Industrial Officer in London

PCS is a union with an organising culture. Our approach is about building union power. Industrial officers will be given opportunities to work in, and develop expertise in, all aspects of the role including bargaining, organising, campaigning, equality, education and learning.

PCS has a number of permanent vacancies at various PCS locations: offices in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Clapham (London), Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool and Newcastle. Successful candidates will work collaboratively across the union, to deliver effectively for our members and contribute to the union\’s continued success.

Salary and Location

London/Regional

Band 4, London Spine points 27-23

London starting salary: £51,759 p.a. rising to £58,877 p.a. in annual increments

Regional Spine points 30-26

Regional starting salary: £47,844 p.a. rising to £54,027 p.a. in annual increments

Qualifications and Experience

Methods and techniques for bargaining, campaigning and organising

Basic knowledge of employment rights, equality legislation, discrimination law and working practices

Understanding of the political processes in the UK and the role and work of trade unions

Project Management (e.g. Campaigning)

Impact and use of Digital and IT applications in a trade union

Evidence of ongoing training and continuing professional development

Main Duties and Responsibilities

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

Organising own work, identifying and setting priorities, and communicating effectively using written and oral channels, including reports and presentations, with a variety of audiences

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.

Candidates will be informed after the interview whether they are appointable. The General Secretary will have ultimate responsibility of allocating roles to the successful candidates, with decisions being notified on filling any vacancies in due course.

CLOSING DATE: AT 12 MIDDAY ON MONDAY 26 JANUARY 2026.

INTERVIEWS WILL BE HELD IN PERSON AT PCS CLAPHAM: MONDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2026 AND TUESDAY 10 FEBRUARY 2026.

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

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.

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.

Job Description: Industrial Officer
Ref: 0126

Grade: Band 4, London or Region

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

Responsibility Hierarchy
Responsible to: National Officer

Responsible for: Not applicable

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 Government, 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 (Detailed)
This is a generic job description that covers all the different roles of an industrial officer.

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

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

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

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

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 proofread printed and electronic communications

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

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

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

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

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
Ref: 0126

Date: January 2026

Location: London/Region

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

Benefits and Working Hours
48‐h week with flexible working. Full or part‐time or job share options available. Flexible working (including hybrid working) is encouraged.

Closing Date
The closing date for applications is 12:00 midday on Monday 26 January 2026.

Interview Dates
In‐person interviews will be held at PCS Clapham on Monday 9 February 2026 and Tuesday 10 February 2026.

Key Links
Refer to the vacancy page for further details and application instructions.

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