Vacancy: Senior Communications Officer (Public affairs)
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Job info
Directorate: Communications, Policy and Research
Starting salary: £44,755
Permanent, full-time
Location: London
Closing date: 23:59, Sunday 12 May
More info
Are you interested in bringing your public affairs and influencing skills to an organisation that plays a vital role in the democratic process?
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 to ensure its integrity.
The role
We are looking for a proactive and skilled public affairs and communications professional to help raise the profile of the Electoral Commission and deliver a high-quality public affairs and communications service. You will support the public affairs manager and the wider external communications team, to provide expert advice and insight to colleagues.
You will brief and prepare senior colleagues for select committee appearances, meetings with parliamentarians and on upcoming legislation. You will be responsible for keeping stakeholders up to date on fast moving issues, drafting responses to parliamentary questions, and responding to parliamentary business to ensure that stakeholders understand the work of the Commission and the value it brings.
The Commission makes and advocates for changes to our democracy, aiming to improve fairness, transparency and efficiency. We want to see improvements made to voter registration, the rules governing digital campaigning, and the accessibility of elections. You will join the team making the case for these vital changes to the political and electoral systems.
The successful candidate
You will be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment, on your own initiative, as well as part of a collaborative and dynamic team. You will have excellent knowledge of Westminster, Whitehall and the devolved legislatures; experience of distilling complex information into digestible briefings; and excellent interpersonal skills that enable you to build strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders. You will be an engaging and persuasive communicator, with experience of contributing to communication campaigns.
Working at the Electoral Commission
Please note that we use flexible job descriptions for roles in our external communications team, which work across both public affairs and press roles. You should refer to this job advert for details of the specific activities and responsibilities connected to this post.
The closing date for applications is 23:59,Sunday 12 May. Interviews will be held on Wednesday 22 May.
We offer excellent terms and conditions, including flexible working hours and the opportunity to join the Civil Service pension arrangements (dependant on scheme rules). If you are interested in applying for this role please download the job description before applying online.
We would like to continuously increase the diversity of our employees. Applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates are particularly welcomed.
Video conferencing tools will be available for the interviews and may be required. We will confirm details with shortlisted candidates.
After you apply
Applications should include a supporting statement. This should include examples of how you have demonstrated the role’s person specification, including:
- essential skills
- behaviours
- knowledge
To be fair to all candidates, we can’t accept job applications submitted after the closing date.
We will let you know whether or not you have been invited for an interview shortly after the closing date.
We hold some of our interviews online using video conferencing, and other interviews in person at one of our offices. We’ll let you know when and where your interview will be.
Sometimes, we’ll ask you to complete a task for your interview. For example, preparing a presentation on a specific topic. We’ll give you instructions about the task when we invite you to interview.
Our interviews are competency based. We will ask you questions to understand more about your experience, and how it relates to the essential criteria in the person specification. Questions will also cover the values, behaviours, and skills required for the role. You will have the opportunity to ask questions about the role or working with us at the end of your interview.
We will let you know the outcome of the interview as soon as possible. Usually, within two days after the final interview has been completed. We’re always happy to give feedback if requested.
We will always let you know when we’d like to contact your references.
If you have taken part in certain political activities, such as holding office in a political party or holding a relevant elected office, it may mean that you can’t work for us. To discuss this before applying, contact our HR team at [email protected]
If you’re successful, you’ll need to complete some pre-appointment checks. This includes a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. In Scotland, this is a Disclosure Scotland check. In Northern Ireland, it’s an Access NI check.
Higher security clearance may be required for some roles. We will only ask you about convictions and cautions that are not protected. Having a criminal record does not necessarily prevent you from working here. It depends on the nature of the position and the circumstances of your offences. Read our employing ex-offenders policy for more information.
We welcome applications from everyone. We will ask for your personal details including your nationality, ethnicity and any disabilities. These details will not be shared with the interviewers.
If you have a disability, let us know at the application stage so we can make adjustments for you. This may include accepting your application by post.