Electoral Services Officer

About the Job

We are looking for an Electoral Services Officer to join Newcastle City Council’s Electoral Services Team.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with electoral services experience who wants to develop their career and take an active role in delivering electoral registration and elections across Newcastle.

About Us

We work hard to make Newcastle a great place to live, work and visit. As a unitary authority, Newcastle City Council provides a wide range of services to residents and communities across the city.

You will join a diverse, talented and resourceful workforce committed to making a positive difference for Newcastle and its people. Our values of being proud, fair and ambitious are at the heart of how we work and the services we provide.

The Job

Electoral Services is a fast-paced and highly regulated area of local government, with accuracy, organisation and the ability to work to statutory deadlines essential to everything we do.

As an Electoral Services Officer, you will play an important role in the delivery of electoral registration and elections across Newcastle, working as part of a small and experienced team.

• supporting the planning and delivery of elections and electoral events;
• maintaining the Register of Electors and processing electoral registration applications;
• supporting the delivery of the annual canvass;
• administering postal and proxy voting arrangements;
• responding to enquiries from electors, candidates, agents and other stakeholders;
• helping to develop and implement processes for key election activities, including postal vote opening and the count;
• supporting the recruitment, allocation and training of temporary election staff;
• preparing guidance, procedures and training materials;
• using electoral management systems, including Civica Xpress, to accurately maintain electoral records; and
• supporting the team in implementing legislative, regulatory and procedural changes affecting electoral registration and elections.

You will need to be able to manage competing priorities and work accurately to strict statutory deadlines. You will communicate with a wide range of people and will be expected to use your initiative, solve problems and work effectively both independently and as part of the wider team.

Accuracy and attention to detail are particularly important. Electoral registration and election administration involve large volumes of information and statutory processes where getting the detail right matters.

The role offers a combination of home and office working where operational requirements allow. However, you will need to be flexible, particularly during election periods and other key points in the electoral registration calendar.

Election delivery requires additional working outside normal office hours, including early mornings, evenings and weekends, and you will be expected to work additional hours during these periods. There will also be restrictions on taking annual leave during key election and registration periods.

The Candidate

We are looking for someone who already has experience of working within electoral services and understands the importance of delivering accurate, accessible and well-run electoral processes.

Experience of using Civica Xpress electoral management software would be particularly valuable.

• a good understanding of electoral registration and election administration;
• excellent organisational skills and attention to detail;
• the ability to manage competing priorities and meet fixed deadlines;
• strong written and verbal communication skills;
• confidence in dealing with a wide range of customers and stakeholders;
• the ability to interpret and apply legislation, guidance and established procedures;
• a proactive and flexible approach to work;
• confidence using IT systems and managing data accurately; and
• the ability to work independently while contributing positively to a small team.

We are looking for someone with a genuine interest in democracy and the electoral processes that support it, together with the willingness to continue developing their professional knowledge.

An Association of Electoral Administrators (AEA) qualification would be welcomed. If you are not already qualified, we would encourage and support you to work towards an appropriate AEA qualification as part of your professional development.

In return, you will have the opportunity to build your knowledge and experience across electoral registration and election administration, with support and on-the-job development from an experienced team.

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