Work for us

The University and College Union (UCU) is the largest trade union and professional association for lecturers, learning support staff, academic related staff, trainers, researchers and managers working in further & higher education in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Our 120,000 members are employed mainly in colleges, universities and in adult, prison and land-based education. We also have members in the private sector, for example in private training agencies and language schools, as well as members working on a freelance basis. Students training to teach in post-school education also belong to UCU.

Current vacancies

• Bargaining Support Official (FE)

Bargaining Support Official (FE)

About the role

• to ensure, as required by the head of FE, that strategic and operational objectives are met
• to support UCU prison education branches in negotiations and consultations as directed by the head of FE, including at meetings with employers, members, other unions, external organisations, and internally within UCU structures
• to deputise for the head of FE, as required by the head of department
• to prepare bargaining advice and guidance, policy and other consultation responses, reports, briefing papers, and other materials
• to manage the business for UCU committees in prison education, and other industrial areas as directed by the head of FE
• to oversee the organisation of national meetings, as required by the head of FE, including annual meetings of members in adult education, prison education, and other industrial areas.

You:

• knowledge and understanding of how trade unions operate, and how the views of their members are incorporated into this work
• experience of working with members and their representatives, committees, branches or similar experience in a membership organisation
• knowledge and understanding of employment law and equality legislation and employment practices
• knowledge and understanding of current employment issues in the further education sector
• knowledge of current policy and legislative developments in FE, prison education and adult education and skills
• experience of negotiation and representation in a collective bargaining context or directly comparable context.

Further information

We welcome applications from any candidate but are particularly keen to receive applications from women and global majority candidates, who are currently underrepresented at this grade in UCU. If this is you and you are interested in the post, we invite you to join an online briefing about the post and what it's like to work at the union, at 1pm on 26 February, which will also be an opportunity to ask the recruiting manager questions. All are welcome to join the briefing, especially those who identify as a member of an underrepresented group. If you'd like to attend the briefing, please email recruitment@ucu.org.uk no later than 12 noon on 25 February. You do not need to attend the briefing session to apply.

To apply, please download an application pack below or email recruitment@ucu.org.uk quoting job reference BSO1:

Application pack: Bargaining Support Official (FE) [291kb]

Closing date for applications: 6 March 2026 at 10.00am

Interview date: 31 March 2026

Returning your application

Please note that applicants should apply using the application form and CVs will not be considered. Completed application forms must be received by us by 10am on the closing date. Late applications will not be considered. Applications to be emailed to recruitment@ucu.org.uk

We are happy to accept applications in alternative formats from applicants who, for reasons of disability, may find it difficult to fill in our standard form. Please contact the People and Development Team by e-mail at recruitment@ucu.org.uk or telephone 020 7756 2558 for further details.

Diversity & inclusion monitoring

We need your support to make sure our employees come from a variety of backgrounds, so we especially welcome applications from disadvantaged communities. Even if you are not selected, it would be really helpful if you could complete the diversity & inclusion data when you apply for this role, because we can make sure we are encouraging a diverse mixture of candidates to apply. Thank you very much.

Equal opportunities

UCU is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.

Benefits of working for the University and College Union

Benefits to support your well-being:

• generous holiday entitlement of 35 days' annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, and 8 closure days with a pro-rata entitlement for part time staff
• disability leave arrangements
• special leave arrangements
• a range of family friendly policies and procedures with enhanced maternity, adoption, paternity and shared parental leave schemes
• an Employee Assistance Programme that provides access to 24-hour confidential counselling
• access to advice and face-to-face intervention from a senior chartered physiotherapist through the award-winning Physiotherapy Advice Line service
• flexitime scheme available by agreement where employees can vary their start and finish times or lunch breaks within the set parameters of the work-life balance policy.

Benefits to support you financially:

• all employees are contractually enrolled into the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) where currently the employee contribution is approximately 6.1% of salary and the employer contribution is approximately 14.5% of salary
• we will pay 50% of the net cost of childcare provision for children. The scheme is currently available to employees up to and including Grade G
• interest free season ticket loans to cover the cost of a second-class season ticket between home and the office
• UCU will assist with the cost of an eyesight test and the purchase of a basic pair of glasses, where these are required for DSE use.

Benefits to support your training and development:

• training and developmental support
• access to over 300 eLearning modules through UCU's online training room.