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General information

Posting ID
REQ000194
Type of employment
Permanent
Organisation
The Electoral Commission
Salary Banding MIN
£ 40031
Location
Belfast
Salary Banding MAX
£ 42033
Workplace Type
Hybrid

Description & Requirements

Senior Advisor, Regulation & Campaigning

1 X Permanent: Full time 36 hours per week

Salary: £40,031 to £42,033 per annum.

Location: Belfast (Hybrid – min. 2 days in office)
A £312 tax-free working from home allowance is also payable annually.

Benefits: Outstanding benefits including Civil Service Pension Scheme, flexible working, 28+ days holiday, and more.

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. You will play a central role in that journey.

About the role

As a Senior Advisor, you will play a key role in supporting political parties, campaigners and stakeholders in Northern Ireland to understand and comply with electoral law and political finance rules. You will combine regulatory expertise with strong relationship management, helping to ensure elections are transparent, fair and trusted.

Your day-to-day work will include:

  • Provide clear, practical advice on political finance, campaign spending, donations, loans and reporting requirements
  • Support stakeholders to understand their legal responsibilities and key deadlines
  • Deliver engagement activity such as briefings, webinars and events ahead of elections
  • Act as a trusted point of contact for regulated entities across Northern Ireland
  • Manage compliance checking processes and support organisations to meet regulatory requirements
  • Identify emerging risks, issues or areas of confusion and share insights to improve our services
  • Contribute to the development of guidance, tools and resources for stakeholders

About the team

You will be part of the Northern Ireland team within our Devolution and Law directorate. The team works closely with political parties, campaigners and public bodies to provide guidance, regulate political finance and support well-run elections. We are a collaborative and supportive team, working closely with colleagues across the UK in Legal, Political Finance and Electoral Administration. We value openness, professionalism and shared learning, and we are committed to delivering work that has real public impact.

We are looking for someone who enjoys working with a range of stakeholders and can explain complex information clearly and confidently. You may come from a regulatory, policy, public sector or legal background, or have equivalent experience.

Who we’re looking for

You will be someone who:

  • Can build effective working relationships and influence a range of audiences
  • Communicates clearly, both in writing and verbally
  • Is organised and able to manage competing priorities and deadlines
  • Uses sound judgement, particularly when handling sensitive or complex issues
  • Takes a proactive approach to problem-solving and continuous improvement

You will also bring:

  • Experience of working in a regulatory or similar environment
  • Experience of interpreting legislation or complex guidance
  • Experience of producing clear written materials such as briefings or guidance
  • Confidence working with stakeholders and managing relationships

Knowledge of electoral law, political finance or the Northern Ireland political context would be helpful but is not essential. We welcome applicants who can demonstrate transferable skills and a willingness to learn.

Why work for us?

We offer a strong total reward package, including:

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

How to apply

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

Please submit:

A Word CV, which must not include:

  • Names of educational institutions or dates of education
  • Employment history older than 10 years (unless directly relevant and explicitly required in the person specification)

 

An anonymised supporting statement, clearly outlining how you meet the essential criteria listed in the job description.

If a specific qualification is required (e.g. a chartered status), you may include its title (e.g. “CIPFA-qualified accountant”) but not the awarding body or dates.

If the role only asks for general education (e.g. “educated to degree level or equivalent”), simply state this—no further detail is needed.

Failure to comply with these anonymisation instructions may result in your application being withdrawn.

Supporting disabled applicants

The Electoral Commission is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. As part of our commitment, we offer a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants. If you have a disability and meet the minimum essential criteria listed in the job description, you will be offered an interview.

To be considered under this scheme, please indicate this when you apply. We also welcome requests for reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or in the workplace.

Apply