Chief Executive (Certification Office)

Contents

• Location
• About the job
• Benefits
• Things you need to know
• Apply and further information

Location

This position is based in London office with an element of working from home. The postholder will be expected to work in the London office at least once a week. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in GB and not overseas. Informal hybrid arrangements are available and the balance between home and workplace working is agreed with the line manager to achieve the right balance between collaboration, in–person engagement and flexibility.

About the job

Job summary

The Certification Officer (CO) is an independent statutory office holder who oversees aspects of the operation of Trade Unions and employers associations. The COs responsibilities include maintaining a list of trade unions, certifying their independence, overseeing certain aspects of Trade Unions and employers associations and dealing with complaints about trade unions and employers associations. The Chief Executive (CE) leads a small team of who support the CO and who are all employed by ACAS. The COs funding is provided by the Department of Business and Trade through ACAS; the CO follows all ACAS governance processes.

The CE has a broad range of responsibilities and carries significant personal accountability dealing regularly with a range of external contacts including the TUC, Union Members, General Secretaries and journalists. They ensure that the statutory functions of the CO are delivered effectively and efficiently and undertake some of the COs functions on her behalf. This includes all aspects of leadership and management, overseeing all operational activity, developing strategy and policy, liaison with BEIS and ACAS, and carrying out statutory functions.

If you're ready for a new challenge, we would love to hear from you!

Job description

Leadership and Staff Management

• Leading and managing the Certification Officers staff. This is a small team with significant experience in the work. The CE leads a programme of continuous improvement, motivating everyone to develop their skills and maintain high professional standards.

Operational Delivery

• Setting, implementing and monitoring the business plan; ensuring that appropriate action is taken where there is a risk of objectives not being met.
• Managing all financial and other resources in line with ACAS governance processes, accounting for any deviations to CO, proposing mitigations where necessary
• Acting as Assistant Certification Officer (ACO) taking decisions, on behalf of CO, including approving statutory merger documents, listing of trade unions and employers associations, approving trade union political fund rules and complaints.
• Undertaking inspections relating to the financial affairs and membership record systems of trade unions.
• Overseeing, and sometimes undertaking, liaison with unions and complainants about individual cases
• Liaison with GLD about the provision of legal advice, managing the contract with GLD and obtaining advice on complex issues

Strategy and Process Development

• Working with the Service Improvement Manager and the Acas digital team to develop and implement a new case management system.
• Overseeing the implementation of changes to the COs pages on gov.uk to ensure that our information is easily accessible and helpful to our stakeholders
• Horizon scanning across Government to identify policies which might have an impact on our work; liaising with colleagues across Government
• Reviewing operational processes and systems to ensure they remain fit for purpose, identifying the best way to implement any resulting changes, undertaking, or overseeing, the implementation of change; e.g. ensuring policies meet the better regulation principles, or reviewing reliance on paper files

External Relationships

• Developing media and communication plans, speaking to journalists and Unions (eg on a complaint decision or on publication of strike statistics in Unions annual returns to the CO).
• Liaising with the TUC and other stakeholders about the work of the CO. The CE is key to the CO maintaining an effective relationship with the TUC.
• Liaison with Government and Union officials, including General Secretaries, about issues arising following the implementation of the COs new powers and the arrangements to collect the levy.
• Liaison with the Electoral Commission about political funding, Government officials about policies affecting CO, working with the sponsor team about the COs work and implementation of the 2016 Act.
• Overseeing the drafting and production of the Certification Officers report to Parliament

Who we are

The Certification Officer (CO) is an independent statutory office holder who oversees aspects of the operation of Trade Unions and employers associations.

Acas exists to make working life better for everyone in Britain.We are the experts in workplace matters, were impartial, so were not on anyones side.That means were working for everyone to help prevent and resolve workplace issues.

Acas helps employers and employees by providing information, advice, training, conciliation and other services that prevent or resolve workplace problems.

Acas helps employers and employees by providing information, advice, training, conciliation and other services that prevent or resolve workplace problems. There's no charge for most of what we offer.

Acas exists to make working life better for everyone in Britain.We are the experts in workplace matters, were impartial, so were not on anyones side.That means were working for everyone to help prevent and resolve workplace issues.

Acas helps employers and employees by providing information, advice, training, conciliation and other services that prevent or resolve workplace problems.

Acas has been recognised for itsDiversity and Inclusion in the workplacefrom the Employers Network forEquality 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 whichembrace diversity, promote equality of opportunity and eliminate unlawful discrimination.

Person specification

Experience

Essential

• Experience of understanding legislation and developing policies and procedures
• Experience of communicating difficult decisions and explaining the reasons for those decisions
• Experience of developing organisational strategy and/or business plans and communicating those internally and externally
• Experience of delivering a programme of continuous improvement
• Experience of challenging the status quo and developing innovative solutions to deliver service improvement
• Experience of liaising with senior stakeholders to maintain strong relationships even where there is disagreement

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership

Benefits

Were 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;
• Childcare schemes;
• Interest free season ticket loans;
• Volunteering opportunities.

Could you ask for any more?

Youll have access to a Lifestyle website, where youll 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

Things you need to know

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.

Please complete the Behaviours, if we receive a large number of applications the panel will initially sift on 'Making Effective Decisions'.Please also submit an evidence–based statement of suitability reflecting all the Essential Experience requirements outlined in the JD. Your statement of suitability should be no longer than 1000 words. It should avoid generalised assertions, instead including specific examples of achievements, explaining the degree of challenge, what you did and the outcomes.

In the application form you will be asked to express if you meet the desirable criteria in 250 words. Details of this can be found in the JD.

Interview Details

If you have successfully passed sift, you will be invited to an interview which will take place in Windsor House, London which is likely to take place week commencing 19 June 2023 . The interview will be a Experience and Strength based interview and will also include a 5 minute presentation, details of the presentation topic will be given at interview stage.

A reserve list will be created for this position, this means that if you have passed the interview, but we couldnt offer you this position, youll be on a reserve list for 12 months if a similar position becomes available.

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