Head of Strategic Change

Job summary

As the demand for Acas services increases, we need to review how we deliver these needs in a novel and cost-effective manner. Acas has secured Transformation Fund budget from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT – our parent department) to look at ways in which Artificial Intelligence (AI) could be utilised to ensure cost effective service delivery. The organisation also has significant business as usual activity which must continue to be delivered during this period of significant investment and change.

As a senior leader within the Acas Senior Leadership Team, the Head of Strategic Change will shape the long-term transformation direction of the organisation, ensuring our portfolio of change is ambitious, coherent, strategically sequenced and delivered, fully aligned to future capability and service needs. The role will focus on horizon scanning, future design and planning, and organisational readiness.

Operating at the centre of Acas, the postholder will:

• Define and steer a forward‑looking, 3–5-year change strategy, enabling Acas to anticipate and respond to social, economic, technological, regulatory and business change
• Advise and influence senior leaders, providing the direction, frameworks and insight needed to make informed strategic choices about future investment and organisational capability
• Build organisational maturity in portfolio management, benefits realisation, and change leadership
• Lead the Acas Portfolio Management Office (PMO) team, driving the adoption of modern portfolio practices, in line with wider Civil Service standards
• Support and challenge Directors during this period of significant change

Job description

The postholder's main accountabilities will include the following:

Strategic Portfolio Leadership

• Set thelong‑term portfolio vision aligned to future organisational strategy, technological opportunities, and emerging service needs;
• Lead horizon scanning to identify future trends, opportunities, and risks (e.g., AI readiness, digital channels, labour market changes, future regulatory landscapes);
• Convert strategic insights into a cohesive, future‑facing portfolio roadmap, sequencing change to maximise impact and organisational readiness.

Transformation Strategy and Design

• Shape and direct Acas’ transformation programmes, working with senior leaders to define future operating proposals and key areas of long-term transformation;
• Lead the design and adoption of modern delivery methodologies, partnering with digital, data, and AI specialists where appropriate;
• Facilitate cross‑organisational strategic conversations to agree future capabilities, service models and priorities.

Portfolio Governance and Assurance

• Establish and embed portfolio governance that prioritises strategic value, benefits realisation and long‑term ambition, rather than tactical delivery oversight, proportionate to business needs;
• Provide clear, strategic insights to the Executive Board to inform investment, trade‑offs, and resourcing decisions;
• Oversee benefits identification, tracking, and long-term realisation across all major change initiatives.

Organisational Readiness and Change Leadership

• Build Acas’ capacity and capability to deliver complex transformation, embedding modern change leadership practices and evidence‑based approaches;
• Develop organisational change capability, including training, guidance, and community‑of‑practice leadership;
• Support senior leaders to role‑model and sponsor successful change, ensuring clarity, alignment and intent across the organisation.

Stakeholder Influence and External Engagement

• Influence senior stakeholders inside and outside Acas, ensuring alignment across key partners (including DBT);
• Engage with cross‑government transformation networks to bring best practice into Acas.

Digital, Data, and Innovation Leadership

• Promote the use of modern digital, data and AI capabilities to unlock future efficiencies and service enhancements;
• Champion innovation and experimentation, supporting safe exploration of emerging technologies and new delivery models.

Some more generic responsibilities for all Heads:

They are required to create a sense of purpose for colleagues through highlighting connections between our work and the impact on our stakeholders. They will contribute to the development of the vision and strategic goals for Acas and inspire colleagues to be fully engaged in their work. And they will actively promote the reputation of Acas internally and externally, delivering difficult or complex messages with decisiveness, clarity and sensitivity, being persuasive or directive when required. They will promote diversity, inclusion and equality of opportunity, respecting difference and external experience, and they will ensure team members are accountable - empowered to make decisions, innovate and challenge. They will be expected to:

• Be self-aware and role-model continuous self-learning and development
• Lead your function to achieve its aims, drawing on best practice and innovation from across the public and private sector, where relevant
• Collaborate with others to achieve the goals of Acas and supporting your team to collaborate effectively
• Represent your function at the Senior Leadership Team and in other internal forums
• Effectively manage resources and budget within the Finance and Governance Directorate
• Role model Acas’ behaviours to lead by example in cultural development

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 experience

• Relevant proven experience of delivering positive and well accepted change within a 1,000+ people organisation and experience of leading successful change management programmes (Lead criterion)
• Experience of managing a diverse portfolio of work, including management of interdependencies, building stakeholder relationships, securing project resourcing etc.
• Experience working with senior leaders to shape change strategies and vision for future transformation
• Experience of identifying business needs and conducting the required analysis and of turning plans into clear actions.
• Excellent data analysis skills and the ability to present and explain numerical information clearly to a wide range of different stakeholders
• Effective communication and persuasion skills when dealing with senior stakeholders
• Experienced in working effectively and resiliently in a fast-changing environment
• Experienced in managing conflicting priorities, ensuring agreed outcomes and outputs are delivered
• Relevant qualification or equivalent professional experience

Essential technical experience

• Understanding of Change Management principles/models and utilisation within a medium/large organisation

Qualifications

Candidates must at least one of the following at the time of application:

•Managing Successful Programmes Practitioner
•PRINCE2 Practitioner
•Managing Successful Programmes Advanced Practitioner
•P3O Practitioner
•APM Chartered Project Professional
•Project Leadership Programme
•APM Project Management Qualification
•Managing Projects and Leading Workstreams
•Change management practitioner

Or equivalent professional experience - If using this as evidence, please explain in the text box that appears in the online application form.

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £76,123, Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service contributes £22,052 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 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 and CV reflecting the essential Experience requirements as listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. Your Personal Statement should be no longer than 1,000 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 experience criterion: Relevant proven experience of delivering positive and well accepted change within a 1,000+ people organisation and experience of leading successful change management programmes

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift of all the above requirements or progressed straight to 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 which will either take place via Microsoft Teams or Face-to-Face, and which will take place from the week commencing 13 July 2026.

It will be a Behaviours and Strengths based interview, and it will also include a Presentation (the presentation question and instructions will be sent to candidates who are invited to interview).

The following Behaviours will be assessed at Interview:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• 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 UKVI Sponsorship Licence, so we 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 - G6 Head of Strategic Change Opens in new window (docx, 41kB)