Electoral Services Senior Officer

About Us

North Somerset Council is committed to providing high-quality services to our community. We are committed to creating a fair, green, and more inclusive environment for all our residents. Join us and contribute to making a positive impact on our community.

The Role

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Senior Electoral Administrator to help lead the delivery of elections and electoral registration across the district. This is an exciting opportunity to play a vital role in upholding democratic services in one of the South West’s most diverse and vibrant local authority areas.

Working within the Electoral Services team, you’ll support the Electoral Services Manager in delivering all statutory electoral functions, including elections, referendums, maintain the register of electors and the annual canvass. You’ll also contribute to strategic planning, staff supervision, and continuous improvement of the service.

In this role, you will;

Key Responsibilities:

• Support on the planning and delivery of electoral events, ensuring compliance with legal requirements and Electoral Commission guidance.
• Supervise key aspects of the electoral registration process, including the annual canvass and maintenance of the electoral register.
• Provide expert advice to colleagues, elected members, and stakeholders on electoral matters.
• Support robust project planning, risk management, and the use of electoral management systems (Xpress).
• Ensure high standards of accuracy, impartiality, and professionalism in all electoral processes.

Work Style

At North Somerset Council, we offer a hybrid working environment based on four distinct work styles. Depending on the role and personal circumstances, you will fall into one of these categories. However, please note that during the induction period, it may be necessary to spend more time in the office to support your learning and development. We are flexible and open to discussions about your preferred working style, and if you wish to be in the office more frequently, this can be negotiated.

Outside of an election, this role falls into the category of Flexible Worker which means you can expect to work in the following way:

• 2-3 days in the office
• Works both from home and the office, depending on the task at hand.
• Training is provided to help balance work-life and manage time effectively, with an emphasis on communication for team touchpoints and planning in-office days for collaboration.

Please be aware that during election periods, the role will require additional working hours outside of the normal office schedule including evenings and weekends. You will also be expected to be in the office during this time.

About You

We are looking for an individual who possesses the following skills and experience:

Essential Criteria:

• Substantial experience in electoral administration.
• Qualifications at NQF Level 3 (at least A Level standard).
• Must be IT skills/computer literate.
• To have worked within a cycle of local elections and at least one UK parliamentary general election to demonstrate an understanding of the practical requirements to ensure compliance with legislation.
• Good knowledge of electoral legislation, regulations and statutory guidance.
• Must demonstrate excellent organisational skills with keen focus on accuracy and the importance of attention to detail. Ability to work under pressure and to prioritise workloads accordingly.

Desirable Criteria:

• Full UK driving license.
• Hold the AEA Certificate or Diploma in Electoral Administration.
• Experience with Xpress software.
• Experience supervising staff.

What We Offer

At North Somerset Council, we value our employees and provide a supportive and inclusive work environment. We offer:

• Competitive salary and benefits.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Local Government Pension.
• Opportunities for professional development.
• Inclusive Staff groups including Carers, Disabled, LGBTQ+, REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage), and Young Staff Forums.
• Opportunity to purchase up to an additional 10 days annual leave each year.
• Dedicated in house Wellbeing Team.
• Salary sacrifice Cycle to Work and Electric Vehicle schemes.

Further details of our excellent rewards package can be found in our Benefits booklet.

How to Apply

If you share our vision and values and are ready to make an impact to North Somerset, please select the apply online button below. If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, please submit your application by 11.59pm on the application closing date. When completing our online application form, please detail how you meet the essential criteria for the role.

Contact Information

For further information about the role, please contact Samantha Usher, Electoral Services Manager, at samantha.usher@n-somerset.gov.uk or 01275 885557.

Important Information

As a Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job role.

Interview Date: Thursday 10 July 2025.

Please note: We are currently only able to accept applications from candidates who have full permission to work in the UK and are unable to provide Sponsorship for this role.

Equal Opportunities

At North Somerset Council we want all our employees to feel valued and appreciated. We aim to ensure equality of opportunity and prevent discrimination irrespective of your sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or belief, race, age, disability, including neurodiversity, if you are married or in a civil partnership or are pregnant or currently on maternity leave. We strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We reserve the right to close this advertisement early or extend the closing date depending on the number of applications received.