Policy Adviser

Any National Acas Office (Excludes London) with an element of working from home. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in Great Britain and not overseas. You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process. Informal hybrid arrangements are available and the balance between home and workplace working is to be agreed with the line manager to achieve the right balance between collaboration, in-person engagement and flexibility.

Job Summary
Great Britain is currently undergoing one of the biggest phases of employment rights reforms in recent decades. Acas plays a major role in informing policy development with practical workplace insights and developing statutory codes of practice and guidance to support these changes. This is an exciting time to join us as we expand our policy teams to help Acas shape the design and implementation of reforms which will affect the lives of millions of people at work.

Job Description
As a
Policy Adviser
, you will:

• Monitor a wide range of public policy debates and legal developments, draw together evidence and undertake analysis to help shape Acas's stance on key issues affecting businesses and working life in Britain.
• Write clear, engaging briefings setting out evidence-based positions and impartial recommendations to develop consensus and inform Acas's strategic decision-making about influencing public policy on the world of work.
• Support the development of Acas's statutory codes of practice and responses to public consultations.
• Help create persuasive narratives promoting Acas's impartial view on good workplace practices and write papers and commentary for publication on the Acas website, on social media and for use at conferences and events.
• Build strong stakeholder relationships inside and outside Acas, identifying and developing opportunities to improve the world of work through influencing government policymaking and supporting the development of Acas's advisory products and services.

The Main Accountabilities Of This Role Are:

• Horizon scan to understand the external environment
• Undertake systematic horizon scanning and analysis of multiple sources to understand Acas's external political, economic and social environment and emerging issues, challenges and policy debates in the world of work.
• Capture the unique insights of Acas's frontline staff through analysis of data from Acas's services and engaging directly with Acas colleagues.
• Develop Acas's stance and voice on workplace issues
• Help develop Acas's thinking on key public policy issues through analysis of a range of evidence and information sources.
• Help develop positions and recommendations grounded in Acas's impartiality and independence.
• Support the review and development of Acas statutory codes of practice in light of policy or regulatory changes and new evidence on workplace practices.
• Produce informative, insightful and persuasive analysis, commentary and briefings on public policy issues
• Produce internal briefing papers and deliver engaging presentations to ensure senior Acas leaders and colleagues are aware of key developments and the implications for Acas and its users.
• Write papers and commentary for external audiences across a range of channels, including supporting the development of Acas responses to public consultations, writing blogs, and contributing to presentations for external events.
• Work collaboratively on written outputs, including providing peer commentary and editorial support to team colleagues.
• Build positive relationships with external public policy makers, including government and other stakeholders
• Adopt a constructive, problem-solving approach, using insight, experience and evidence to engage with government, social partners and other stakeholders to shape and inform public policy on the world of work. This includes supporting the team to advise and influence the Department for Business and Trade, as well as employer and employee representative bodies, think tanks, academic researchers and third sector campaign groups.
• Identify and develop opportunities to turn Acas's public policy positions and stakeholder partnerships into Acas products and services
• Share analysis, insights and expertise and work collaboratively with Acas's website guidance and training product teams to support the development of online guidance and other advisory products.
• Identify areas for new policy research and analysis by Acas
• Help identify opportunities for new Acas research to address evidence gaps.
• Collaborate with the Acas research team to commission new research using findings to develop new policy positions.
• Manage projects, engage others and report progress
• Manage a flexible workload, collaborating with team colleagues who work remotely from each other, to prioritise and share the team's workload as required.
• Contribute to progress and impact reports to inform Acas's broader programme of work and organisational reporting.

*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.
*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:*

• Sound knowledge of good employment relations and workplace practices, employment law and current public policy issues affecting employers and workers in Britain. (Lead Criteria).
• Experience of horizon scanning to build and maintain an understanding of public policy issues and/or developments in employment law and workplace practices.
• Experience of analysing complex information to produce clear, concise and evidence-based written briefings.

*Desirable Criteria:*

• Experience of advising senior leaders on complex issues and presenting with credibility and confidence to have influence and impact.
• Experience of working with diverse external partners with different styles and objectives (stakeholders, employers, social partners and/or public policy makers) and developing partnerships to extend reach and influence.
• Experience of project and/or programme management, including timetabling, collaboration, reporting and risk management.

Technical
*Essential Criteria:
Analytical and drafting skills,*
specifically ability to:

• Effectively interrogate and explore underlying issues in a problem using simple analysis/problem-solving techniques and interpreting sources of data (e.g. reports, interviews, numerical evidence) accurately.
• Understand the core goal when problem-solving and frame it according to prospective impact on target groups varying by demographics, protected characteristics or workplace contexts.
• Develop policy options and recommendations taking account of opportunities and risks for Acas.
• Communicate effectively, selecting and presenting the right information in an accessible way, setting out arguments in simple, concise and compelling terms, and adopting most suitable tone and style for different audiences/purposes.

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

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

• Written Exercise

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 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

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

*How To Apply*
Please click on the 'Apply now' button.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:
A Verbal Reasoning test, this will follow immediately after the initial short application form is submitted. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the full application. Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended) to give yourself enough time to complete your full application. If you fail to complete the online test and submit your full application before the application deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website. You can find further information in the reasonable adjustment guide for online tests and practise tests are also available here.

An evidence-based statement of suitability and CV reflecting the essential and desirable
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 note your statement should address only the Experience criteria, not the Technical criteria.
Please be advised desirable criteria will only be assessed if it is necessary to resolve a tiebreak scenario.

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

Lead Criteria: Sound knowledge of good employment relations and workplace practices, employment law and current public policy issues affecting employers and workers in Britain.
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 initially be invited to complete a written exercise prior to interview. This will involve producing a 1000-word briefing on a given public policy topic of relevance to Acas. This will be assessed against some of the
Technical
Skills criteria for the role, and will form the basis of some questions at interview. It is likely that the written exercise will be sent out around
14 November 2025
with a closing date of
26 November 2025
, please note this is subject to change.

You will be invited to an interview which will be held via MS Teams. It is likely to take place during week commencing
15 December 2025
, please note this is subject to change. The interview will be a
Behaviour
,
Experience
and
Technical
based interview.

The Behaviours assessed at interview are: Making Effective Decisions and Communicating and Influencing.

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.

If a Person With Disabilities Is Put At a Disadvantage Compared To a Non-disabled Person, We Have a Duty To Make Reasonable Changes To Our Processes. If You Need a Change To Be Made So That You Can Make Your Application, You Should:

• Contact Acas HR Recruitment Service via 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.

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

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.

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 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 the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

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 :

Recruitment team

• Email :

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 in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from us, you can contact the Civil Service Commission.