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Top job! Head of Electoral Commission, Scotland
- Full time
- £72,120
- Hybrid: Edinburgh
- Closing 8th January 2025
The Electoral Commission is the independent body overseeing elections and regulating political finance across the UK. We work to ensure public confidence in democratic processes by enabling free and fair elections, promoting transparency in political finance, and advocating for reform that enhances our democracy.
We’re seeking an exceptional individual to lead our operations in Scotland at a pivotal time for electoral reform and innovation. As the Head of Electoral Commission, Scotland, you will:
- Represent the Commission in Scotland, engaging with voters, political parties, electoral officials, civic society, and media to strengthen trust in electoral processes.
- Lead the Scotland Team, managing the delivery of our activities and ensuring alignment with both UK-wide and Scotland-specific objectives.
- Oversee the Commission’s accountability to the Scottish Parliament for devolved functions.
- Influence policy, scrutinise legislation, and lead the implementation of electoral reforms.
- Act as the primary spokesperson for the Commission in Scotland, including media representation.
You’ll join our senior leadership team, contributing to the development of the Commission’s UK Corporate Plan and Scotland-specific strategies, ensuring the unique Scottish context is integrated into all aspects of our work.
We’re looking for:
- A strong leader with extensive experience in a complex organisation or government setting.
- Knowledge of Scotland’s political and media landscape.
- Excellent communication, relationship-building, and influencing skills.
- Proven impartiality and political sensitivity.
- Experience in budget and project management.
This is your opportunity to contribute to the integrity of Scotland’s democracy at a time of significant change. We value independence, diversity, and continuous improvement, offering a supportive environment where your expertise can shape the future of elections in Scotland.
Are you interested in being part of a small team in an organisation that plays a vital role in the democratic process?
We are looking for a person to join our team who will play a key role in supporting the Electoral Commission's work in Scotland during an exciting time for Scottish democracy. You will be a good communicator who can respond quickly to a range of queries from our stakeholders. You will enjoy supporting the rest of the team and thrive on carrying out a variety of tasks.
Who we are
The Electoral Commission is the independent body which oversees elections and regulates political finance in the UK. We work to promote public confidence in the democratic process and ensure its integrity.
We oversee all areas of work relating to electoral events that take place in Scotland. This includes the annual household canvass of electors, elections to the Scottish Parliament and local government elections along with elections to the UK Parliament.
We work closely with a wide range of stakeholders including the Scottish and UK governments, local authorities, partner organisations and political parties. We focus on the issues that affect Scotland and ensure that views of these stakeholders are represented in our work.
Who we are looking for
You will be proactive and enthusiastic about working with stakeholders and delivering outcomes to meet our objectives.
You will also be self-motivated to progress your own projects and responsibilities, and a team player who is happy to support the work of others and contribute across the organisation.
We are looking for a candidate who is engaged and effective and who will keep others informed about their area of work.
Experience of elections would be useful; however, we will also accept applications which exhibit relevant transferable skills and experience.
The role
As a Scotland Support Officer, you will play a key role in supporting all areas of the Commission’s work in Scotland. Some of your responsibilities will be to:
- Provide first line advice and guidance to elections staff, political parties, candidates and agents and non-party campaigners in Scotland.
- Support the team with maintaining stakeholder relationships between the Scotland office and key partners including schools, youth groups, civil society organisations and local authorities.
- Support with the development of education materials and voter engagement resources in line with the learning and partnership strategies.
- Utilise different channels to communicate our work to key stakeholders including social media.
- Provide secretariat support to meetings with external stakeholders.
Working at the Electoral Commission
The Electoral Commission offers excellent terms and conditions, including flexible working hours, and the opportunity to join the Civil Service pension arrangements (dependent on scheme rules) which include a valuable range of benefits.
We want to attract the broadest range of talented people who are passionate about democracy. The more diverse our workforce, the better we can adapt to and reflect the needs of society. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and as a staff member, you will become part of an inclusive culture, where you will have the opportunity to achieve your full potential and enhance your career through learning and development.