Diversity and Inclusion Lead

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity for a proactive and influential D&I Lead to drive forward our approach to diversity and inclusion within Acas. We are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader and are looking for someone who can work at pace to deliver impact.

You will develop strong relationships with key stakeholders across Acas, Trade Unions and staff networks. Using your expertise in equality legislation and policy, you will translate complex requirements and ambitions into practical actions, ensuring Acas meets its statutory obligations under the public sector equality duties.

You will oversee multiple project streams, coaching and supporting others to improve our diversity and inclusion practice at Acas. You will be confident in analysing data to identify trends, developing new areas of work in line with our strategy, and lead initiatives that build awareness, capability and cultural change across the organisation. You will provide professional advice and guidance to senior leaders and colleagues.

You will lead on the D&I work in Acas, including reporting on the Public Sector Equality Duty Objectives, Equality Report, Gender, Ethnicity and Disability pay gaps. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential, with demonstrable experience of writing blogs, reports, and giving presentations to a range of stakeholders, including Executive Board and Council.

You will have excellent people management skills and be confident at working with stakeholders across Acas, from senior leaders to network attendees. You will directly line manage one person and work with many others, including our networks co-chairs and fair treatment contacts.

This is a diverse role for an experienced diversity and inclusion professional who is passionate about making a difference in an organisation leading on best practice. You will have the opportunity to shape and influence our approach and lead initiatives that have a lasting impact on how we support our people and deliver our services. It’s a busy yet rewarding position that offers variety, visibility and the chance to work collaboratively across the organisation and beyond to create a truly inclusive and supportive culture.

Job description

Main Accountabilities

• Offer strategic leadership and direction, working across multiple workstreams including the D&I Plan and our Public Sector Equality Duty objectives in partnership with key stakeholders, to reach agreed success measures and metrics.
• Undertake MI data and analytics across key people activity to guide, identify, measure and report on a range of inclusion measures, including the data, evidence and the narrative for the Annual Equality Report; working with stakeholders to gather evidence, design interventions and publish the report.
• Provide coaching, support, guidance and leadership to Acas’ internal employee networks, and Fair Treatment Contacts, ensuring activity is supportive of Acas’s wider goals and creates meaningful change.
• Provide expert inclusion specialist support / advice for Acas around casework/workplace adjustments and ensuring legislative requirements are being met, integrating inclusion into HR Practices.
• Working with other stakeholders, lead on D&I communication in Acas with a clear communication plan raising awareness through regular articles and events and leading on the programme for National Inclusion Week 2025.
• Responsible for line management of a Diversity Officer and leading volunteers.

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 – 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.

Person specification

Technical

Essential Criteria:

• An excellent knowledge of diversity and inclusion, including the intersectionality of diversity streams, the Equality Act 2010 and how to apply it.

The following Technical Essential Criteria will be assessed at interview only:

• An understanding of how to interpret data to make decisions.
• Excellent writing and communication skills able to adapt for a variety of stakeholders.

Experience:

Essential Criteria:

• Demonstratable experience of leadership in the development, implementation, evaluation and communication of D&I programmes of work, directly relating to business objectives and strategy, including reporting to Executive Boards/Exco (Lead).
• Experience of using management information systems to extract, interpret and evaluate data, identifying emerging trends, understanding barriers and tracking interventions which support EDI outcomes, evidencing need and impact (Lead).
• Evidence of strong organisational and planning skills, overseeing multiple workstreams and delivering at pace.
• Line management and leadership experience and experience of managing volunteers and influencing upwards.
• Experience of drafting and advising on D&I policies, writing reports and preparing briefs and comms for senior leaders.
• Excellent written communication skills and strong presentation skills, with the ability to tailor information to diverse audiences and share information in a clear way to motivate and engage colleagues.

Desirable Criteria:

• Collaborative - good interpersonal skills and evidence of forging relationships across a range of business areas, professions, cross government or external networks to deliver outcomes.
• Resilient and adaptable - flexible and willing to embrace change, seeking to continually develop and bringing a growth mindset into your delivery and relationships.

Qualifications

CIPD Level 5 or equivalent experience. Please briefly outline your relevant experience in your application form when answering the qualification question.

Behaviours

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

• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing

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 any more?

You’ll 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

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 and Experience.

How to apply

Please click on the 'Apply now' button.

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

A CV, this will be for information purposes only and will not be scored.

An evidence-based Statement of Suitability reflecting the essential and desirable Experience and Technical requirements as listed in the Job Description. Your statement of suitability should be no longer than 1,250 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 Criteria:

• Demonstratable experience of leadership in the development, implementation, evaluation and communication of D&I programmes of work, directly relating to business objectives and strategy, including reporting to Executive Boards/Exco.

And

• Experience of using management information systems to extract, interpret and evaluate data, identifying emerging trends, understanding barriers and tracking interventions which support EDI outcomes, evidencing need and impact.

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, you will be invited to an interview via MS Teams which is likely to take place the week commencing 9 February 2026. The interview will be a Behaviour and Technical interview and will also include a written Technical exercise.

The Behaviours which will be assessed at interview are:

• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing

The Technical Criteria which will be assessed at interview will be:

• An excellent knowledge of diversity and inclusion, including the intersectionality of diversity streams, the Equality Act 2010 and how to apply it.
• An understanding of how to interpret data to make decisions (via a written assessment).
• Excellent writing and communication skills able to adapt for a variety of stakeholders (via a written assessment).

A reserve list will be created for this position, this means that if you have passed the interview, but we couldn’t offer you this position, you’ll be on a reserve list for 12 months and may be considered for similar positions.

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 aim to make Reasonable Adjustments that support your needs where possible. If you require any changes to help you apply:

• Contact Acas HR Recruitment Service via HRRecruitment@acas.org.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
• Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need accessibility considerations to enter the building or interview room, for communications or adjustments for testing procedures.
• Find out more about the Disability Confident Scheme and Reasonable Adjustments.

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.

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

Security

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

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.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.

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
• Email : HRRecruitment@acas.org.uk
• Telephone : N/A

Recruitment team

• Email : HRRecruitment@acas.org.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Code and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact us on 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 - Diversity and Inclusion Lead Opens in new window (docx, 41kB)