Collective Conciliator (Wales)

Cardiff (our contractual base), with an element of working from home. Please read on for further information related to the working 'location' for this role.

The postholder will be based out of our Cardiff office, with an element of working from home. This role involves face-to-face delivery throughout Wales, so extensive travel is to be expected. As the successful candidate's contractual base will be the Cardiff office, travel to and from this location cannot be claimed as an expense. Travel expenses to locations outside of Cardiff will be paid in line with the Acas Expenses Policy.

If you have any questions about how travel expenses are reimbursed, please contact HRrecruitment@acas.org.uk.

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 - there is only one choice - Cardiff. 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.

The post holder will be required to hold a UK driving licence and access to a car; exceptions to this requirement will be considered where Reasonable Adjustments are required.

Job Summary

The purpose of the role is to:

• Provide a highly effective professional collective dispute resolution service through the personal management and resolution of collective conciliation cases in Wales.
• Appropriately handle collective mediation and arbitration cases.
• Identify opportunities to improve the collective conciliation process.
• Build collective conciliation expertise and enhance the Acas reputation.
• Support and promote the development of collective dispute resolution services across external stakeholders.
• Build and maintain strong internal and external stakeholder relationships with both Trade Union and Employer representatives.
• Support the delivery of the Advice and Business Solutions function by a shared approach to diagnosis and brokerage of business, trade union and employee requirements.

The working location (‘patch’) focus for this role is Wales, and there is an expectation that the successful candidate will be able to work outside of Wales on occasion. Travel expenses for journeys to locations outside of Cardiff will be reimbursed in line with the Acas Expenses Policy.

Job Description

The postholder's main accountabilities will include the following:

• Service Delivery - Accountable for working with the parties in dispute to find a jointly acceptable resolution.
• Acting Impartially - Accountable for acting independently and impartially in the progression and resolution of collective conciliation, mediation and arbitration cases.
• Dispute Management - Accountable for managing collective disputes either self-identified or referred/allocated from initial contact and diagnostics through to successful outcome/resolution for all parties involved. At all times working towards a joint resolution.
• Pre-conciliation talks - Accountable for actively and repeatedly contacting parties in disputes which have been apprehended in order to maximise opportunities for progression to full collective conciliation (previously referred to as ‘running alongside’), seeking to convert as many disputes as possible to collective conciliation, and fully recording this activity.
• Recording of activity - Accountable for recording each dispute correctly, within the time limits defined by the agreed operating procedures (currently 3 days) keeping records up to date and accurate as required by operating procedures.
• IC multiple disputes - Accountable for leading in workplace disputes identified and allocated through the IC Multiple route, and in line with protocols.
• Effective Communication - Accountable for maintaining good effective and open communications across all parties throughout the conciliation process, including employer bodies, individual employers and relevant trade union officials and representatives.
• Stakeholder Relationships - Accountable for building and maintaining effective external stakeholder relationships to support the identification of future disputes and to build and maintain the reputation of Acas, including with Trade Union officials and HR and business representatives.
• Employer diagnostic activity - Accountable for carrying out introductory diagnostic meetings with employers and/or trade unions, to identify opportunities for appropriate intervention by self or by colleagues or others in order to address the given issue, in line with agreed operating procedures, including but not limited to identifying opportunities for an intervention at or near dispute and/or a joint problem-solving exercise.
• Collective Arbitration and Mediation - Accountable for developing appropriate Terms of Reference where the parties have agreed to participate in Acas collective arbitration or mediation.
• Colleague Development - Accountable for supporting the development of colleagues to improve understanding of management and resolution of collective conciliation disputes.
• Complex Group Mediations - Accountable for working with all parties in dispute to find a solution in complex group mediations.
• External TU and Employer Relationships - Accountable for developing and maintain relationships with Trade Union officials and HR and business representatives to enhance Acas’ services.
• Business Referral - Accountable for identifying and cross-referring opportunities for income generation, business development, training, advisory and other services in line with agreed protocols.
• Subject Matter Expert support - Accountable for providing subject matter expertise to a range of internal colleagues including but not limited to digital and workplace policy teams.