AMS PSR

Basis: Fixed Term Contract, Full time 36 hours per week (up to 12 Months FTC Maternity Cover)

A £312 tax-free working from home allowance is also payable annually. 

Location:  Edinburgh (Hybrid – min. 2 days in office)

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. This post plays a central role in that journey.

About the role

As Manager for Scotland (maternity cover), you’ll play a pivotal role in delivering the Commission’s strategic priorities and deputise where appropriate for the Head of Electoral Commission, Scotland. This is a high-profile position where your duties are likely to include:

• Leading and inspiring a talented team to deliver projects and operational plans in accordance with the Commission’s Corporate Plans.
• Representing the Commission at senior external meetings, including Scottish Parliament Committee members.
• Building strong relationships with Ministers, MSPs, political parties, and key stakeholders.
• Overseeing exciting communications, partnerships and engagement work.
• Overseeing policy development and research, scrutinising legislation and advising on electoral reform.
• Managing budgets and contributing to corporate governance and planning

As the team is going through a period of growth and change, the exact distribution of functions may change over the period of the cover role. This will be discussed with the role holder.

About the team

Our Scotland team is collaborative, expert, and passionate about strengthening democracy. We work closely with colleagues across the UK to ensure the devolved perspective is fully understood and reflected in all the Commission’s work, and, in turn, that we are connected to, and represent, the wider work of the Commission. You’ll join a supportive environment where your expertise and leadership will make a real impact.

Who we’re looking for

You’ll be an experienced leader with a strong understanding of Scotland’s political and governmental systems and the wider UK context. You’ll thrive in a role that demands strategic thinking, excellent communication skills, and the ability to manage complex, high-profile issues under public scrutiny. You will be able to balance delivery with building supportive relationships and creating a cohesive, inclusive culture.

Essential skills and experience: 

• Leadership and management experience and/or knowledge of good management practice
• Experience of building, or making a significant contribution to, a cohesive and inclusive culture
• Experience of building productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders in a complex environment, including at senior levels
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Strong organisation and planning skills, with an ability to work well under pressure and manage time of self and others effectively
• Ability to inspire confidence in the team, colleagues at all levels and external stakeholders
• Ability to make good judgments about complex and high-profile issues

Desirable skills and experience:

• Experience of policy development, preferably in the public sector
• Experience of communications and public affairs
• Experience of working in a relevant field, such as government, a regulator or the wider electoral community
• Knowledge of the framework in which the Electoral Commission operates, electoral administration and/or political finance
• Budget and project management experience

Why work for us?

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to shaping the future of elections and political finance in Scotland. You’ll gain exposure to senior decision-makers, influence policy, and develop in a respected national organisation.

We offer:

• Flexible working and hybrid model (40% office attendance minimum).
• 28 rising to 30 days annual leave + bank holidays.
• Civil Service pension scheme (28.97% employer contribution).
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities.

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
• Remove educational dates as these are a clear indication of your age
• There is no requirement to include your primary education details.

Do include: 

• Your employment history including employers and dates of employment
• Explanation for gaps in your history
• Your duties, responsibilities and achievement

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: Sunday 22nd February (23:59)
• Interviews (1st stage): Week commencing 2nd March
• Interviews (2nd stage): Week commencing 16th March

This is a fixed-term contract to cover a period of maternity leave, expected to last for 12 months or until the return of the substantive post holder if this is before the expected end date. Appropriate notice in accordance with your terms and conditions will be given.