional subscription for the postholder; however, it should be noted that this may count as a taxable benefit.

Learning and Development

The Authority provides all staff with access to LinkedIn Learning which gives access to a wide range of content to support individual learning and development. In addition, the Authority supports a wide range of professional qualification training and attendance at relevant courses and conferences to support continuing professional development.

Staff Discounts

All staff have access to the Wider Wallet scheme which gives access to discounts at a range of local shops and leisure venues.

Salary Sacrifice Schemes

All staff have access to salary sacrifice schemes covering:

Additional Voluntary Contributions
Cars (with CO2 emissions of 75g/km or less)
Cycle to Work (Pending).

Further details will be provided to the successful candidate on request.

About South Yorkshire Pension Authority

We are a growing public sector organisation with a team of around 130 staff who run the workplace pension scheme, managing a Fund of more than £11 billion on behalf of around 565 employing organisations, including Local Authorities and other public / not-for-profit sector bodies.

South Yorkshire Pensions Authority is responsible for administering the Local Government Pension Scheme in South Yorkshire. The Authority was created in 1988 as part of the arrangements put in place following the abolition of South Yorkshire Metropolitan County Council. The Authority itself is made up of 12 Councillors drawn from the 4 districts in the County.

The Pensions Authority's workforce is headed by the Director and is organised around three streams of activity, each led by an Assistant Director, reflecting the focus of its work in relation to:

Scheme members
Investment of the Pension Fund's assets, and
The running of the organisation

Structure of SYPA

Corporate Objectives

Values and Behaviours

How we achieve our objectives is as important to us as what we achieve, and we operate with a framework of values and behaviours which signify the type of organisation we want to be:

Values	Behaviours
Honest and Accountable	Telling it like it is, and taking responsibility for our actions even when we have made a mistake
Progressive	Welcoming of change while taking sensible risks and learning from our mistakes and from others
Professional	Being highly skilled and competent and managerially applying rationally
Empowering	Providing the freedom for individuals to identify and implement solutions to problems

In addition, if we are to live those values then our managers must demonstrate specific management behaviours as shown below:

Management Behaviours	Demonstrated By:
We model positive behaviours to each other and to all staff	We regularly offer encouragement and praise for positive behaviours We challenge inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour We give and receive authentic feedback We hold staff to account for their performance
We take responsibility for improvement - within a clear framework	We get on with making improvements and changes rather than wait for permissions (Within a clear advice frame that sets out what we can get on with and what we can't). We trust people to do their job, we don't micromanage. We give a heads up when we plan something new, we speak up early when there is a problem or when things aren't going well. When something doesn't go well, we look for what we can learn and what we can do differently next time.
We all get behind a common goal	We have a clear vision that sets out what our goals are and clear priorities which set out what our most important changes are. We make the time to understand what we need to do to contribute to that vision. We work together across the organisation and contribute to the organisation as a whole. We challenge and question rumours and use discretion in sharing what gets discussed amongst managers.
We involve and engage people in decisions that will affect them	We keep people in the loop about things that will affect them. We seek and value the opinion of the people we manage and of other teams. We take the time to set out plans, then listen to the concerns and recommendations of those involved as to ho we can strengthen those plans. We communicate regularly and clearly to all staff.

About Barnsley - South Yorkshire

A region of transformation

South Yorkshire is full of pleasant surprises. Once an industrial heartland, the region has been transformed into a 21st Century playground with a passion for music, sport, and culture.

So, alongside some of the UK’s best shopping, family attractions and nightlife, you’ll find some of UK’s finest Gothic architecture, museums, and Victorian monuments. As with all of Yorkshire, you’re only ever a stone’s throw from magnificent scenery, making it a great place to live.

Throughout Yorkshire, tourism generates more than £9 billion per annum supporting 225,000 jobs.

Barnsley: A Town Reinvented

Barnsley, a historic market town first mentioned in the Domesday Book, proudly showcases its heritage through castles, museums, and cultural centres. Surrounded by ancient villages and historic parkland, and bordering the Peak District National Park, it offers the perfect balance of history, nature, and modern living.

In recent years, Barnsley has undergone award-winning regeneration, transforming its town centre into a destination hub for shopping, entertainment, and dining. The innovative approach even brings health services onto the high street, creating a modern, accessible space for residents and visitors alike.

This transformation is delivering results. Footfall has soared, and according to a recent BBC feature, Barnsley is expected to rival York thanks to its strong retail offer, vibrant activities, and popular events such as the Christmas market and food festival. At the heart of this success is The Glass Works development, which combines independent shops, big-name brands, cultural attractions, and the town’s famous markets in a stunning new setting.

Barnsley’s museums, theatres, stately homes, and heritage sites provide countless opportunities to explore its rich industrial roots in coal mining and glassmaking, while enjoying a thriving cultural scene.

Contact us and Apply

For an informal confidential discussion about this opportunity, please contact our recruitment partners from The Resourcing Solution:

Charlotte Wilkinson - charlotte.wilkinson@northyorks.gov.uk

Penny Keatings - penny.keatings@northyorks.gov.uk

Key dates:

Closing date: Sunday 8 November (midnight)

Shortlisting date: Monday 9 November

Interview date: Wednesday 18 November (in-person, Oakwell House, Barnsley)

Please note, candidates shortlisted will be invited to complete an Occupational Personality Questionnaire (OPQ) assessment, if you have any questions relating to this, please get in touch, we are happy to help.

Apply:

To apply please provide us with your CV including a supporting statement in one Microsoft Word document. Your supporting statement should outline your motivation for applying and how you meet the criteria for the role.

Applications should be emailed to Executive.ResourcingSolutions@northyorks.gov.uk. Please do not send PDFs.

It is important that your CV includes: your full contact details (telephone, email, address), full employment history (name of employer, job titles, dates of employment and salary), full education history (qualification, grade, dates and place of study), explanation of any gaps in employment and the contact details of at least two referees including your current / most recent employer indicating whether you consent to us contacting each referee prior to interview. Please also provide details of your current salary and notice period.

South Yorkshire Pensions Authority is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity.

We are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff. We welcome applications from individuals regardless of age, any disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion, or belief.

We will not accept applications from agencies.

Your Privacy: South Yorkshire Pensions Authority is committed to protecting your privacy when you use our services. Please refer to the Privacy Statement which explains how we use information about you and how we protect your privacy.

Service Manager - Corporate Governance Services (Deputy Monitoring Officer)
Salary: £47,738 - £51,928 (2026/27 pay award pending) plus: benefits and relocation support

Welcome, and thank you for your interest in becoming South Yorkshire Pensions Authority’s next Service Manager - Corporate Governance Services (Deputy Monitoring Officer)