Head of Campaigns

Job summary

You will lead the Campaigns and Voter Materials Team, a specialist team combining expertise in public communications, marketing, and accessibility .

The team works collaboratively across the Commission and with external partners to deliver campaigns and materials that are evidence-based, inclusive and trusted by voters and stakeholders.

The culture is professional, supportive and outward-looking, with a strong focus on learning, innovation and continuous improvement.

Job description

This is a senior leadership role with national impact.

As Head of Campaigns and Voter Materials, you will lead the design and delivery of the Commission’s high-profile public awareness campaigns, ensuring voters across the UK have clear, accurate and timely information about elections and how to take part.

You will also oversee the Commission’s voter forms function, ensuring all materials meet legislative requirements, are accessible, and support both voters and electoral administrators.

Key aspects of the role include:

• Setting the strategic direction for UK-wide public awareness campaigns, adapting content in response to legislative change, so that voters have accurate, up-to-date information.
• Leading the delivery of high-profile, multi-million-pound campaigns that drive voter registration, participation and engagement.
• Acting as the senior client for creative and media buying agencies, ensuring strong performance, evaluation and value for money.
• Overseeing the development and maintenance of accurate, accessible voter forms.
• Managing significant budgets, forecasting spend, and ensuring campaign activity remains within statutory limits.
• Providing inclusive, visible leadership to a multidisciplinary team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.

This role plays a critical part in helping voters confidently participate in elections and in supporting the resilience of the UK’s democratic system.

Person specification

This role would suit an experienced senior communications or campaigns leader who is motivated by public impact and complex national delivery.

You are likely to bring:

• Significant experience leading large-scale public awareness or marketing campaigns, including paid-for advertising.
• Strong understanding of applying behavioural science and insight to improve campaign effectiveness.
• Proven experience managing agency contracts and complex supplier relationships.
• Confidence managing substantial budgets and operating within statutory or regulatory constraints.
• A track record of inclusive leadership, developing high-performing teams through change.
• The ability to interpret legislative or policy change and translate it into clear, effective public communications.

Experience working in a regulated, public sector or politically sensitive environment would be advantageous, but is not essential.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £71,618, The Electoral Commission contributes £20,747 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• This is a rare opportunity to shape national media campaigns seen by millions of people across the UK and to make a direct contribution to democratic participation.

  We offer a strong total reward package, including:

  • Flexible working and hybrid model (40% office minimum)
  • 28 rising to 30 days annual leave + bank holidays
  • Civil Service pension scheme (28.97% employer contribution)
  • Study support for professional qualifications
  • Ongoing learning and development opportunities
  • Ride2Work, eye care vouchers and more

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

We are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment. To help reduce unconscious bias and ensure all applicants are assessed solely on their skills, knowledge and experience, we use an anonymous recruitment process.

When applying, please provide an anonymised CV which omits your protected characteristics and any personally identifiable information:

Do not include:

• Your name, address, phone number, email or other contact details
• Your date of birth or age
• Gender, ethnicity, nationality or other personal identifiers
• A photo of yourself
• Remove educational dates as these are a clear indication of your age
• There is no requirement to include your primary education details.

Do include:

• Your employment history including employers and dates of employment
• Explanation for gaps in your history
• Your duties, responsibilities and achievements

If your CV contains personal details (such as your name or contact information), we will be unable to consider your application. Please double-check your documents before submitting, including the file name you use to save and upload your CV.

Supporting disabled applicants

The Electoral Commission is proud to be a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer. As part of this commitment, we aim to prioritise interviews for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria listed in the job description.

There may, however, be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. For example, during periods of exceptionally high application volumes or seasonal recruitment activity, the Commission may need to limit the overall number of interviews offered to both disabled and non-disabled applicants.

If you have a disability and would like to be considered under this commitment, please indicate this when you apply. We also welcome requests for reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process or within the workplace.

Key dates

• Application deadline: 21st January 2026 (23:59)
• Interviews (1st stage): 30th January 2026
• Interviews (2nd stage): 6th & 9th February 2026
• Anticipated start date: 4th May 2026

Applicants applying for a London-based role should expect to attend interviews in person. For applicants in devolved nations, interviews may be conducted virtually via Microsoft Teams.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Talent Acquisition Team
• Email : recruitment@electoralcommission.org.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@electoralcommission.org.uk

Further information

Raising a Concern About the Recruitment Process

At the Electoral Commission, we are committed to delivering fair, inclusive, and transparent recruitment. Our recruitment practices are guided by Civil Service values and comply with the Equality Act 2010 and other relevant legislation.

If you have concerns about the way a recruitment process has been conducted, we encourage you to raise them with us.

How to Make a Complaint

If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of our recruitment process, you can contact us directly by email:

recruitment@electoralcommission.org.uk

Please include the following information:

The job title or reference number

A clear explanation of your concern

Any relevant supporting information

Your preferred contact details

We aim to respond to all complaints within two working days.

Our Commitment

All complaints are treated seriously and in confidence. They are handled in line with our Recruitment Policy and the relevant provisions of the Equality Act 2010, Employment Rights Act 1996, and the Data Protection Act 2018.

If you require this information in an alternative format, or need additional support, please contact us at recruitment@electoralcommission.org.uk.

https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/

Attachments

Head of Campaigns and Voter Materials JD 2025 Opens in new window (pdf, 116kB)How to anonymise your CV Opens in new window (pdf, 191kB)