London (Hybrid)
Contract, Full time
Basic DBS check required
£73,605 (London) / £70,585
excluding breaks
Job Title: Political Finance Online (PFO) Project Lead
Directorate: Electoral Administration and Regulation
Starting salary: £73,605 (London) / £70,585 (remote)
Full time; fixed term contract for 18 months
Location: London or remote
About the Electoral Commission
The Electoral Commission is the independent body which oversees elections and regulates political finance in the UK. We work to promote public confidence in the democratic process and to ensure its integrity.
The role
The purpose of the role is to deliver one of the most important projects in the Commission: Political Finance Online. The successful applicant will lead the project from discovery to delivery. The role is expected to last for 18 months, reviewable as the project progresses.
A key responsibility of the Commission is to maintain a register of political parties, and to ensure that all donations to parties, campaigners and non-political campaigners are recorded and published. The Political Finance Online system is the means by which this is achieved. Our current system is nearing end of life, and the job of the postholder will be to scope and deliver a new system. We are looking for a senior ICT project manager with a proven track record of delivery who is able to take on one of the highest profile and highest risk projects in the Commission. The PFO system is unique in terms both of its function and of its importance not just to the Commission but to the functioning of our democracy. Delivering it is a complex project which will require not just excellent technical and delivery skills but an ability to manage a wide range of stakeholders and a sensitivity to the reputational risks attached.
As a member of our Senior Leadership Team, the jobholder will be expected to make a corporate contribution to the leadership and strategic direction of the Commission, reflecting the importance of this new system to our stakeholders.
The role will be 100% dedicated to the delivery of the project. The postholder will work directly to the SRO, the Director of Electoral Administration and Regulation. They will be accountable to the Executive Team of the Commission and ultimately the Commission Board for successful delivery.
About you
The ideal candidate will bring to the job:
Technical Skills
Experience with software development methodologies, particularly in understanding and applying technologies that are central to the project's success, such as cloud platforms, databases, and network infrastructure.
Project management skills
The postholder will ideally hold a recognised project management qualification at least at practitioner level. More importantly however they must be able to demonstrate a strong track record of delivering digital projects with at least some experience of agile methodology and some experience in the public sector.
Leadership skills
Set the tone for the project by fostering a collaborative, results-driven culture. To inspire and motivate the team members by setting clear expectations, recognising achievements, and providing constructive feedback. Create an environment where team members feel supported and valued to enable better project outcomes.
Define clear, measurable goals for both the team and individual members to ensure that everyone understands their responsibilities and how their contributions affect the project.
Vendor Management skills
Be involved with the selection, coordination, and oversight of third-party providers for the project's success. This includes selecting vendors based on technical fit and negotiating clear contracts and SLAs that define expectations for deliverables, timelines, and quality. Maintaining regular communication to ensure alignment, while monitoring performance to keep vendors accountable.
Must also manage risks associated with vendors, ensuring smooth coordination with internal Commission teams and addressing any issues that arise. Additionally, ensure the vendor(s) adhere to compliance and Commission set standards.
Stakeholder management skills
The post-holder will work closely with the Head of Digital, Data, Technology & Facilities to ensure that the new product is configurable with existing Commission systems. They will work equally closely with the Head of Registration, Compliance and Transparency, who is the senior product owner for the new system. They will work with other Regulation Heads as appropriate. They will also need to liaise with the Head of Digital Communications to ensure compatibility with the Commission’s website. They will work with the Head of Procurement on procuring and contract management. They will be supported by the Head of Projects as necessary.
This role requires excellent communications with the Executive Team to give expert technical advice. Decisions and recommendations made by this post will have significant impact on the day to day operations and reputation of the Commission. A key element of the purpose of this role is to mitigate against these risks.
The project is of strong interest both to our Audit and Risk Committee and to the Board of the Commission. The postholder will need to gain the confidence of commissioners and be able to demonstrate progress.
Political parties and campaigners are the key customers for the system. The postholder will need to build good relationships across this spectrum. More generally there is strong public interest in the data published on the system. So the postholder will need to work both directly with stakeholders and with colleagues in External Communications to manage these relationships.
Working at the Electoral Commission
The Electoral Commission offers excellent terms and conditions, including flexible working hours, and the opportunity to join the Civil Service pension arrangements (dependent on scheme rules) which include a valuable range of benefits.
We want to attract the broadest range of talented people who are passionate about democracy. The more diverse our workforce, the better we can adapt to and reflect the needs of society. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and as a staff member, you will become part of an inclusive culture, where you will have the opportunity to achieve your full potential and enhance your career through learning and development.
More information on how to apply
If you are interested in applying for this role, please download the job description before applying.
Submission Guidelines:
Anonymous CV: To adhere to our commitment to anonymous recruitment, ensure all references to educational institutions (years of attendance for primary and secondary education) and personal information are removed. This allows us to assess candidates based solely on their knowledge and skills, free from bias related to background, gender, or ethnicity.
Supporting Statement: Your statement should highlight your relevant skills, experience, in relation to the job criteria and person specification.
Submission: Send your anonymous CV and supporting statement via email to Recruitment@electoralcommission.org.uk.
The closing date for applications is Friday 1 November at 5pm
Interviews will be held w/c 18 November 2024. Candidates will be asked to come to Bunhill Row for a face to face interview; please let us know if this might cause you problems.
Please contact Andrew Simpson ASimpson@electoralcommission.org.uk or Carol Sweetenham - CSweetenham@electoralcommission.org.uk if you have any queries.
No Agency Assistance Required: We appreciate the interest of recruitment agencies; however, we are managing this recruitment process internally. We request that agencies refrain from contacting us regarding this vacancy.
PFOPMJDaug2024.pdf