Elections Officer

Derby City Council; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

LGPS pension

Hybrid working

Flexible hours

Wellbeing programme

Job summary

Derby City Council is seeking an Elections Officer to support the accurate electoral register and delivery of elections in Derby. You will handle registration casework and election planning, interpret legislation, and prepare clear correspondence, reports and briefings while meeting statutory deadlines.

You’ll join an experienced team, develop specialist knowledge, and contribute to preparations for electoral changes across Derbyshire, with occasional evenings and weekends during election

Qualifications

• Experience taking responsibility for complex work with limited supervision.
• Strong written communication skills and ability to produce clear, accurate work.
• Ability to interpret legislation, guidance or procedures and apply to cases.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with evidence-based conclusions.
• Sound judgement on when to decide, seek advice or escalate.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines without sacrificing accuracy.
• Confidence communicating with a wide range of people in a professional manner.
• Good IT skills and experience with databases, records or case-management systems.
• Strong commitment to confidentiality and political neutrality.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of complex electoral registration cases and research issues within legislation.
• Draft clear, accurate correspondence, reports, briefings and responses to inquiries.
• Support planning and delivery of local and national elections, including nominations and polling stations.
• Advise electors, candidates, agents, councillors and colleagues on electoral processes.
• Identify risks, resolve problems and propose practical actions to senior officers.
• Train and oversee administrative election staff and check work quality.
• Complete electoral registration and election administration accurately, alongside complex casework.
• Maintain secure electoral records and materials.
• Work additional hours during election periods, including evenings, weekends and polling day.

Skills

Complex cases

Written communication

Legislation interpretation

Analytical skills

Good judgement

Prioritisation

Stakeholder communication

IT skills

Confidentiality

Flexible hours

Election experience

Job description

Location

The Council House, Corporation Street, Derby

Hours

37 hours a week. Occasional evening and weekend working during election and canvass periods.

Contract Type

Permanent

Closing Date

21/09/2026

The Opportunity

Help make democracy work in Derby. As an Elections Officer, you will take ownership of varied and sometimes complex work that supports an accurate electoral register and elections residents can trust. The role combines registration casework and election planning with the accurate administration skills needed to keep the service running and meet statutory deadlines. You will interpret legislation and guidance, investigate unusual or complex cases, and produce clear correspondence, reports and briefings. Joining an experienced and supportive team, the Elections Officer will develop specialist knowledge and play an active part in preparations for significant electoral change across Derbyshire.

What you'll be doing

• Taking ownership of complex electoral registration cases, researching issues and deciding the appropriate action within legislation and guidance.
• Drafting clear, accurate and well-structured correspondence, reports, briefings and responses to complaints or enquiries.
• Supporting the planning and delivery of local and national elections, including nominations, polling stations, election staff and the count.
• Advising electors, candidates, agents, councillors and colleagues on electoral processes and requirements.
• Identifying risks, resolving problems and recommending practical action to senior officers.
• Training and overseeing administrative and temporary election staff, checking work and addressing errors.
• Completing electoral registration and election administration accurately and promptly, alongside more complex casework and project work.
• Maintaining accurate and secure electoral records, systems and controlled election materials.
• Working additional hours during election periods, including evenings, weekends and polling day.

About you

• Experience of taking responsibility for complex work with limited supervision.
• Strong written communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, accurate and well-structured work.
• The ability to interpret legislation, guidance or detailed procedures and apply them to individual cases.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to research unfamiliar issues and reach evidence-based conclusions.
• Sound judgement, including knowing when to make a decision, seek advice or elevate a matter.
• The ability to organise competing priorities and meet fixed deadlines without sacrificing accuracy.
• Confidence communicating professionally with a wide range of people.
• Good IT skills and experience of working with databases, records or case-management systems.
• A strong commitment to confidentiality, political neutrality and the secure handling of personal information.
• The ability to guide colleagues, check the quality of work and give clear feedback.
• Willingness to work outside normal office hours and travel within Derby when required.
• Experience of elections, electoral registration or another regulated service would be helpful but is not essential.

Who We Are

At Derby City Council, we're proud to deliver over 250 essential services that support our residents, communities and businesses. Guided by our vision to create an Inclusive, Green, Growing and Vibrant City, we put people at the heart of everything we do.

Our values shape how we work every day. We believe in Great People, One Team, we're Bold in embracing change, Strong in delivering for our communities, and We Care about making a positive difference.

Join us and you'll be part of an ambitious, collaborative organisation where you can develop your career while helping to shape Derby's future.

Why join Derby City Council?

At Derby City Council, you'll have the opportunity to make a real difference while building a rewarding career in an organisation that values, supports and invests in its people. Alongside the opportunity to help shape the future of Derby, you'll benefit from a comprehensive range of employee benefits, including:

Financial Benefits

• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) - a secure, defined benefit pension with life cover
• Team Derby Rewards - discounts across a wide range of retail, leisure and lifestyle brands
• Tusker Car Benefit Scheme - a salary sacrifice scheme for leasing a brand-new, fully maintained and insured vehicle

Work-Life Balance

• Generous annual leave, starting at 27 days and rising to 32 days after five years' service (plus bank holidays, depending on your contract)
• The option to purchase additional annual leave
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements for many roles
• Flexible retirement options, where eligible
• Support for colleagues with caring responsibilities

Learning and Development

• Learning and development opportunities, with regular career conversations to support your growth
• Leadership and management development programmes, mentoring and professional qualifications
• Modern workspaces designed to support collaboration, productivity and wellbeing

Health and Wellbeing

• Employee Assistance Programme, wellbeing support and a year-round wellbeing calendar
• Free annual flu vaccinations
• Cycle2Work Scheme and free cycle training

Community and Inclusion

• Up to 15 hours of volunteering leave each year
• Recognition through initiatives including the Here for Derby Awards and Long Service Awards
• The opportunity to join one of our Employee Networks, including LGBTQ+, Disabled Employees and Carers, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Employees, and Neurodiversity

At Derby City Council, we believe our people are our greatest strength. Whatever stage you're at in your career, you'll be joining an inclusive organisation where you'll be supported to develop, feel valued and make a meaningful difference to the communities we serve.

Some benefits are dependent on your role, contract or length of service.

Important Information

Links to the full Job Description and Person Specification are available below.

All employees will normally be appointed to the minimum of the grade for the role.

The Council has a legal obligation to consider suitable redeployment opportunities for employees at risk of redundancy. Consequently, this vacancy may be withdrawn before the advertised closing date if it is filled through the Council's redeployment process.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Derby City Council, we're committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and can thrive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we serve.

As a Disability Confident Leader, disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role can choose to apply through our Guaranteed Interview Scheme.

We are also proud to hold the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award, recognising our commitment to supporting serving personnel, veterans and their families. Members of the Armed Forces community, veterans and their close family members who meet the essential criteria are also eligible for our Guaranteed Interview Scheme.

If you need any reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, including during your application, interview or onboarding, we'll work with you to provide the support you need.

If you have any questions about this vacancy or need assistance with your application, please contact the Recruitment Team on 01332 640844 (Relay UK: 18001 01332 640844) or email [e-mail].