Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow or Manchester Acas office 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.
The post holder will be required to spend some time in the London office for team and directorate meetings or other business requirements.
Job Summary
As Head of Strategic Communications you will be responsible for producing Acas’s Annual Communications and External Affairs Plan and overseeing its progress, as part of the organisation’s overarching Acas Strategy and Business Plan.
You will develop strategy, oversee audience segmentation, and create compelling messages, evaluation frameworks and success measures. You will also oversee programme management, long-term campaign development and message development, in partnership with the Head of Media and Marketing.
You will be a trusted adviser to policy and operational colleagues, to understand their objectives and work collegiately with our Head of Media and Marketing to advise on the best communications approaches to fulfil those objectives, including income targets.
You will lead our communications and external affairs governance, being responsible for a steering group, managing consultation with the Acas Council and Chair and ensuring strong change control and risk management.
This is a highly collaborative influencing role – you will be coordinating, facilitating and engaging with senior internal colleagues to ensure the whole organisation is focused on delivering our strategic communications and external affairs ambitions, messages and agreed outcomes.
Job Description
The main accountabilities of this role are -

• External Communications and External Affairs Strategy and Planning - responsible for the broad communications approach across Acas. This includes: identifying priority audiences; developing objectives and desired outcomes, aligning with Government priorities where appropriate.
• Deliver an Annual Communications and External Affairs Strategic Plan, launch and campaign plans, quarterly forward look and fortnightly Grid. You will collaborate with senior leaders to align these strategies and each team’s channel/functional plans.
• Strategic comms evaluation– Lead formal annual evaluation and informal lessons learnt to drive impact, oversee occasional communications evaluative research.
• Insight and messaging - Lead research to understand our target audiences’ attitudes, habits and preferences to ensure Acas communications have impact, using data, personas and segmentations to target messages. Create compelling messages and manage occasional message research.
• Governance – responsible for communications governance, managing a Comms Steering Group , overseeing performance reports, analysing campaign performance and progress against KPIs and ensuring good decision-making and change control. Coordinate external assurance, such as Council or Audit, and overseereporting and data to the CEO and Board as required.
• Equality, diversity and inclusion – provide oversight to ensure Acas communications and external affairs represents the society served, is accessible and fulfils PSED obligations. Oversee team equality impact assessments.
• Effectively manage resources and budget for the team, which will have a small research and evaluation budget.
  

More Broadly as a Communications Professional You Will:

• Uphold good engagement and communications principles and best practice to improve the quality of external communications and stakeholder engagement across the organisation within GCS best practice.
• Ensure all activities are clear, simple and consistent with other Government organisations, managing duplication and minimising complexity.
• Keep processes simple, proportionate and user-focused, promote opportunities for continuous improvement, efficiency, innovation including use of AI, and transformation.
• Ensure good use of public money and value for money across all activities, flexing resources, making good use of AI and technology to deliver within limited budgets.
  

More broadly as a Strategy and External Affairs team Manager you will:

• Promote diversity, inclusion and equality of opportunity, respecting difference and external experience. This is a core value of the Directorate. Be self-aware and role-model continuous self-learning and development. Collaborate with others to achieve our goals.Work flexibly and collaboratively with those across the Directorate and wider Acas and live the Acas
• Uphold Civil Service Values, Public Service Codes of Conduct and Gov Comms propriety and ethics.
• Represent the function at internal forums.
• Role model Acas’ leadership behaviours.
• Effectively manage resources and budget for the team.
  

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.
The main accountabilities of this role are -

• External Communications and External Affairs Strategy and Planning - responsible for the broad communications approach across Acas. This includes: identifying priority audiences; developing objectives and desired outcomes, aligning with Government priorities where appropriate.
• Deliver an Annual Communications and External Affairs Strategic Plan, launch and campaign plans, quarterly forward look and fortnightly Grid. You will collaborate with senior leaders to align these strategies and each team’s channel/functional plans.
• Strategic comms evaluation– Lead formal annual evaluation and informal lessons learnt to drive impact, oversee occasional communications evaluative research.
• Insight and messaging - Lead research to understand our target audiences’ attitudes, habits and preferences to ensure Acas communications have impact, using data, personas and segmentations to target messages. Create compelling messages and manage occasional message research.
• Governance – responsible for communications governance, managing a Comms Steering Group , overseeing performance reports, analysing campaign performance and progress against KPIs and ensuring good decision-making and change control. Coordinate external assurance, such as Council or Audit, and overseereporting and data to the CEO and Board as required.
• Equality, diversity and inclusion – provide oversight to ensure Acas communications and external affairs represents the society served, is accessible and fulfils PSED obligations. Oversee team equality impact assessments.
• Effectively manage resources and budget for the team, which will have a small research and evaluation budget.
  

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
Experience:
Essential Criteria

• Communications Strategy - experience managing external communications/affairs/public affairs planning and influencing activity – particularly media, marketing, external affairs, Government Affairs and influencing systems. (Lead criterion)
• Governance – experience of programme/project management, working with Boards, co-ordinating reporting and decision-making.
• Relationships - Strong communication and negotiation skills having worked with senior leaders to understand businesses requirements and an ability to develop trusted and authoritative two-way relationships. Experience of working with external stakeholders on joint communications activity.
• Insight – experience of using audience insight to develop communications plans. Experience using communications, audience, insight, channel or message research. Experience creating, using audience personas and segmentations. Experience commissioning or managing communications, audience, insight, channel or message research.
• Messaging – excellent skills writing key messages and developing capability in others. Excellent written and verbal briefing skills with effective personal impact and confidence in verbal and written briefings to senior leaders.
  

Desirable Criteria - (the following will be assessed only in the event of tie-breaker scenarios):
Experience:

• Sector knowledge - Experience in strategic External Communications/Affairs in any of the following: government departments; Parliament; think tanks; non-profit; business and industry; and/or trade associations on issues relating to workplace policy, employment rights and challenges facing employers and employees in the GB market.
  

Qualification:

• Third level qualification in business strategy, Degree or Masters relevant to public policy, business management, communications or external affairs or equivalent experience at a senior level.
• Professional Communications Qualification.
  

Please come along to our Candidate Information Session.
Join us for a Candidate Information Session to learn more about the Grade 7 – Head of Strategic Communications opportunity at Acas. Hear from the hiring manager and key stakeholders about the role, team, culture and recruitment process, and take the opportunity to ask questions about the position and working at Acas.
Date: Tuesday 11 August
Time: 1PM - 2PM
Please click here to join meeting
Alongside your salary of £59,870, Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service contributes £17,344 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
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
If you'd like to learn more about ACAS, the role, our culture and the benefits of working with us, please also take a look at the Candidate Information Pack attached at the end of this advert.
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 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 and desirable Experience and Qualification 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, how you did it and the outcomes.
• Desirable criteria will only be assessed in the event of a tie-breaker scenario at sift or interview.
  

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

• Lead Criterion: Communications Strategy - experience managing external communications/affairs/public affairs planning and influencing activity – particularly media, marketing, external affairs, Government Affairs and influencing systems.
  

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 on 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 take place Face to Face in our Manchester or London Office from the 9 September 2026.
External candidates may be eligible for support with interview travel costs. Please contact the Recruitment Team at hrrecruitment@acas.org.uk to discuss eligibility and available arrangements before attending your interview.
It will be an Experience and Strength based interview and will include a Scenario exercise. Details about the Scenario will be sent to candidates who are invited to interview. The Scenario will be used to assess the following essential Experience criteria -

• Communications Strategy - experience managing external communications/affairs/public affairs planning and influencing activity – particularly media, marketing, external affairs, Government Affairs and influencing systems.
• Messaging – excellent skills writing key messages and developing capability in others. Excellent written and verbal briefing skills with effective personal impact and confidence in verbal and written briefings to senior leaders.
  

The following essential Experience criteria will be assessed separately at Interview -

• Communications Strategy - experience managing external communications/affairs/public affairs planning and influencing activity – particularly media, marketing, external affairs, Government Affairs and influencing systems.
• Governance – experience of programme/project management, working with Boards, co-ordinating reporting and decision-making.
  

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.
• 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.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Strengths and Experience.
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 : 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.