Policy Officer - Elections Directorate

About the Role

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is seeking to appoint three policy officers within its Elections Directorate, based in locations such as Bristol, Darlington, London, Manchester, and Wolverhampton. This directorate manages a dynamic and complex policy environment focused on electoral matters, including legislation concerning how elections are conducted, voter eligibility, and campaigning regulations. The roles are instrumental in delivering government manifesto pledges like extending voting rights to 16 and 17-year-olds, enhancing voter registration, revising voter identification requirements, and updating political financing laws in response to foreign influence concerns.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead policy formulation on multiple priorities including Voter ID requirements, postal voting procedures, and the extension of voting rights to younger voters.
• Collaborate effectively within teams and across departmental functions, acting as a subject matter expert whilst cooperating with digital, legal, and other policy colleagues and government entities.
• Engage with a broad spectrum of stakeholders including the electoral sector, devolved governments, statutory agencies like the Electoral Commission, political parties, and civil society.
• Provide authoritative advice and briefing to Ministers and senior leadership to support informed decision-making.
• Support the legislative process including offering expertise and facilitating ministerial briefings related to Parliamentary Bills.

Person Specification

• Ability to assimilate and interlink complex information rapidly and perceive overarching implications.
• Strong communication skills necessary to demystify complicated concepts and guide senior and ministerial decision-making.
• Self-motivated with excellent time management capabilities to handle multiple priorities independently.
• Experience in handling intricate policy development, preferably in contexts involving legislative frameworks.
• Demonstrated success working as the policy lead in multi-disciplinary teams, integrating inputs from digital, legal, and analytic functions.
• Comfort working with a diverse range of contacts from ministers to local officials and representatives of disadvantaged groups.
• Familiarity with primary and secondary legislation is essential.

Additional Information

The salary offered is £44,004 per annum, with an additional employer pension contribution of £12,747 towards the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. The department offers flexible working arrangements and various employee benefits including childcare vouchers, cycle to work schemes, tailored career development pathways, and a wellbeing benefits package.

The recruitment process involves a two-stage application procedure including a CV and personal statement assessment, followed by a remote video interview and presentation stage. The Ministry is committed to disability confident recruitment principles and ensures a fair, accessible selection journey.

Applicants must submit a combined CV and cover letter document, avoid personal identifiers, and respect the guidance regarding truthful and original content in applications.

Selection & Recruitment Process

• Initial sift of applications focusing on experience and key behaviours.
• Shortlisted candidates invited for interview involving behavioural assessment and a prepared presentation.
• Disability confident scheme applied with reasonable adjustments available.
• Strict adherence to civil service recruitment policies regarding eligibility, right to work, security clearance, and conflict of interest disclosures.