Northern Ireland Support and Information Officer

Job summary

About the Electoral Commission

The Electoral Commission is the UK’s independent body overseeing elections and regulating political finance. Everything we do is about ensuring trust, participation, and integrity in the democratic process.

As we enter a bold new chapter under our five-year Corporate Plan, we are increasing our workforce and transforming how we plan and deliver core services. This post plays a central role in that journey.

Job description

About the role

The Northern Ireland Support and Information Officer will play an important role in supporting the Electoral Commission’s work in Northern Ireland. You will provide clear and accessible advice and guidance to voters, electoral administrators, political parties, candidates, agents and members of the public, helping them understand the Commission’s processes and requirements.

You will provide administrative and financial support to the team, including assisting the Senior Officer (Political Parties Liaison) with tasks connected to party finance activities in Northern Ireland. This will include helping with statutory returns, maintaining accurate records and supporting activity in the lead up to electoral events.

You will also support the Senior Communications and Engagement Officer by contributing to a range of communications activities. This may include preparing draft press materials, coordinating newsletters, creating content for social media and helping to maintain Northern Ireland related content on the Commission’s website. You will work closely with colleagues to ensure these activities are well coordinated and aligned with the Commission’s wider strategic objectives.

About the team

The Northern Ireland office, based in Belfast, is growing, with new colleagues joining both the NI team and Commission teams who work from Northern Ireland. This is an exciting time to join us as we prepare for the combined local council and Northern Ireland Assembly elections in May 2027. The team works collaboratively, supports one another and takes a people focused approach to delivering our work.

Person specification

Who we’re looking for

We are looking for someone who is comfortable communicating with a wide range of people and who can build positive working relationships with colleagues and external stakeholders. You will be organised, able to manage your own workload and willing to support others across the team when needed.

Experience of working in elections or regulation would be helpful, but it is not essential. We welcome applications from candidates who can demonstrate relevant transferable skills and experience from other sectors.

In this role you will:

• Serve as the primary point of contact for the Commission’s public information service in Northern Ireland, responding to queries received by email and phone, and ensuring all contacts are logged in line with Commission procedures.
• Work with relevant team leads to provide advice and guidance to political parties, candidates, agents and campaigners, ensuring compliance with legislative requirements and Commission guidance in Northern Ireland.
• Support communications by preparing press materials, newsletters and Northern Ireland related content for the Commission’s website and social media channels.
• Assist with the processing of electoral observer accreditation applications across the UK during busy electoral events.
• Provide administrative support to ensure the effective operation of the Northern Ireland team, including coordinating meetings with external stakeholders and supporting internal processes.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £31,549, The Electoral Commission contributes £9,139 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Why work for us?

The Electoral Commission is currently undergoing a period of significant growth, and the role offers an opportunity to join the ever-expanding Northern Ireland team based in Belfast. There are considerable training and developmental opportunities for the successful candidate to progress within the variety of roles that the Commission offers. The role will involve working with Commission staff based in the other devolved offices in Cardiff and Edinburgh and our UK wide teams based in London.

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

How to apply

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
• Educational dates (as these indicate age)
• 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: 23rd March 2026 (23:59)
• Interviews (1st stage): Week commencing 13th April 2026
• Anticipated start date: Mid May 2026.

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

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

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 or call 020 7271 0500.

https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/working-us