Location: The Commission is a UK-wide regulator and these roles could be based at any Electoral Commission office, with significant presence required in the Commission’s office in London.

The Electoral Commission is the independent body which oversees elections and regulates political finance in the UK. It promotes public confidence in the democratic process and ensure its integrity. A small yet high-impact organisation, our work is wide-reaching and of significant public interest. Over the coming years, the Commission will oversee the delivery of an ambitious Corporate Plan through a critical period of UK-wide elections. It will regulate the rules on political finance, in the context of increasingly complex campaigning techniques and growing public concerns. It will also continue to play a crucial role in coordinating, leading and informing debate to ensure the resilience of our democratic process. We are an ambitious and forward-looking organisation currently at the outset of significant transformation that will enable us to continue delivering for citizens.

In this context, we are now seeking the appointment of a Director of Devolution & Law. Reporting to the CEO, you will be a key member of the Executive Leadership Team responsible for managing our legal team and the devolved offices that operate in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. You will oversee preparations for the upcoming elections to be held in Wales and Scotland in 2026, will work closely with teams and stakeholders based in all three devolved nations to ensure effective electoral administration, public awareness and political finance regulation, and will lead our in house legal services providing advice to the Commission in a range of areas. Alongside this, you will also hold strategic responsibility for the delivery of our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan. You will inspire and lead our expert workforce, harnessing their commitment and capability to deliver on our strategic plans. You will promote and deliver critical change and improvement as we reimagine how the Commission functions and ensure that its voice is heard, respected and trusted wherever it operates.

You will be an experienced leader able to build credibility with stakeholders across the electoral system and to the highest levels in the Commission itself. You will have experience of leading teams of lawyers, albeit you do not need to be one yourself, and your ability to create a well-motivated, dynamic and mutually supportive team working across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will be the cornerstone for success. You will understand the role and value of a regulator, be familiar with the devolution agenda and, regardless of your professional background, show an understanding of how effective regulation works in practice. You will be people focused, committed to our mission and able to deliver positive results through the teams that you lead.

We would like to continuously increase the diversity of our employees. Applications from underrepresented groups are particularly welcomed.

This is a critical and exciting role at the heart of safeguarding the UK electoral process. For more details about the roles, please click ‘Apply’, or for a confidential discussion about the roles and your suitability contact Matt Malone (matt.malone@gatenbysanderson.com) of our recruitment partners, GatenbySanderson.

Closing Date: 5pm on Tuesday 6 May 2025

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