Senior Election Project Officer
Reports to: Electoral Services Manager
Directorate: Central Hub
Division: Governance and Law
Section: Electoral Services
Job Purpose
Provide support to, and deputise in the absence of, the Electoral Services Manager on the events management and technical administration of elections/referendums on behalf of the Returning Officer, as well as the efficient administration of electoral registration.
Principal Accountabilities
* Support the Electoral Services Manager in identifying and implementing service improvements
* Provide business and project support to the electoral services team to deliver the effective administration of all electoral processes and systems.
* Plan and deliver major election workstreams in line with legislation and Electoral Commission guidance
* Provide accurate and authoritative advice by phone and email in response to complex queries to residents, councillors, and council officers on electoral registration and the election process, signposting them towards relevant legislation where necessary.
* Support the Electoral Services Manager in the provision of reports and briefings as necessary.
Elections
* Responsible for supporting the Electoral Services Manager with the delivery of the election project plan.
* Lead on events delivery, including polling day operations and the count, responsible for overseeing complex logistics such as venue set‑up, coordinating count staff and guests, and liaising with suppliers on equipment deliveries.
* Support the candidate nominations process including the production of statutory mayoral booklets and checking mayoral candidate nomination papers.
* Support the recruitment and delivery of training to temporary staff, liaising with polling station venues and other stakeholders, and preparing and collating equipment.
* Provide proactive business support across multiple election workstreams, using sound judgment to resolve operational issues in real time, ensuring continuity and compliance; document solutions and feed back to the Electoral Services Manager on what has been implemented.
Electoral Registration
* Responsible for the delivery of the annual canvass of the Register of Electors, including the recruitment, training and supervision of temporary staff and managing relationships with suppliers as well as the supply of data in accordance with agreed timescales.
* Ensure that the rolling registration Register updates and associated lists are compiled accurately and are maintained, updated and amended in accordance with statutory requirements.
* Utilise council databases for the purposes of data matching and data mining, keep accurate records of databases accessed and act as the primary contact with data controllers, thus enabling the ERO to fulfil its duties in compiling and maintaining a complete and accurate register of electors.
Essential Skills/Qualifications
* This is a new role due to restructuring and the upcoming election; the client is delivering the upcoming election for the Sussex mayor.
* The team has a lot of elections experience, so the person they are looking for will have more project management experience; the elections side of the role can be taught.
* This role includes events delivery, organising a lot of moving parts – general events experience would put them in good stead for this.
* Candidates with project management or an events coordinator background could be a good fit for this role.
* Election date is 7th May 2026 – there will be some wrap up to complete following the election, taking the role to the end of May.
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