Senior Elections Officer

We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic elections professional to join our team. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in our busy Electoral Services team based in Northampton. West Northamptonshire is the 15th largest district in the country and has already been through Local Government Reorganisation in 2021.

As a Senior Electoral Services Officer, your role will be to assist in the delivery of smooth and efficient electoral services as well as leading on projects. You will have the opportunity to work with a supportive and friendly management team.

If you are someone with drive, enthusiasm and a passion for delivering democracy, and would flourish in a dynamic and challenging environment we would love to hear from you.

Interviews will take place the week commencing the 9th February.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact either Louise Aston (Election Manager (Elections) on 01604 527584 or Mark West (Elections Manager (Registration & Engagement)) on 01604 526130

You can also see our full list of employee benefits on our careers site here: Why you should work for us | West Northamptonshire Council.

Your key responsibilities will be:

• Working alongside the Elections Manager (Elections) to deliver of all types of elections and referenda in accordance with legislation.
• Working alongside the Elections Manager (Registration and Engagement) to manage electoral registration and Voter ID data ensuring that Electoral Services operates efficiently and with the necessary checking of procedures for accuracy and completeness.
• Provide expert oversight of the work of the team and professional electoral advice to the Returning Officer, Electoral Registration Officer, Head of Service, other relevant officers, elected members, candidates, agents, and the public as is necessary.
• Provide direction and guidance to Elections Officers and casual staff employed to work on elections, including the planning and provision of effective and timely training, guidance and support.
• To contribute and assist with the development of all relevant strategies and plans to improve and progress electoral and election matters.
• Manage processes in relation to boundary or community governance reviews or similar to ensure that they are delivered in accordance with statutory requirements.
• To lead on the maintenance of information held on the Register of Electors.

You will have experience of the electoral registration process including giving advice, guidance and support to key stakeholders.

You will have experience of elections and electoral law including giving advice, guidance and support to key stakeholders.

You will be an enthusiastic, highly motivated and professional individual who has experience of working with candidates, elected members, agents and senior officers.

You will have experience of producing complex, detailed and accurate written work, including the examination and extraction of information from a variety of different data sources evaluating the relevance and accuracy of the information.

You will have experience of working in a highly politically sensitive, pressurised and deadline driven environment.

You will hold the AEA Certificate or will be able to demonstrate experience of supervising elections & registration throughout the year and have detailed knowledge of electoral law. You will be willing to undertake the AEA certificate if you do not already have it.

At West Northants Council, it’s about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like-minded people.

Our vision is ‘to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive’. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower, they underpin everything we do and how we deliver services.

We are committed to ensuring diversity, equality, equity, and inclusion is woven into the fabric of WNC and everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and maximize their full potential.  We are a disability confident employer, a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, and a Care Leaver Covenant partner

The following film was created by us to communicate our intentions - watch WNC colleagues explain what DEI means to us.

If you need additional support or reasonable adjustments during the application process, including needing the job description in another format or language, please email careers@westnorthants.gov.uk for support.

West Northants Council, where careers thrive.