Electoral Officer

We are currently seeking an Electoral Officer to be part of the Council's busy Electoral Services Team. You will assist with the planning, coordination and conduct of all elections and referenda held in the area. In addition, you will carry out all processes required to maintain and publish the updated Electoral Register. WHAT IS INVOLVED? You will assist in the organisation and delivery of local and national elections and referenda, ensuring every process is conducted smoothly and in compliance with the law. You will be involved in the maintenance of the electoral register ensuring that the Council holds an accurate and complete electoral register that upholds the integrity of our democratic processes, this includes day to day processes and annual canvass., Durham County Council currently operates a hybrid working policy where a model of 2 days in the workplace and 3 days at home/remote will apply. This model is pro-rated for part time roles and arrangements are at managers discretion, alternatively you can work all of your contracted hours within the workplace if you prefer. EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION We are a proud equal opportunities employer and recognise that a diverse, talented workforce brings new ideas and new perspectives, which will facilitate growth and improvements to services. We are committed to ensuring that our employment policies and processes are fair and equitable to all. We welcome job applications from everyone, and successful candidates are considered only on their skills and ability to do the job. As a Disability Confident Leader, we encourage applications from disabled people and provide support throughout the recruitment process.

You should have NVQ 3 or equivalent in a relevant subject, experience of working in electoral services administration in local government would be desirable but is not essential. You should be interested in democracy and the electoral processes which underpins it. You should have excellent communication skills both written and verbal to be able to effectively convey electoral requirements for both elections and registration. Where our roles are customer facing and you are required to speak to members of the public, you will be required to demonstrate the ability to speak fluent English. This is a requirement under Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016. You will need to be confident in using IT and various software packages and be willing to embrace new ways of working. You will often be under pressure and working to strict deadlines. In addition to using the Microsoft Office suite of applications, you will be trained in the use of specialist software. Good organisational skills are essential, as is a commitment to on-going personal development and training. You need to be politically sensitive, tactful and diplomatic, and above all, you will need the drive and commitment to contribute to this service and its development.

The post holder must be flexible and prepared to work additional hours, including evenings, weekends, and bank holidays leading up to elections and during peak canvass periods. Please refer to the attached person specification for the full criteria. REWARDS AND BENEFITS We offer generous rewards and benefits that are designed to help you perform at your best:

• Competitive salaries and 27 days holiday per year rising to 32 days after five years continuous local government service.
• Option to purchase up to 10 additional days annual leave per year.
• Excellent work/life balance through schemes including job sharing, compressed hours and flexi-time (allowing up to 13 flexi days per year).
• Hybrid working (home and office working).
• Excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). Plus, top up options - Salary Sacrifice Shared Cost AVC scheme and standard AVC scheme for members of the LGPS.
• Wellbeing Portal and access to an Employee Assist Scheme.
• Wide range of learning and development opportunities including professional qualifications, coaching and mentoring.
• Employee Benefits Portal and Lifestyle Savings Scheme (discounts across a host of major retailers).
• Discounted DCC gym membership.
• Staff networks run by staff for our staff, including Race Equality and Diversity, Disability, LGBT+, Armed Forces, Carers, Menopause.
• Trade Union membership.
• A range of other salary sacrifice schemes such as car leasing.
Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions.