Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Senior Elections Advisor (Implementation and Democratic Engagement)
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Bristol, Darlington, London, Manchester, Wolverhampton
Job Summary
We are MHCLG
The Elections Directorate is a welcoming, vibrant, and inclusive team. We work in a high-profile, fast-paced policy environment covering electoral policy and law. This includes how elections are run, who can take part, and how elections and campaigning are regulated. We are at the start of an exciting new programme of work to implement key manifesto commitments set out by the Government, through primary and secondary legislation, and digital and operational delivery.
The Commitments Include
- Enfranchising and engaging 16- and 17-year-olds in the democratic process
- Encouraging participation by improving voter registration and democratic engagement
- Reforming voter identification rules to improve accessibility
- Strengthening the political finance framework
- Supporting local authorities to deliver change
- Working with the Scottish & Welsh governments, and the Electoral Commission, to deliver an elector-focused environment across Great Britain
The Elections Directorate works with a range of stakeholders including local government elections teams, the Electoral Commission, electoral sector representative organisations, ministers, parliamentarians, the devolved governments, civil society organisations, and other government departments.
We are recruiting two SEOs to join the Elections Strategy and Delivery teams. These teams translate policy into real-world delivery, supporting stakeholders to implement change and future-proof the electoral system. This work is critical to maintaining the safe, accurate, and trusted delivery of elections, which is a no-fail public service. Both roles will work closely with stakeholders, support local authorities, and contribute directly to ensuring elections across Great Britain run smoothly, securely, and confidently for voters.
Job Description
Both roles sit within the Business Change team. While there may be some aligned work across the posts, each role has distinct responsibilities.
SEO Senior Implementation Advisor
- Build and maintain trusted relationships with local authorities and sector bodies to understand and improve readiness for safe and secure election delivery
- Support stakeholders, including local authorities, through the change curve as they implement new legislation
- Contribute to the delivery of General Elections in the Elections Secretariat before and during polling day
- Develop and implement strategies to support stakeholders and deliver change
- Prepare Ministerial submissions and briefings
- Lead on drafting responses to Parliamentary Questions and Ministerial Correspondence, ensuring alignment with policy teams
- Maintain and oversee risk logs, liaising with the project management team to agree risks, mitigations, and timelines
SEO Senior Democratic Engagement Advisor
- Lead the coordination and creation of democratic engagement resources to encourage people to participate in democracy including resources for National Democracy week and Parliament week
- Lead the day-to-day management of a grant scheme, including coordinating and delivering the application process
- Build and maintain strong relationships with partners including the Electoral Commission, local authorities, civil society organisations, think tanks, and academics
- Work collaboratively with teams across MHCLG and Whitehall to support consistent messaging and joined-up working
- Maintain and oversee risk logs, liaising with the project management team to agree risks, mitigations, and timelines
- Lead on drafting responses to Parliamentary Questions and Ministerial Correspondence, working collaboratively with policy teams
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Person specification
Essential Criteria
- Strong ability to think ahead, solve problems, and be proactive
- Strong stakeholder engagement skills with experience managing relationships
- Excellent written and verbal communication, able to explain complex issues clearly to varied audiences
- Ability to manage risk effectively, with experience maintaining risk logs or similar governance tools
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to coordinate activity across multiple teams and priorities
- Experience of providing succinct, clear advice and briefings for Ministers and senior officials
Alongside your salary of £44,004, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government contributes £12,747 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
At MHCLG we offer many benefits that range from tailored career pathways and flexible working to MyLifestyle Staff Benefits Scheme, Childcare Vouchers, and Cycle to Work Schemes. For more information, please click here.
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate, and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
Application and Selection
The application process will be split into 2 stages, testing the following Success Profiles:
Behaviours, Strengths
Stage 1: Sift
- Behaviour: Working Together (Lead Behaviour)
- Behaviour: Seeing the big picture
- Behaviour: Managing a quality service
- 500 word statement of suitability of how you meet the essential criteria for the role. This will need to be a merged document with your CV when uploading to Beapplied
There is a 250-word limit per behaviour question.
When Writing Your Application, Remember
- The assessor won’t be reading your answers sequentially
- Do not assume that the same assessors will have read all of your answers
- If talking about something in your first answer, make sure that you write the second answer as if you had not written the first (and so on!)
Most of our campaigns utilise multiple assessors and so it is possible that each of your answers would be viewed by different assessors.
In the event that we receive a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift using the lead behaviour listed in the advert. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview.
If you run into any technical problems when applying through Be Applied (for example, trouble logging in or submitting your application), their support team can help. Please contact them at hello@beapplied.com.
Stage 2: Interview
- Behaviours: Seeing the big picture, Making effective decisions, Managing a quality service, Working Together
- Strengths: The strength-based questions will require natural responses from the candidates
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Sift and Interview Dates
Sifting is envisaged to take place starting 07/09/2026.
Interviews are currently being held remotely via videocall. This could be subject to change.
Starting Your Application
Step 1: Complete your personal details on CS Jobs
Step 2: Complete the Verbal Reasoning test by 23:55 on 03/09/2026.
You’ll receive guidance when invited to take the tests – please read it carefully before starting.
These tests are not timed, but we recommend allowing up to one hour per test.
Step 3
If successful, you’ll receive a link to complete your application by submitting behaviour examples via Be Applied by 23:55 on 06/09/2026
Please Note
- Links are sent manually and may take a few days
- Check your junk/ spam folders if you haven’t received it
Step 4: We will review your application and if successful, you will be invited to interview.
Disability Confident Scheme (DCS)
We are a Disability Confident employer.
We apply a fair and proportionate interview process for all candidates. In line with our commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS), we aim to progress candidates who apply under the Disability Confident Scheme and meet the required minimum selection criteria.
However, where high application volumes are received, progression to interview may be limited to those who best meet the role criteria. In these circumstances, the benchmark required to proceed to interview may be raised for all candidates.
How We Recruit
Find out more about our recruitment processes here.
Applying
Sifting
Interview
Interview Results & Feedback
Reserve List
Near Miss
Civil Service Grades
We are a Disability Confident Scheme, Redeployment Interview scheme & Great Place to Work for Veterans employer
Reasonable Adjustments
How To Apply
Find out everything you need to know before applying here.
You must review the following information from the MHCLG Career's Site before submitting your application. This step is essential to ensure your eligibility for the role and that your application is completed correctly.
Security Clearance Requirements
Civil Service Nationality Requirements
Right to Work
Civil Service Code and Recruitment Principles
CV Declaration
Sponsorships
Salary and Grade
Existing Civil Servants
Conflict of Interest
Location and Flexible Working
Internal Fraud Database
Appeals and Complaints
Fixed Term Appointments for:
External Candidates
Existing Civil Servants (Including Loans)
Secondments
MHCLG employees
Security Clearance Requirements
National Office: BPSS
London Office: BPSS + CTC
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window). See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist
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