Industrial Officer

PCS is moving towards the establishment of an organising culture across the union. Our approach going forward is about building union power. We are building our teams of Industrial Officers to work in and develop expertise in all aspects of the role including bargaining, organising, campaigning, equality and learning.

Salary and Location

• Band 4, Regional Spine points 30-26
• Starting Salary £45,570 p.a. rising to £51,459 p.a. in annual increments
• PCS Newcastle

Successful candidates for the Industrial Officer will be able to demonstrate:

• Encouraging participation and recruitment of new members, particularly of under-represented groups
• Industrial relations, negotiations, advocacy and representation
• Understanding of the political processes in the UK and the role and work of trade unions
• Basic knowledge of employment rights, equality legislation discrimination law and working practices
• Methods and techniques for bargaining, campaigning and organising in a digital age

The main duties of the Industrial Officer role include:

• Identifying and maximising the potential for union growth
• Influencing success by developing and promoting the unions bargaining, campaigning, equality and organising agenda
• Encouraging membership participation and support in allocated areas of responsibility

The ability to organise own work, identify and set priorities as well as communicate effectively using written and oral channels, including reports and presentations, with a variety of audiences are all essential requirements for a successful Industrial Officer.

Closing date: at 12 midday on Tuesday 8 October 2024

Interviews will be held by Zoom: Thursday 31 October and Friday 1 November 2024

About PCS

PCS is the Public and Commercial Services Union, representing many thousands of members working in the civil service and related areas.

Employer Benefits

You will have access to a generous package of staff benefits including

• flexible working (including hybrid working)
• childcare and family support
• generous maternity/paternity leave
• 32 days leave and Christmas closure
• pension scheme
• employee assistance programme

Learning and Development

The union offers a wide range of learning and development opportunities. We will work with you to support your continued professional development.

PCS Recruiting Process

We use CVMinder to manage all recruitment activities. It helps us to maintain our commitment to equality and diversity by ensuring that we are fair and compliant with our recruiting practices.

Applications must be received by the closing date and time specified.

Candidates invited for interview are required to make themselves available on the date/s specified. Interview dates cannot be changed to accommodate candidates who are unavailable to attend on the specified date.

• CVs will not be accepted. Please see the job description/person specification and follow the application process.
• PCS is working towards equal opportunities and is positive about disabled people.
• All posts can be considered on a full-time, part-time or job share basis.

Please view our guidance for applicants.

JOB DESCRIPTION INDUSTRIAL OFFICER

Ref: 1424

Grade: Band 4, Regional

Salary:

Regional Spine points 30-26

Regional Starting salary £45,570 p.a. rising to £51,459 p.a.

Location: Newcastle

Purpose of the job:

To identify and maximise the potential for union growth, influence success by developing and promoting the unions bargaining, campaigning equality and organising agenda, encouraging membership participation and support in allocated areas of responsibility, in line with PCS policy.

Responsible to: National Officer

Responsible for: n/a

Contacts

External:

Media, PCS members, senior and elected officials, employers, potential members. Members of other trade unions and related bodies. Ministers, Members of UK government, Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Assembly, Northern Ireland Assembly, and other governmental staff. Legal representatives, pressure groups, campaigning and community bodies.

Internal:

PCS Staff, Departments, Regions and Nations and Senior Managers.

Main duties and responsibilities

This is a generic job description that covers all the different roles of an industrial officer.

1. Bargaining

• Develop a bargaining agenda with activists and members, ensuring all bargaining activities are informed by the PCS equality agenda, policies and practices
• Take responsibility for negotiations with the management of civil service departments, agencies, public and private sector employers including pay and conditions of service of PCS members
• Represent PCS at joint meetings with management and other trade unions
• Prepare and present reports, and undertake effective monitoring and implementation of decisions, including consultative and legal ballots e.g. on pay and industrial action
• Participate in appropriate branch, group and national events to share information and knowledge

2. Campaigning

• Develop and maintain knowledge of campaigning, monitoring trends, establishing and maintaining contacts and attending appropriate internal and external meetings and events
• Progress national campaigning objectives as agreed by Annual Delegate Conference, Region/Nation and Group conferences and the National Executive Committee, providing strategic and technical advice to inform campaigning decisions
• Identify and work with full time officers, reps, other trade unions and campaigning organisations to develop and promote PCS campaigning objectives to key audiences
• Co-ordinate and draft, in liaison with the PCS design team where relevant, campaigning materials, briefing, etc. for a range of audiences in support of PCS campaigning objectives
• Deal with the media in relation to specific campaigns

3. Equality

• Identify and prioritise issues and trends in equality practice and develop responses in line with PCS policies
• Keep up to date with developments in equality practice and equality legislation in Britain and Europe
• Provide advice on equality practice and the Equality Act 2010 and on the handling of personal cases
• Produce guidance to support negotiations
• Contribute to PCS Academy courses on equality issues
• Support the PCS equality forums and networks either nationally or in region/nation
• Organise meetings, seminars and events to promote understanding of equality issues

4. Organising

• In line with the PCS National Organising Strategy, develop and support lay structures and build membership density in areas of responsibility
• Encourage activist and member participation in union activities
• Develop links between Groups/National Branches/Sections at local, regional and national level and with appropriate external organisations
• Identify and win collective bargaining rights in new areas
• Supporting strategies to recruit new members, build PCS locals and facilitate cooperation across branches
• Assist in building and embedding an organising culture across the union

5. Developing effective communications and enhancing membership participation

• Ensure digitalisation, information and communications methods are effectively implemented and used to generate improvements
• Ensure effective communication networks with members are in place in areas of responsibility
• Promote and undertake face-to-face communication, where appropriate, in the workplace
• Understand and make effective use of PCS specialist resources, communication channels and technology
• Enhance activist and member understanding in order to encourage wide participation in decision-making processes e.g. PCS ballots, elections and members meetings, and in other union activities and campaigns
• Establish and maintain contacts across the union, and with employers and external bodies e.g. including MPs, media, other unions, and various campaigning and pressure groups
• Draft and publish circulars and briefings, address meetings and conferences
• Develop and maintain the relevant pages on the PCS website
• Sub-edit, re-write, copy, and proof read printed and electronic communications

6. Ensuring implementation of equality policies/improving representation

• Contribute to PCS policies on equality by developing innovative strategies to tackle inequality and discrimination, on the grounds of protected characteristics
• Build a membership and activist base that reflects the diversity of the area of responsibility by developing innovative strategies to tackle inequality and discrimination
• Engage with employers on the equality bargaining agenda
• Equality-proof employer policy and practices
• Equality-check PCS structures, policies and practices
• Develop strategies to increase membership density and participation at all levels and areas of union activity amongst under-represented groups to reflect the make-up of the workforce and to remove all barriers to equality
• Promote awareness of the importance of diversity and equality measures among members and activists and with the employer
• Participate and encourage participation in equality forums and events

7. Supporting and developing lay structures and representatives

• Develop and implement strategies to identify and support new leaders and representatives
• Build effective teams which share responsibility for tasks and decisions
• Ensure that lay structures are effective and comply with PCS Rules
• Build an activist base which reflects the diversity of the membership
• Secure appropriate facilities from employers in line with best practice
• Ensure areas of responsibility are kept up-to-date with relevant policies e.g. government, academic, etc.
• Provide guidance and explain the unions structures and policies e.g. on roles and responsibilities
• Ensure structures within areas of responsibility are provided with all the necessary administrative support

8. Promoting learning and development

• Encourage, educate and support members into activism and into elected roles within the union
• Identify and address activists training needs
• Promote learning in the workplace through negotiated agreements with employers and relevant bodies
• Develop and deliver courses and learning materials

9. Team working

• Proactively promote team and collaborative working across PCS departments
• Initiate, organise, lead and participate in team meetings as appropriate
• Maintain high levels of confidentiality of sensitive issues at all times
• Provide assistance to team members

10. General

• Participate and input information into PCS planning and budgeting processes
• At all times implement and promote the PCSs Equal Opportunities Policy adhering to the PCS Values
• Take due and reasonable care of self and others in respect of Health & Safety at Work
• Participate in appraisal, training and development systems
• In all work activities, comply with data protection legislation and PCSs requirements for the protection of personal information and the privacy of individuals
• Act in a manner that enhances the work of the PCS and its overall public image
• Staff at this grade may be assigned or transferred to posts within grade. A training & development programme will be provided to assist with this, where required
• Such other duties that may reasonably be requested by the Line Manager and that are within the level of the responsibility of this post
• Willing to work outside normal office hours and location

Person Specification: INDUSTRIAL OFFICER

Ref: 1424

Date: September 2024

Location: Newcastle

ESSENTIAL FACTORS

EXPERIENCE

• Encouraging participation and recruitment of new members, particularly of under-represented groups
• Co-ordinating and working with committees
• Industrial relations and negotiations
• Advocacy and representation
• Project Management (e.g. Campaigning)

TRAINING

(including continuous professional development)

• Evidence of ongoing training and continuing professional development
• Commitment to participation in appraisal and development review process
• Commitment to undertake job-related training

KNOWLEDGE

• Understanding of the political processes in the UK and the role and work of trade unions
• Basic knowledge of employment rights, equality legislation discrimination law and working practices
• Methods and techniques for bargaining, campaigning and organising
• Impact and use of Digital and IT applications in a trade union

SKILLS

• Ability to organise own work
• Ability to communicate effectively using written and oral channels, including reports and presentations, with a variety of audiences
• Ability to identify and set priorities
• Ability to build and co-ordinate teams and networks
• Ability to identify, research, analyse and present evidence, including statistics

OTHER

• Commitment to the application of Equal Opportunities policies and practices at work
• Understanding of own role in maintaining legal compliances within PCS (e.g. data protection; health and safety)
• Flexible approach to work and willing to work outside of normal office hours and location on occasions

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