Senior Internal Communications Officer in Newtownabbey

Salary: £40,031 - £42,033 per annum. London-based employees receive an additional £3,217 London weighting. A £312 tax-free working from home allowance is also payable annually.

Location: Remote (UK) or be based on our offices in Belfast, Edinburgh or London.

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. You will play a central role in that journey.

About the role: As a Senior Communications Officer (Internal and Corporate Communications) you will lead and deliver internal and corporate communications activity, providing colleagues and stakeholders with timely, accurate, engaging and well-presented corporate information. You will use a variety of internal communications channels to share information with colleagues, including events, video, newsletters, and digital platforms.

On a day-to-day basis, you will be:

• Lead, coordinate and deliver internal and corporate communications activities, to support strategic communication objectives.
• Managing and drafting copy for the intranet and weekly staff newsletter.
• Coordinating all staff meetings and supporting the delivery of the annual all staff conference.
• To support delivery of the annual report and corporate plan, drafting content as needed.
• Anticipating and resolving delivery issues and recommending strategic solutions where necessary.
• Develop and implement internal communication strategies which deliver corporate news and updates to all colleagues in a way which builds engagement, clarity, and confidence, and aligns with the Commission's values.
• Provide strategic communications advice to senior colleagues and the wider organisation, recommending suitable approaches for communicating corporate news and significant internal projects.
• Evaluate and report on communications impact using data and insights to refine strategies and improve effectiveness.
• Establish feedback mechanisms ensuring staff feedback informs messaging and communications planning.
• Maintain strong internal networks in order to monitor emerging issues that may need to be addressed via internal communications activity.
• Attend the regular Staff Engagement Group meetings.
• Research and implement new approaches to communications work, to maximise impact and effectiveness.

About the team: The role involves working closely with colleagues across the Commission, supporting them to communicate their work effectively. You will work particularly closely with colleagues in HR and other corporate service teams, and with the wider communications directorate. You will be expected to support senior staff, including their line manager, the Head of Internal and Corporate Communications and the Director of Communications and External Affairs.

Who we're looking for: We're looking for someone who possesses an understanding of, and interest in, democracy and the electoral processes in the UK. You'll ideally have:

• Strong experience of working in internal and corporate communications teams.
• Experience delivering internal communications strategies that align with corporate goals.
• Experience of using a range of communications channels and tactics to maximise impact and engagement.
• Experience of working with other professional disciplines developing communication strategies, e.g. HR and IT.
• Ability to research, analyse and summarise complex material.
• Ability to solve problems proactively and use initiative to work out the best solution.
• Ability to build relationships with key stakeholders internally and externally.
• Ability to take full ownership of a project and work without close supervision.

Why work for us? We offer a strong total reward package, including:

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

How to apply: We are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment. To reduce unconscious bias and ensure all applicants are assessed solely on their skills, knowledge and experience, we use an anonymous recruitment process. Please submit:

• A Word CV, which must not include names of educational institutions or dates of education.
• Employment history older than 10 years (unless directly relevant and explicitly required in the person specification).
• An anonymised supporting statement, clearly outlining how you meet the essential criteria listed in the job description.

If a specific qualification is required (e.g. a chartered status), you may include its title (e.g. 'CIPFA-qualified accountant') but not the awarding body or dates. If the role only asks for general education (e.g. 'educated to degree level or equivalent'), simply state this - no further detail is needed. Failure to comply with these anonymisation instructions may result in your application being withdrawn.