Debt Policy and Practices Lead

• Salary: £60,170 - £71,430
• Contract Type: Permanent
• Working Pattern: This post is available on a full-time, part-time or job-share basis, and flexible working hours can be accommodated.
• Location: London / Darlington

About the Team

The centre for the Government Debt Management Function (GDMF) is a team of 14, based in the Public Spending Group in HM Treasury. We provide expertise and strategic leadership to align debt management throughout public sector entities and improve how overdue debt is prevented and resolved.

Ensuring that people or businesses are paying or repaying what is due to government is critical for funding public services and supporting confidence in our systems. Through our work, we address non-compliance so that no one is better off by not paying. We also work across government bodies, industry and advice organisations to ensure that people and small business owners who struggle to pay through financial, mental or physical vulnerability, are supported, can consider what is genuinely affordable and are prevented from falling into further financial difficulty.

This means that we ensure debt recovery and enforcement activity focuses on those who are deliberately trying to avoid repaying their debts.

Our 2026–2030 Government Debt Management Strategy, Functional Standard and toolkits set expectations for consistent, visible and fair practice. Our capability work also helps build a professional and innovative debt workforce across government.

The team offers varied work, the opportunity to influence policy across government and a supportive, collaborative environment in which everyone can contribute and develop.

About the Job

Some of the responsibilities of this role will include:

1. Leading the development of evidence-based guidelines and initiatives that support government to prevent debt arising and resolve overdue debt.
2. Bringing together experts in debt frameworks and operations from across government, the advice sector and the private sector to identify shared challenges and develop coordinated, practical solutions.
3. Supervising emerging issues related to debt oversight while developing clear mentorship. This mentorship helps public bodies manage risks and improve outcomes for people and businesses. It includes individuals experiencing financial hardship or repayment barriers.
4. Gathering and interpreting data, evidence and user research to inform approaches to debt management and improve the consistency and efficiency of how government manages and resolves debt.
5. Building effective relationships within government entities and with external partners, drawing on their expertise to develop guidelines on debt management and support shared priorities.

As Debt Policy and Practices Lead, you will develop evidence-based policy and practical projects to improve how government prevents and resolves overdue debt. Your work will contribute to the delivery of the 2026–2030 Government Debt Management Strategy, protecting public money and ensuring debt is recovered efficiently, effectively and fairly.

You will take an innovative approach to complex debt policy challenges, drawing on evidence, user research and sector expertise. We will rely on you to identify emerging issues, develop guidance and turn ideas into practical improvements in government debt management.

You will bring together operational departments, policy teams, finance colleagues, advice organisations and private sector experts to develop coordinated solutions. The tasks you undertake will support consistent, proportionate approaches, including for individuals and organizations facing financial difficulty or barriers to repayment.

About You

We are looking for someone with deep debt management knowledge, strong policy skills, and an understanding of operational challenges and strategic awareness. You will communicate complex issues clearly, build effective relationships and provide well-supported advice to government organisations, ministers and senior officials. You will lead projects, exercise sound judgement and deliver practical outcomes while responding flexibly to changing priorities.

Some of the Benefits our people love!

• 25 days annual leave (rising to 30 after 5 years), plus 8 public holidays and the King’s birthday (unless you have a legacy arrangement as an existing Civil Servant). Additionally, we operate flexitime systems, allowing employees to take up to an additional 2 days off each month
• Flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours)
• Generous parental and adoption leave packages
• Access to a generous Defined Benefit pension scheme with employer contributions of 28.97%
• Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme and season ticket advances
• A range of active staff networks, based around interests (e.g. analysts, music society, sports and social club) and diversity

For more information about the role and how to apply, please follow the apply link.

If you need any reasonable adjustments to take part in the selection process, please tell us about this in your online application form.