Senior Strategy and Policy Adviser

Job Summary

The purpose of the Strategy Unit is to support Acas to set and deliver against our strategic direction and raise strategic capability internally. This is an exciting time to join as we operationalise the first year of our new 5-year strategy to prevent, manage and resolve conflict at work.

This role is about taking our big ideas to improve workplace relations, developing options and plans for long-term change by Acas and through our stakeholders. A day in the life of this role could include producing a paper on what stakeholders are saying about industrial dispute, mapping the journey small businesses take through our services or producing an options paper for our board about behaviour change of employees. At times you will step back and look beyond the 5-year time horizon of our strategy, asking what the big, game-changing ideas are that we should think and talk about now so we can be well positioned far into the future.

The right person for this role is strategic and insightful, able to see beyond how things have always been done to what could be possible. You enjoy working independently as you deep dive on an issue, just as much as working with stakeholders and bringing together different views to build consensus. You are happy to engage in complexity and be pragmatic when the situation demands it.

This role will:

• Support the realisation of Acas's new 25-30 strategy by identifying the strategic levers and partners we should engage and offering consultancy to colleagues about how to apply the strategy to their service or product.
• Scope and deliver strategic projects to coordinate cross-organisational activity and colleagues to deliver a single strategic purpose.
• Support organisational strategic capability by compiling tools and creating templates.
• Champion and coordinate insight across Acas - ensuring insight on workplace relations in GB is captured, shared and used.

Job Description

The main accountabilities of this role are:

• Strategic projects: Manage and lead strategic projects as needed, particularly producing timely high-quality materials to scope, define and deliver projects. This may include: project initiation and scoping, desk research, running discoveries, producing recommendations of next steps for Acas, facilitating agreement, and establishing the means for implementation.
• Consultancy: Provide internal consultancy to colleagues, supporting strategic thinking and approaches, including working with internal customers to improve alignment between services, functions and products with the organisational strategy.
• System analysis: Analyse the systems Acas operates within to identify opportunities and key levers for change. Add to our understanding of influential bodies/entities and strategic partners to improve workplace relations in GB.
• Strategic policy: Develop Acas policy on long term strategic issues. Consider the wider environment, collaborate with the Acas research team to commission new research, use research findings, undertake independent research, horizon scanning, stakeholder engagement and networking to develop Acas thinking on the workplace relations system and steer recommendations through governance structures (Acas Council and Executive Board) to agreement.
• Insight: Develop strategic insights from context or data and work collaboratively to translate into action. Ensure insights from various sources are systematically captured. Share insight with relevant colleagues in a way that enables them to make changes. Spot opportunities for insight to be applied.

As a member of the Strategy and External Affairs Directorate you will:

• Promote diversity, inclusion and equality of opportunity, respecting difference and external experience.
• Be self-aware and role-model continuous self-learning and development.
• Collaborate with others to achieve the goals of Acas together.
• Effectively manage resources and budget where required.
• Work flexibly and collaboratively with those across the Directorate and wider Acas.
• Live the Acas values.

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

Experience

Essential Criteria:

• Managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders through design, definition and delivery (Lead Criteria).
• Written and oral communications - writing succinct, engaging reports, papers and slides to senior leadership, producing written outputs to influence debates, delivering presentations, workshop design and facilitation.
• Horizon scanning to build and maintain an understanding of public policy issues and/or legal developments.
• Developing policy positions, including using qualitative/quantitative analysis and making recommendations to influence policy making and/or workplace practices.
• Analysis and insight - experience synthesising complex information, data, research, MI into clear analysis and recommendations for action.
• Advising senior leaders on complex issues and presenting with credibility and confidence to have influence and impact.
• Working with external stakeholders and partners to build consensus, influence change and achieve organisational objectives.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience of providing consultancy to internal or external clients on strategic projects or organisational problems.
• Sound knowledge of good employment relations and workplace practices, employment law, and key issues affecting employers and workers in Britain.

Offered Benefits

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 Life style website, were 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

Selection Process Details

How to apply

Please click on the 'Apply now' button on the Civil Service Jobs listing.

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

An evidence-based Statement of Suitability and CV reflecting the essential Experience requirements as listed in the Job Description. Your statement of suitability 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. Please address the lead criteria first.

A separate 250-word statement on the Technical essential criteria.

A separate 250-word statement reflecting the Experience desirable criteria.

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

Lead Criteria: Managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders through design, definition and delivery.

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 5 January 2026. The interview will be a Behaviour and Experience interview and will also include a Presentation.

The Behaviours assessed at interview will be; Seeing the Big Picture and Working Together.

The Presentation will assess the essential criteria: 'Written and oral communications - writing succinct, engaging reports, papers and slides to senior leadership, producing written outputs to influence debates, delivering presentations, workshop design and facilitation'.

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.
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