Job Description

The Service & Team:

The role sits within the Finance and Assurance Directorate of the Council and within the Governance, Elections and Democratic Services.

The team is responsible for delivering all aspects of electoral registration and the conduct of elections and polls across Cornwall. This includes national, regional and local elections, referenda and the annual canvass.

As Principal Electoral Officer, you will play a key leadership role within a high-performing and professional team, supporting the Elections Manager to ensure the effective, lawful and transparent delivery of democratic processes. You will help place the electorate at the heart of the service, driving continuous improvement and innovation.

The Role:

This is a public/customer-facing role, where the statutory English language requirement for public sector workers applies.

The Principal Electoral Officer is responsible and accountable oversight of electoral disciplines – electoral registration or elections/other polls in support of the Elections Manager– having regard to and in accordance with the statutory framework and guidance issued by the Electoral Commission.

Working Pattern:

The role is full time and permanent with flexible and hybrid working from home or our office in Truro. It may also be necessary to work from other Council offices throughout Cornwall when necessary.

What you’ll need to succeed:

You will bring extensive and up-to-date knowledge of electoral law, processes and procedures, alongside significant experience in delivering electoral registration, elections or other polls.

• Recognised qualification in electoral administration or working towards such qualification or sufficient experience that can be considered to be equivalent to holding a qualification
• Ability and willingness to work flexibly and to work additional hours at particular times of the year, including during the annual canvass and the period leading up to, during and immediately after any elections
• The normal duties of the role may involve travel on a regular or occasional basis. It is a condition of employment that the role holder can exercise satisfactory travel mobility in order to fulfil the obligations of the role.
• Extensive up to date knowledge of electoral law and procedures
• Extensive knowledge of processes and procedures used to promote electoral registration and engagement in the electoral process
• Ability to effectively manage, motive and develop staff, both within the core team and the temporary workforce employed from time to time, with relevant experience

Please read the role profile for the full details of this role attached below in this advert

What you’ll get in return:

Cornwall Council’s ambition is to be an employer of choice, a high performing Council and a learning organisation. We commit to providing a reward and benefits package to attract, motivate and reward our employees. We offer a range of flexible working options to our staff. This helps provide our employees with a greater work/life balance. Whilst still ensuring that service needs are met.

Our core employee rewards and benefits include:

· a competitive salary.

· a defined benefit pension scheme, based on your career average earnings. This includes the option for extra voluntary contributions

· a generous annual leave entitlement with the potential to purchase additional leave.

· A national award-winning employee health and wellbeing programme

· Employee benefits scheme giving employees access to a wide range of discounts to local and national goods and services.

Additional Information:

Cornwall Council is unable to offer visa sponsorship or transfer existing sponsorship for this role.

The full role profile is attached here

We recommend saving a copy of this to refer to if you are invited to an interview.

For more information or an informal chat about the role please contact Jane Lyons at Jane.Lyons@cornwall.gov.uk

Application Process

Please attach a supporting statement to your application, you can add your Education & Qualifications details manually using the application form timeline or you can upload your CV. Remember to demonstrate why you are suitable against each of the points marked as ‘Application’ on the Role Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience, which clearly illustrates what you did and the effect it had. Guidance on how to complete your application can be found here – The application process

Please note that applications cannot be edited after they have been submitted, please contact careers@cornwall.gov.uk if you have any queries or require assistance with your application.

Existing employees must apply using their Cornwall Council email address through the Opportunity Marketplace on Oracle.

Cornwall Council deliver services to more than half a million local people and over five million visitors a year. Working here - Cornwall Council

We are happy to talk about flexible working options such as part-time or compressed hours. More examples of our flexible working opportunities can be found here - flexible working options

Fairness and inclusion are at the heart of our vision for Cornwall. In order to best serve our communities, we are striving to achieve a diverse workforce that is inclusive of all backgrounds, cultures and identities; e.g., race, disability, sex, gender reassignment status, age, religion and sexual orientation. We are an equal opportunities and Disability Confident employer, and we will assess applicants on their merits.

Cornwall Council is committed to safeguarding and following safer recruitment principles to help make sure our staff and volunteers are suitable to work with children, young people and adults at risk. It’s a vital part of creating a safe and positive environment and making a commitment to keeping all service users safe from harm.