Electoral Services Manager

Remedy Recruitment Group; Basildon; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Basildon Council seeks an experienced Electoral Services Manager to lead the council's electoral services team and ensure compliance with the register of electors and all related duties. The post holder will act as the technical expert on elections and electoral registration and support the Returning Officer in delivering all elections in Basildon Borough.

The role requires in-depth knowledge of electoral legislation, extensive experience in elections management, and strong leadership to drive

Qualifications

• Experience in developing and maintaining an Electoral Management System.
• Experience handling enquiries from the public by telephone and face-to-face.
• At least 5 years' experience in electoral services.
• Understanding of the UK political system and working within a political environment.
• Deep knowledge of electoral legislation and ability to interpret guidance.
• Proven leadership and management of teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the electoral services team including recruitment, training, development, appraisal, performance, workload allocation, supervision, quality assurance and risk management.
• Oversee the compilation, maintenance and supply of the register of electors for Basildon Borough and related electoral matters, ensuring deadlines are met.
• Monitor electoral registration changes and implement compliant practices.
• Coordinate annual canvass planning, canvasser appointments, print contractor liaison and canvass delivery within budget and timescales.
• Maintain the register of absent voters and conduct the annual postal vote refresh.
• Lead electoral, polling and community governance reviews; organise and deliver elections and referenda.
• Prepare and submit returns to the Electoral Commission and manage performance reporting.
• Arrange temporary staff for canvasses, referendums and elections, with appropriate training.
• Interpret changes in legislation and implement new working practices to ensure compliance and effectiveness.
• Handle complaints and manage difficult situations and stakeholders.

Skills

Electoral Management System

Leadership & management

Public enquiries

UK political system

Electoral legislation understanding

Job description

Our client Essex county council is looking for a Electoral Services Manager to manage their electoral services team.

The post holder will lead and manage the council's electoral services team ensuring that statutory requirements are adhered to and managing the team in undertaking duties relating to the compilation, maintenance and supply of the register of electors for the Basildon Borough in accordance with the range of relevant legislation and guidance and other related and duties and reviews including community governance reviews and polling places reviews.

The postholder will be the technical expert for all matters relating to elections and electoral registration

The post holder will be responsible for the preparation and undertaking of the annual electoral canvass, supporting the Returning Officer in the organisation and efficient and effective delivery of all elections held in the Basildon Borough.

The Opportunity

The post holder will be the council's expert and have an in-depth understanding of legislation and issues relating to electoral registration and management of elections together with a comprehensive in-depth knowledge and understanding of the legislative framework that governs the electoral process and significant experience in these areas and shall be responsible for ensuring that the council complies with existing and new legislation.

Accountability's

• Leadership and management of the electoral services team ensuring that recruitment, training, development, appraisal, performance, workload allocation, supervision, quality assurance, risk and other management activities are carried out effectively and in accordance with council policy to ensure effective service delivery.


• Responsible for the compilation, maintenance and supply of the register of electors for the Basildon Borough and all other related electoral matters in accordance with the range of relevant legislation and guidance ensuring that all legislative requirements and deadlines are adhered to.


• Maintain an awareness and understanding of legislative changes in connection with electoral registration and elections and develop and implement working practices and arrangements to ensure that the council complies.


• Responsibility for ensuring that the annual electoral canvass is effectively undertaken through effective project planning and implementation and making all necessary arrangements, including appointment of canvassers, appointing print contractors and ensuring that the canvass is delivered in accordance with the budget and timescales and with high satisfaction levels.


• Responsible for maintaining the register of absent voters and the undertaking of the annual postal vote refresh in accordance with statutory requirements and timescales.


• To lead the conduct and implementation of all electoral, polling and community governance reviews in the borough.


• Lead in the organisation and delivery of all elections and referenda held in the borough.


• Responsible for preparation and submission of returns to the Electoral Commission including Performance Standards and information, as requested


• To make arrangements for the employment of temporary staff for canvasses, referendums and elections, and provide appropriate training and guidance.


• Interpret, develop and implement new working practices arising from legislative changes to ensure compliance and effectiveness


• To deal with all complaints related to the service and effectively manage difficult situations and stakeholders.

The Experience You Will Bring

• Experience and knowledge of effective development and maintenance of an Electoral Management System, and control of data held therein.


• Experience of dealing with enquiries from the public and giving advice both over the telephone and on a face to face basis


• In‑depth understanding and knowledge of electoral services and elections management with at least 5 year's experience of working in an electoral services environment


• An understanding of the political system in the UK and working within a political environment


• In‑depth knowledge and understanding of wide ranging electoral legislation and the ability to interpret legislation and guidance and develop relevant working practices


• Experience of effective leadership and management of teams and individuals

Why choose Basildon Council?

Basildon Borough Council is one of the largest local authorities in the East of England region and serves a population of approximately 172,000 people. The town of Basildon is regarded as a key economic hub with the main areas of employment being engineering, research and development, distribution and financial services. Basildon is also the second biggest economy in the Thames Gateway, outside of Canary Wharf.

Working for Basildon Borough Council means making a practical and positive difference to the lives of people living and working in the Borough and provides a fulfilling career.

Each of our employees - whatever job role they are undertaking - can feel motivated by having a unique opportunity to use their skills to make Basildon a better place to live. Whether it is conserving our countryside, by regenerating our Borough, by housing our residents or by collecting the refuse on time.

Basildon Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults, and expects all employees, contractors and volunteers to share its commitment to prevent abuse, harm or exploitation.

The Council applies a robust recruitment vetting process. If you are successful you will need to undergo a Pre‑employment Vetting Procedure.

Note: ECC are advertising this role on behalf of Basildon Council.

Remedy Social Care is a APSCo Standard agency and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the vulnerable. Successful applicants will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure via the DBS. Our objective is to be an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from everyone with suitable skills and ability regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, gender, disability, sexual orientation, age, religion or belief. All applications will be accepted and reviewed solely on merit.