Campaigns manager for eastbourne

Job Description

Line Manager: South East Regional Campaign Manager

Hours: Full-time (37.5 hours per week)

Tenure: 1-year fixed-term contract (with a view to making permanent, pending review in June 2027)

Location: Hybrid: 100 Seaside Road, Eastbourne, BN21 3PF and home-based

Closing date: Sunday 5th July 2026 at 11.59 pm

Interviews: w/c 20th July 2026

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Eastbourne Liberal Democrats at a pivotal moment for local and national politics. With significant elections expected over the next three years, we are looking for an ambitious and driven Campaign Manager to help lead one of the party’s most successful local parties through a defining period of growth.

Eastbourne is one of the Liberal Democrats’ strongest constituencies. In the 2024 General Election, Josh Babarinde OBE was elected as MP for Eastbourne with 23,742 votes, winning 52% of the vote and a 26.8% lead. Josh won the seat from the Conservatives. Josh was elected President of the Liberal Democrats in November 2025, taking office in January 2026.

In the East Sussex County Council elections in May 2026, the Liberal Democrats won seven of the nine Wards in the constituency. They won the Meads Ward from the Greens and only just missed taking the Ratton Ward from the Conservatives, losing by just forty votes. Reform took the Sovereign Ward from the Conservatives.

The political landscape in Eastbourne, as elsewhere in the country, has changed significantly in the last twelve months, posing significant political challenges. We are expecting elections to the new One East Sussex Unitary Authority in May 2027. A government decision on the final shape of the new Unitary Authority is expected before the Summer Recess.

This role offers the chance to play a central part in shaping and delivering winning campaigns across this crucial period.

The successful candidate will lead campaigning activity in the Eastbourne constituency, developing and delivering a clear long‑term electoral strategy while also overseeing strong day‑to‑day campaign execution.

We are looking for someone who combines strategic thinking with a practical, hands‑on approach: a highly organised campaigner who can motivate volunteers, manage competing priorities and help deliver ambitious electoral outcomes.

Why Join Us?

• Play a leading role in one of the Liberal Democrats’ key political constituencies
• Work alongside experienced campaigners and elected representatives
• Shape strategy across multiple high‑profile elections
• Opportunity for professional growth and increased responsibility
• Be part of a motivated, ambitious and successful local team
• Potential for the role to become a higher‑profile regional role over time

Who Are We Looking For?

We are looking for an ambitious and effective campaigner who understands what it takes to win competitive campaigns and inspire others to perform at their best.

You may have developed your experience within the Liberal Democrats or in another fast‑paced campaigning environment — such as a political party, advocacy organisation, membership body, trade union or charity.

Above all, we are looking for someone with a proven ability to deliver results, manage competing priorities and thrive in high‑pressure, target‑driven environments.

Key Tasks

• Lead and deliver professional, compliant and strategically focused election campaigns across the Eastbourne constituency.
• Work closely with the MP, candidates, councillors and local campaign teams to develop campaign plans, set clear objectives and drive progress against voter contact, fundraising and organisational targets.
• Working with the local party Chair, support the effective selection and approval of candidates in line with party processes and standards.
• Help shape and implement a clear constituency‑wide messaging strategy, ensuring consistent and effective communication across all local campaigns.
• Lead the planning, production and delivery of campaign literature, maintaining high standards of messaging, design and targeting.
• Support and coordinate local campaign teams across the constituency, ensuring activists and volunteers feel valued, motivated and well‑supported.
• Work with local teams to ensure that effective relationships are established with members and activists, and increase engagement and development.
• Build and strengthen a sustainable campaign infrastructure through volunteer recruitment, leadership development and local fundraising.
• Analyse campaign data and voter feedback to inform campaign decisions, targeting and strategic priorities.
• Work with local teams to deliver effective doorstep and direct voter communication programmes, setting and ensuring ambitious literature delivery and canvassing targets are met.
• Manage relationships with external commercial suppliers, including printers, to ensure cost‑effective and high‑quality campaign delivery, securing bulk‑buy deals.
• Design, organise and attend relevant meetings, campaign events and training sessions as required.

Person Specification

• Highly organised and self‑motivated, with the ability to manage competing priorities and work independently to deliver agreed objectives.
• Experience in planning and delivering complex projects, campaigns or workstreams to deadline.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with experience of working effectively with senior colleagues or other key decision‑makers.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate persuasively and accurately with a range of audiences.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to motivate, influence and inspire candidates, volunteers and campaign teams.
• Experience in volunteer engagement, recruitment or team leadership.
• An enthusiasm for coaching and developing the skills and confidence of others.
• Good strategic judgement and the ability to translate plans into effective delivery.
• Confident IT and digital communication skills, including Microsoft Office, email systems and social media platforms.
• A good understanding of messaging and graphic design in the political context.
• Sympathy with the aims and values of the Liberal Democrats.
• Experience of working with elected representatives and/or volunteer‑led organisations.
• Experience of using Liberal Democrat campaign systems, including Connect, Lighthouse and Affinity Publisher.
• Experience in delivering training or facilitating workshops.
• An understanding of political messaging, targeting and campaign design.
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.

Workplace

Flexible: your working week will be split between being in the local party office in Eastbourne and working from home. You may also visit local parties around East Sussex and may be expected to attend occasional staff meetings in London.

Key Stakeholders

You will formally report to the South East Regional Campaign Manager. You will work closely with the Chair of the Eastbourne Liberal Democrats (the employer), Josh Babarinde, the MP for Eastbourne, the principal council leader, the local campaign team and the relevant campaign oversight and planning groups.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The Party believes it is essential to foster equity, equality, diversity, and inclusion within our workforce. We want our employees to thrive in an environment where everyone is welcome and supported to achieve their potential. It is important to celebrate what makes us unique and to feel valued, appreciated, and free to be who we are.