Individual Conciliator

Job summary

The key role for an Individual Conciliator is to resolve potential or actual employment disputes that would otherwise result in an employment tribunal hearing.

Conciliators deal with potential and actual employment tribunal claims which can cover any area of employment law or employment relations. They don’t take sides, working instead to persuade all parties of the benefits of resolving disputes at an early stage. Their work involves discussing the strengths and weaknesses of cases with the parties concerned, with a view to reaching mutually satisfactory outcomes which are legally binding.

Job description

• Conciliators facilitate and promote the positive resolution of workplace disputes involving individual employment rights or working relationships through settlement or withdrawal of potential or actual complaints to the employment tribunal.
• They proactively manage a large caseload and respond to allocated work promptly, with the aim of resolving disputes at the earliest possible stage.
• They also assist parties who are often experiencing very challenging circumstances. Many claims involve concerns of discrimination and unfair treatment, and calls can frequently include expressions of frustration and distress. Therefore, conciliators must be empathetic and sensitive, yet also resilient in managing repeated interactions with parties who may require substantial support and patience.
• Conciliation is undertaken through telephone conversations with parties but also face to face using digital platforms or occasionally in person to enhance the prospect of resolution. This involves discussing the case, the applicable employment law and influencing and negotiating with parties with a view to resolving the dispute.
• Conciliators contribute to the wider Acas mission of improving employment relations, by identifying and exploring opportunities to raise awareness of the wider work of Acas, promoting other Acas services as appropriate.
• As part of their development, Conciliators are encouraged to train as Individual Mediator’s to support delivery Acas’ mediation services alongside their conciliation role.
• Following completion of your training, you will be assigned to either an individual caseload or a team caseload in line with business needs and operational requirements at that time.

We expect to make appointments from this recruitment throughout 2026 / 2027, in merit order and by location preference as required.

Virtual Information Session

Please come along to our virtual information session where you will hear from current Acas staff to provide an opportunity for you to learn more about Acas, the role and benefits within the organisation.

• Date: Tuesday 23 June 2026
• Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Click Here to Join Meeting

We would advise candidates to attend the event before submitting an application. You will find further information in the attached Candidate Information Pack.

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 applicants will have the following:

Essential Experience Criteria

• Can communicate confidently using excellent verbal and written communications
• Ability to proactively manage a large workload, responding to allocated cases promptly and able to adapt to challenges
• Ability to explain complex concepts, often to people with no knowledge of the subject matter, using clear appropriate language
• Ability to build a professional rapport whilst remaining independent
• Ability to influence parties to move them towards resolution whilst maintaining independence and balance

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £36,547, Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service contributes £10,587 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:

• A 250 word Behaviour Statement on Communicating and Influencing
• An evidence-based Personal Statement reflecting the Essential Experience 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.
• A separate 250-word statement reflecting the Desirable criteria. Desirable criteria will only be assessed in the event of a tie-breaker scenario at interview.

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

• A 250 word Behaviour Statement on Communicating and Influencing

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, you will be invited to an interview via MS Teams which is likely to take place during the weeks commencing 10 August 2026 and 17 August 2026.

It will be a Behaviours, Experience, and Strengths based interview.

The following Behaviours will be assessed at Interview:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

The following Essential Experience criteria will be assessed at Interview:

• Can communicate confidently using excellent verbal and written communications.
• Ability to proactively manage a large workload, responding to allocated cases promptly and able to adapt to challenges

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 in your location.

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.

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 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 - Individual Conciliator Opens in new window (docx, 37kB)464831 - Individual Conciliator - Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 469kB)