Collective Conciliator (Southeast Region)

Job summary

The purpose of the role is to:

• Provide a highly effective professional collective dispute resolution service through the personal management and resolution of collective conciliation cases and the appropriate handling of collective mediation and arbitration cases
• Primary geographical focus for this role will be Kent, Sussex and Surrey, with the expectation of an ability to work out of area on occasion
• Identify opportunities to improve the collective conciliation process.
• Build collective conciliation expertise and enhance the Acas reputation
• Support and promote the development of collective dispute resolution services across external stakeholders
• Build and maintain strong internal and external stakeholder relationships with both Trade Union and Employer representatives
• Support the delivery of the Advice and Business Solutions function by a shared approach to diagnosis and brokerage of business, trade union and employee requirements

Job description

The postholder's main accountabilities will include the following:

• Service Delivery - Accountable for working with the parties in dispute to find a jointly acceptable resolution.
• Acting Impartially - Accountable for acting independently and impartially in the progression and resolution of collective conciliation, mediation and arbitration cases.
• Dispute Management - Accountable for managing collective disputes either self-identified or referred/allocated from initial contact and diagnostics through to successful outcome/resolution for all parties involved. At all times working towards a joint resolution.
• Pre-conciliation talks - Accountable for actively and repeatedly contacting parties in disputes which have been apprehended in order to maximise opportunities for progression to full collective conciliation (previously referred to as ‘running alongside’), seeking to convert as many disputes as possible to collective conciliation, and fully recording this activity.
• Recording of activity - Accountable for recording each dispute correctly, within the time limits defined by the agreed operating procedures (currently 3 days) keeping records up to date and accurate as required by operating procedures.
• IC multiple disputes - Accountable for leading in workplace disputes identified and allocated through the IC Multiple route, and in line with protocols.
• Effective Communication - Accountable for maintaining good effective and open communications across all parties throughout the conciliation process, including employer bodies, individual employers and relevant trade union officials and representatives.
• Stakeholder Relationships - Accountable for building and maintaining effective external stakeholder relationships to support the identification of future disputes and to build and maintain the reputation of Acas, including with Trade Union officials and HR and business representatives.
• Employer diagnostic activity - Accountable for carrying out introductory diagnostic meetings with employers and/or trade unions, to identify opportunities for appropriate intervention by self or by colleagues or others in order to address the given issue, in line with agreed operating procedures, including but not limited to identifying opportunities for an intervention at or near dispute and/or a joint problem-solving exercise.
• Collective Arbitration and Mediation - Accountable for developing appropriate Terms of Reference where the parties have agreed to participate in Acas collective arbitration or mediation.
• Colleague Development - Accountable for supporting the development of colleagues to improve understanding of management and resolution of collective conciliation disputes.
• Complex Group Mediations - Accountable for working with all parties in dispute to find a solution in complex group mediations.
• External TU and Employer Relationships - Accountable for developing and maintain relationships with Trade Union officials and HR and business representatives to enhance Acas’ services.
• Business Referral - Accountable for identifying and cross-referring opportunities for income generation, business development, training, advisory and other services in line with agreed protocols.
• Subject Matter Expert support - Accountable for providing subject matter expertise to a range of internal colleagues including but not limited to digital and workplace policy teams.

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, manage and resolve workplace issues.

Acas helps employers and employees by providing information, advice, training, conciliation and other services that prevent, manage 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; it has been Disability Confident Highly Commended, a Pay Gap award winner, and an 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.

Person specification

The successful applicant will have the following:

Essential technical criteria

• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills (Lead)
• Ability to think critically, research and persuade in negotiations.
• Strong listening skills
• Organisation and time-management and ability to effectively manage own workloads

Essential experience criteria

• Prior and recent experience in Individual and Group Conciliation or Mediation (Lead)
• Up to date knowledge of Employment Law
• Ability to apply relevant laws, regulations, policies, or precedents to reach conclusions

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,750, Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service contributes £13,543 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

Could you ask for anymore?

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

To find out more, check out: Working for Acas

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements 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, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

How to apply

Please click on the 'Apply now' button.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

• An evidence-based Personal Statement reflecting the essential Experience and Technical requirements as listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. Your Personal Statement should be no longer than 750 words. It should avoid generalised assertions, instead including specific examples of achievements, explaining the degree of challenge, what you did and the outcomes.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the:

• Lead essential technical criterion: Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills
• Lead essential experience criterion: Prior and recent experience in Individual and Group Conciliation or Mediation

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift of all the above requirements or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

If a large number of applications meet the minimum standard an interview wait list may be created for this position. This means that if you have met the minimum requirements at sift you may be placed at a ‘Hold’ status for up to 12 months and if we are able to invite you to an interview we will be in touch.

Interview Details

If you have successfully passed sift at the application stage, you will be invited to an interview via Microsoft Teams, which is likely to take place from the week commencing 23 March 2026.

It will be a Behaviour and Strengths based interview, and it will also include a Presentation that will be used to assess your Experience (the presentation question and instructions will be sent to candidates who are invited to interview).

The following Behaviours will be assessed at Interview:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

A reserve list will be created for this position; this means that if you have passed the interview, but we cannot immediately offer you this position, you will be placed on a reserve list for 12 months and may be considered for similar positions during that time.

Reasonable Adjustments

As a Disability Confident Leader, Acas is committed to creating an inclusive recruitment process. If you have a disability and feel that any part of the recruitment process puts you at a disadvantage, we will work with you to make Reasonable Adjustments that support your needs. If you require any changes to help you apply:

• Please contact the Acas Recruitment Team via HRrecruitment@acas.org.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
• Please complete the “Assistance Required” section on the “Additional Requirements” page of your application form to let us know about any adjustments or support you may need during the recruitment process. For example, this might include accessibility arrangements for entering a building or interview room, communication support, modifications to assessment methods, etc.
• You can find out more about the Disability Confident Scheme and Reasonable Adjustments by clicking these links.

Want to learn more about Civil Service recruitment? You can find out more on Civil Service Careers, including information on Success Profiles, writing a Personal Statement, acceptable use of Artificial Intelligence, and what to expect at Interview.

For applicants requiring a visa to work in the UK

Please be advised that Acas does not hold a sponsorship licence so cannot consider sponsoring a visa applicant or issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

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

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : HR Recruitment Team
• Email : HRRecruitment@acas.org.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : HRRecruitment@acas.org.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Code and wish to make a complaint, you should contact us on via HRrecruitment@acas.org.uk in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from us, you can contact the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

Job Description - G8 Collective Conciliator (Fleet) Opens in new window (docx, 43kB)