Job Introduction
Working in a team of four supported by the Senior Electoral Services officer and Electoral Services Manager (ESM), you will lead the staffing element of our planning for May 2023 City Council’s local ward and parish elections . This will include responsibility for agreeing staffing levels for over 30 roles with the ESM and making over 400 appointments. You will also be responsible for managing and facilitating online training of polling staff along with trouble shooting minor IT issues associated with accessing digital training.
Voter ID will be introduced for the first time in the May polls. You will be required to assist with the implementation of the new requirements including processing applications for a voter authority certificate for electors who do not have the acceptable forms of ID.
Experience of working in elections is desirable, but we’re looking for someone who is interested in democratic processes, can communicate confidently with a range of different people and has excellent attention to detail.
This is a 6 months fixed term post starting December 2022 and ending May/June 2023. Successful candidate will be required to start immediately after the necessary employment checks.
Main Responsibility
- To be the primary contact for polling and count staff at elections (circa 400 appointments), including fielding enquiries from prospective staff.
- To work alongside the Electoral Services Manager and Senior Electoral Services Officer to agree appropriate staffing levels, for polling stations and for the counting of votes, including appropriate contingency levels
- To promote and monitor digital training completion for polling staff, including assisting staff to trouble shoot minor IT issues associated with accessing digital training.
- To allocate prospective staff to various vacancies and to monitor, chase and ensure that allocated staff return required details and documents, such as bank details, right to work and tax status.
- To assist as required with the running of the elections, including from time to time answering common enquiries from staff and voters, about the polling process and in particular additional new requirements such as that for voters to provide voter id, or process applications from voters without identification, for an alternative voter authority certificate.
The Ideal Candidate
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You will have excellent communication skills to be able to articulate information to a range of people at all levels in the organisation.
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You would have worked in a similar role, staffing an election or a large public event
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You will need to be organised, good at taking in information and have excellent attention to detail.
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You will need to be flexible to work in different locations if required as well as work extra hours to meet statutory deadlines.
Package Description
We are really proud of the benefits we are able to offer our staff here at Milton Keynes City Council, including:-
- Local Government Pension Scheme, considered to be one of the best employer contribution rates of 18.8%.
- 27 days annual leave per year in addition to statutory and public holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years. (From April 2023 this will increase to 28, and 32 days after 5 years)
- Holiday Purchase Scheme.
- Our Professional Development Centre provides access to courses such as in-house management development programmes endorsed by the Institute of Leadership, coaching and mentoring and access to our Smarter Learning portal
- Cycle to Work Scheme.
- Health Cashplan.
- MK Advantage benefits package – a range of savings on a wide range of retail, leisure and entertainment products and services such as Pizza Express, M&S, B&Q, John Lewis and Arriva Travel.
- Blue Light Card - Employees working within Social Care can qualify for a range of discounts from national retailers to local businesses in a wide range of categories including holidays, cars, days out, fashion, gifts, insurance, phones and much more!
- SmartGo – Aimed at encouraging low-carbon transport and healthy lifestyle with discounted travel e.g. Halfords, Arriva, Europcar, National Railcards and Stagecoach.
- Homebuy Scheme (for eligible roles).
- Smarter working which provides the opportunity to work from various locations including from home for a proportion of your role (subject to business needs).
- A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced Maternity, Adoption and Paternity entitlements.
- Childcare Subsidy.
About The Organisation
Milton Keynes is a diverse, welcoming, and expanding place, built on smart ideas with even bigger plans for the future. We have world class attractions, beautiful open spaces, and a great standard of living.
Milton Keynes City Council is one of the largest employers in the region, making a difference every day for local people. We’re responsible for all local government services in MK including education, housing, highways, and social services - around 240 services in all.
Our values are to be dedicated, respectful, and collaborative. If this sounds like you, join us for a stimulating and fulfilling career measured on results, and a rewarding work-life balance.
