Better salary and position or better pension

[Foreverundecided]

Hoping to get some insights on a job choice I'm faced with
So after taking a few years out of work to focus on my young DC I decided it was time to return to my career and I've ended up with two job offers

Firstly both are good jobs in the profession in which i am qualified in and both flexible mainly working from home

The first job is in the private sector and is actually a promotion from where I left off , this job is better pay
It's flexible and it sounds like a exciting opportunity to make some big changes
They seemed really excited by my previous experience and want me to come in and make some big changes which really excites me
The salary for this job is just over 60k

The second job is a area of the civil service
It's actually a backwards step in terms of position however pay is roughly the same what I earned before I took my break
It is in a interesting area however they've been quite vague about what I will actually be doing
Obivously the benefit here is the defined benefit pension scheme , it's alpha for any one who knows about it
The salary for this job is 53k

Benefits to the first job are the better salary plus they offer a good bonus scheme
I'd be in a slighter higher position than pre kids and the position I was actually looking to step into previously
I'd report directly to the Director and it's a massive company so lots of room to progress
The area is similar to the area I worked in pre kids and I think I could make massive improvements

The second job has the amazing pension however I'd be a step back and previously in said position also in a government funded organisation not civil service I was often reminded of the hierarchy and put in my place and felt I couldn't do the job to the best of my ability due to this , I worry it could be similar
However this might not be the case at all

Also the first job have had me in to meet the team and to their Christmas night out and seem excited to have me

The civil service job sent me a generic offer and told me they don't know who I will be reporting to as they are off sick and no further communication

It's also worthwhile to note I'm 31 so quite a while away from retiring

Thanks in advance

Job one without doubt. You’ll have more career progression and it’s more important to enjoy what you do. As others have said, use the extra cash to make AVCs or build investments in a stocks and shares ISA

Absolutely job 1. It's clear you're much more enthusiastic about it, it will give you more time at home, and with the extra money and bonus and overall potential surely that makes up for the CS pension?

Thank you for all the input

The civil service is definitely a backwards step in that it's actually less a couple of thousand less than my previous salary and the position is lower

I was actually expecting I might of needed to take a backwards step after taking a break so it wasn't a pleasant surprise to find this isn't the case

Seen some suggestions about CB but we don't qualify for it due to DH's earnings
He also has a good pension and has been putting extra away incase I wanted longer at home

Like many comments here DH also thinks I should take the private company job offer as he thinks I won't be at either of them for the rest of my career as i'd like to progress further

I think I am leaning to the private offer but putting the extra into my own private pension

I was just hoping I wasn't been silly to not take the DB pension