Scotland Support Officer

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.

More information and how to apply

If you are interested in this role, please download the job description and person specification before applying.

Submission Guidelines:

Anonymous CV: To adhere to our commitment to anonymous recruitment, ensure all references to educational institutions (years of attendance for primary and secondary education) and personal information are removed. This allows us to assess candidates based solely on their knowledge and skills, free from bias related to background, gender, or ethnicity.

Supporting Statement: Your statement should highlight your relevant skills, experience, in relation to the job criteria and person specification.

Submission: Send your anonymous CV and supporting statement via email to Recruitment@electoralcommission.org.uk.

The closing date for applications is Wednesday 4 December at 23:59.

Interviews will be held in the week commencing 16 December 2024.

We may use video conferencing tools for the interviews. We will confirm details with shortlisted candidates.

Please contact Sarah Mackie smackie@electoralcommission.org.uk if you have any queries about the role.

No Agency Assistance Required: We appreciate the interest of recruitment agencies; however, we are managing this recruitment process internally. We request that agencies refrain from contacting us regarding this vacancy.