Any National Acas Office (Excludes London) with an element of working from home. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in Great Britain and not overseas. You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process. Informal hybrid arrangements are available and the balance between home and workplace working is to be agreed with the line manager to achieve the right balance between collaboration, in-person engagement and flexibility.

Great Britain is currently undergoing one of the biggest phases of employment rights reforms in recent decades. Acas plays a major role in informing policy development with practical workplace insights and developing statutory codes of practice and guidance to support these changes. This is an exciting time to join us as we expand our policy teams to help Acas shape the design and implementation of reforms which will affect the lives of millions of people at work.

 

As a Senior Policy Adviser or Senior Policy Adviser and Planning Officer, you will:

• Monitor a wide range of public policy debates and legal developments, draw together evidence and undertake analysis to lead on shaping Acas's stance on key issues affecting businesses and working life in Britain.
• Write clear, engaging briefings setting out evidence-based positions and impartial recommendations to develop consensus and inform strategic decision-making at a senior level in Acas.
• Take a lead role in developing Acas's statutory codes of practice and responses to public consultations.
• Create persuasive narratives promoting Acas's impartial view on good workplace practices and write papers and commentary for publication on the Acas website, on social media and for use at conferences and events.
• Build strong stakeholder relationships inside and outside Acas, identifying and developing opportunities to improve the world of work through influencing government policymaking and supporting the development of Acas's advisory products and services.
  
  

Main Accountabilities

As set out below, the main accountabilities apply to both roles with further distinct accountabilities applying to the Senior Policy Adviser and Planning Officer role.

1. Horizon scan to understand the external environment

• Undertake systematic horizon scanning and analysis of multiple sources to understand Acas's political, economic and social environment and emerging issues, challenges and policy debates in the world of work.
• Capture the unique insights of Acas's frontline staff through analysis of data from Acas's services and engaging directly with Acas colleagues.
  
  

2. Develop Acas's stance and voice on workplace issues

• Develop Acas's thinking on key issues through analysis of a range of evidence and information sources.
• Develop positions and recommendations grounded in Acas's impartiality and independence.
• Create new and/or review and develop Acas statutory codes of practice in light of policy or regulatory changes and new evidence on workplace practices.
  
  

3. Produce informative, insightful and persuasive analysis, commentary and briefings on public policy issues

• Produce internal briefing papers and deliver engaging presentations to ensure senior Acas leaders and colleagues are aware of key developments and the implications for Acas and its users.
• Write papers and commentary for external audiences across a range of channels, including Acas responses to public consultations, discussion papers and blogs, and delivering presentations at external events.
  
  

4. Consult and advise Acas Council and Executive Board

• Provide clear and timely information to the Acas Council and Executive via papers on emerging policy issues setting out risks, options and recommendations. This can involve rapid turnaround of clear and accurate briefings and lines-to-take on key issues.
  
  

5. Build positive relationships with external public policy makers, including government and other stakeholders

• Adopt a constructive, problem-solving approach to engage with government, social partners and other stakeholders to shape and inform public policy on the world of work. This includes advising and influencing the Department for Business and Trade, as well as employer and employee representative bodies, think tanks, academic researchers and third sector campaign groups.
  
  

6. Identify and develop opportunities to turn Acas's policy positions and stakeholder partnerships into Acas products and services

• Share policy analysis, insights and expertise and work collaboratively with Acas's website guidance and training product teams to support the development of online guidance and other advisory products.
  
  

7. Identify areas for new policy development by Acas

• Identify opportunities for new Acas research to address evidence gaps.
• Collaborate with the Acas research team to commission new research, using findings to develop new policy positions.
  
  

8. Manage projects, engage others and report progress

• Work collaboratively with colleagues to ensure projects are well-managed and delivered at pace to time, budget and quality. Contribute progress and impact reports to inform Acas broader programme of work and organisational reporting.
• Support Acas to align its internal policies with external best practice, informing, advising and collaborating with HR. (Note this does not include accountability for developing internal HR policies.)
  
  

Additional accountabilities for the Senior Policy Adviser and Planning Officer role:

• This role will have responsibility for coordinating, supporting and facilitating colleagues within and beyond the policy teams to collaborate, prioritise work and keep to deadlines. This responsibility will account for up to 50% of this role.
• The role-holder will work with the Heads of Workplace Policy and senior colleagues to ensure the smooth running of the overall policy teams' programme of work, monitor and support progress against our plans, and ensure dependencies are managed and change is controlled. For example, you will create, update and disseminate within Acas the overall policy programme timetable to ensure alignment with the implementation timetable for the Government's employment regulation reforms.
• This role is particularly important as the policy teams are expanding so existing systems need to be maintained, processes created where there are gaps, and new strengths built in the policy teams' culture.
  
  

Who we are

Acas exists to make working life better for everyone in Britain. We are the experts in workplace matters, we're impartial, so we're not on anyone's side. That means we're working for everyone to help prevent and resolve workplace issues.

Acas helps employers and employees by providing information, advice, training, conciliation and other services that prevent or resolve workplace problems.

Acas: Britain's Workplace Experts

Acas has been recognised for its Diversity and Inclusion in the workplace from the Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion awards - Disability Confident Highly Commended; Pay Gap award winner and Overall winner for public sector organisations. Acas is committed to providing services and developing policies which embrace diversity, promote equality of opportunity and eliminate unlawful discrimination.

Experience

As set out below, the essential criteria apply to both roles with further distinct criteria applying to the 'Senior Policy Adviser and Planning Officer' role.

Essential criteria:

• Sound knowledge of good employment relations and workplace practices, employment law and current public policy issues affecting employers and workers in Britain (Lead).
• Experience of horizon scanning to build and maintain an understanding of public policy issues and/or developments in employment law and workplace practices.
• Experience of developing policy positions, including use of evidence and making recommendations to influence public policymaking and/or workplace practices.
• Experience of producing concise and clear written outputs to influence debates on workplace practices, employment regulation or related public policy issues.
• Experience of advising senior leaders on complex issues and presenting with credibility and confidence to have influence and impact.
  
  

The 'Senior Policy Adviser and Planning Officer' role will have responsibility for coordinating, supporting and facilitating colleagues within and beyond the policy teams to ensure the smooth running of the overall policy teams' programme of work, monitoring and supporting progress against our plans, and ensuring dependencies are managed and change is controlled. For that role only, further essential criteria are:

• Planning and prioritising - experience of project/programme management involving supporting teams to plan. Working knowledge of project/programme management documentation and processes.
• Collaboration and co-ordination - experience organising multi-disciplinary teams from beyond line management to ensure they work together collaboratively towards a unified goal.
• Data and reporting - experience co-ordinating across several teams and managing complex information returns from multiple contributors, synthesising it and presenting it in an accessible way that tells a clear story on planned work, dependencies and timelines, tracks progress and monitors risk.
  
  

Desirable criteria:

• For both roles: Experience of working with diverse external partners with different styles and objectives (stakeholders, employers, social partners and/or public policy makers) and developing partnerships to extend reach and influence.
• For the 'Senior Policy Adviser' role: Experience of project and/or programme management, including timetabling, collaboration, reporting and risk management.
  
  

Technical

As set out below, the technical criteria apply to both roles.

Essential criteria:

Analytical and drafting skills, specifically ability to:

• Effectively interrogate and explore underlying issues in a problem using simple analysis/problem-solving techniques and interpreting sources of data (eg reports, interviews, numerical evidence) accurately.
• Understand the core goal when problem-solving and frame it according to prospective impact on target groups varying by demographics, protected characteristics or workplace contexts.
• Develop policy options and recommendations taking account of opportunities and risks for Acas.
• Communicate effectively, selecting and presenting the right information in an accessible way, setting out arguments in simple, concise and compelling terms, and adopting most suitable tone and style for different audiences/purposes.
  
  

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
  
  

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Written Exercise
  
  

Alongside your salary of £45,170, Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service contributes £13,085 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

We're big believers in rewarding people for the amazing work they do, take a look at some of the fantastic benefits we offer: 

• Learning and Development;
• Health and wellbeing;
• Pension scheme;
• Cycle to work scheme;
• Interest free season ticket loans;
• Volunteering opportunities.
  

You'll also have access to a Lifestyle website, where you'll be able to grab savings over a wide range of products from holidays to your weekly shop. 

To find out more please check out - Working for Acas

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

 

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Job contact:

• Name: HR Recruitment Team
• Email: [email protected]
  
  

Recruitment team

• Email: [email protected]