Senior Advisor Regulation and Campaigning in Belfast

Location: Belfast

About the job

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 progress through 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 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. In this role, you will:

• 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

This is a varied and visible role where your work will directly support the integrity and transparency of elections.

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.

Person specification

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. 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
• Works well independently and as part of a team

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.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £40,031, The Electoral Commission contributes £11,596 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. This is an opportunity to work on issues that matter to democracy and public trust. You will gain exposure to a wide range of stakeholders and develop expertise in a unique regulatory environment. We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment where you can develop your skills and progress your career. We offer a strong total reward package, including:

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

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Selection process details

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.

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. We also welcome requests for reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process or within the workplace.

Key dates

Application deadline: 18th June 2026 (23:59)

Interviews (1st stage): Week commencing 6th July 2026

Interviews (2nd stage): Week commencing TBC

Anticipated start date: Sept 2026

Interviews may be conducted in person. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• Individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020

Further information on nationality requirements.

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission. The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found.

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact: Talent Acquisition Team

Email: Recruitment team

Further information Raising a Concern About the Recruitment Process

At the Electoral Commission, we are committed to delivering fair, inclusive, and transparent recruitment. Our recruitment practices are guided by Civil Service values and comply with the Equality Act 2010 and other relevant legislation.

How to Make a Complaint

If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of our recruitment process, you can contact us directly by email. Please include the following information: The job title or reference number, a clear explanation of your concern, any relevant supporting information, and your preferred contact details. We aim to respond to all complaints within two working days.

Our Commitment

All complaints are treated seriously and in confidence. They are handled in line with our Recruitment Policy and the relevant provisions of the Equality Act 2010, Employment Rights Act 1996, and the Data Protection Act 2018.