JOB SUMMARY

We are seeking a senior leader to join the Electoral Commission as Head of Governance, Risk and Assurance. In this pivotal role, you will lead governance and risk frameworks, act as Board Secretary, and provide assurance to Parliament and stakeholders that protects trust in the democratic process.

JOB DESCRIPTION

About the role
This is a pivotal senior leadership role at the centre of the Commission’s statutory governance framework. As Head of Governance, Risk and Assurance, you will ensure the Board, its Committees and the Chief Executive are supported to meet their responsibilities to Parliament, upholding the Nolan Principles and the Commission’s independence. Alongside leading governance, risk and assurance functions, you will act as Board Secretary, shaping effective decision-making and providing assurance that safeguards trust in the democratic process.

You will:

• Lead the development and delivery of the Commission’s governance and risk frameworks, including fraud, whistleblowing, conflicts of interest and conduct policies.
• Serve as Board Secretary, overseeing the cyclical programme of Board and Committee meetings across the UK, ensuring effective agendas, decision recording and forward planning.
• Manage the internal audit contract, embedding learning and driving continuous improvement.
• Promote a risk-aware culture across the organisation and provide timely management information to support strategy and performance.
• Advise and support the Chair, Commissioners, Executive Team and Senior Leadership Team, including regular engagement with external stakeholders such as HM Treasury, the National Audit Office and the Speaker’s Committee of the House of Commons.

This post carries significant budgetary responsibility for Board and governance-related expenditure.
About the team
The Governance, Risk and Assurance team is a specialist function that plays a vital role in supporting the Commission’s leadership, Board and Committees. The team is responsible for coordinating and delivering effective Board and Committee business, providing members with high-quality information and development opportunities. It also leads on risk management, horizon scanning and assurance reporting, ensuring that organisational risks are well understood and managed.
The team works closely with colleagues across the Commission, as well as external stakeholders such as HM Treasury, the National Audit Office and the Speaker’s Committee of the House of Commons. Collaboration, professionalism and continuous improvement are central to the team’s ethos, and you will be joining a group that takes pride in delivering a trusted, efficient and highly valued service.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Who we’re looking for

This role is suited to a strategic leader with exceptional judgement, influencing skills and credibility at Board level. You will need:

• Substantial experience across governance, risk and assurance functions, ideally in the public or regulatory sector.
• A track record of working with Boards, senior executives and external stakeholders on complex governance and assurance issues.
• Strong people leadership experience, able to foster a high-performance culture and support professional development.
• Proven ability to manage organisational change and embed new ways of working.
• Excellent analytical, communication and problem-solving skills, with the confidence to challenge, advise and innovate.

A postgraduate management qualification in governance, risk or assurance would be advantageous, but we equally welcome applications from candidates who can demonstrate extensive relevant experience at a senior level.

SELECTION PROCESS DETAILS

How to apply
We are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment. To reduce unconscious bias and ensure all applicants are assessed solely on their skills, knowledge and experience, we use an anonymous recruitment process.
Please submit:

An anonymised CV, which must not include:

• Your name, address, contact details, date of birth, gender, ethnicity, or any other personal identifiers.
• Names of educational institutions or dates of education.
• Employment history older than 10 years (unless directly relevant and explicitly required in the person specification).

An anonymised supporting statement, clearly outlining how you meet the essential criteria listed in the job description.

• If a specific qualification is required (e.g. a chartered status), you may include its title (e.g. “CIPFA-qualified accountant”) but not the awarding body or dates.
• If the role only asks for general education (e.g. “educated to degree level or equivalent”), simply state this—no further detail is needed.

Failure to comply with these anonymisation instructions may result in your application being withdrawn.
Supporting disabled applicants
The Electoral Commission is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. As part of our commitment, we offer a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants. If you have a disability and meet the minimum essential criteria listed in the job description, you will be offered an interview.
To be considered under this scheme, please indicate this when you apply. We also welcome requests for reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or in the workplace.
Key dates
Application deadline: 23rd September 2025 (23:59)
Interviews (1st stage): Week commencing 6th October 2025
Interviews (2nd stage): Week commencing 13th October 2025
Anticipated start date: 5th January 2026
Applicants applying for a London-based role should expect to attend interviews in person. For applicants in devolved nations, interviews may be conducted virtually via Microsoft Teams.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements

This role is suited to a strategic leader with exceptional judgement, influencing skills and credibility at Board level. You will need:

• Substantial experience across governance, risk and assurance functions, ideally in the public or regulatory sector.
• A track record of working with Boards, senior executives and external stakeholders on complex governance and assurance issues.
• Strong people leadership experience, able to foster a high-performance culture and support professional development.
• Proven ability to manage organisational change and embed new ways of working.
• Excellent analytical, communication and problem-solving skills, with the confidence to challenge, advise and innovate