Head of Governance Risk and Assurance

Basis: Permanent, Full time, 36 hours per week

Location: London, Cardiff, Belfast or Edinburgh (Hybrid – min. 2 days in office) or Remote (UK). This role requires regular UK travel to attend and support Board meetings, both on-site and off-site.

About the Electoral Commission

The Electoral Commission is the UK’s independent body overseeing elections and regulating political finance. Everything we do is about ensuring trust, participation, and integrity in the democratic process.

As we enter a bold new chapter under our five-year Corporate Plan, we are increasing our workforce and transforming how we plan and deliver core services. This post plays a central role in that journey.

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.

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.

Why work for us?

This is an outstanding opportunity to shape the governance and assurance of an independent public body at the heart of UK democracy. The role offers significant exposure, working closely with the Chief Executive, Chair and Commissioners on high-profile issues that influence decision-making at the most senior levels. You will lead a function with reach across the Commission and beyond, building relationships at the centre of the UK’s democratic process.

We offer a strong total reward package, including:

• Flexible working and hybrid model (40% office minimum).
• 28 rising to 30 days annual leave + bank holidays.
• Civil Service pension scheme (28.97% employer contribution).
• Study support for professional qualifications.
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities.
• Ride2Work, eye care vouchers and more.

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.