Regulatory Affairs jobs in United Kingdom

Join to apply for the Senior Policy Advisor role at The Electoral Commission

This range is provided by The Electoral Commission. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Direct message the job poster from The Electoral Commission

Basis: Permanent, Full time 36 hours per week

Location: Cardiff, Belfast or Edinburgh (Hybrid – min. 2 days in office) or Remote (UK)

A £312 tax‑free working from home allowance is also payable annually

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.

As a Senior Policy Adviser, you will lead projects developing expert policy advice on electoral administration and political finance issues. You’ll work collaboratively across teams to ensure our policy proposals are evidence‑based and practically deliverable.

Your day‑to‑day responsibilities will include:

• Scoping and planning policy development projects
• Carrying out research and policy analysis to deliver project outputs
• Reviewing policy proposals and draft legislation from the UK’s governments
• Monitoring developments in the external environment, including legislation, regulatory developments and international electoral events
• Working with teams across the Commission to shape policy that is robust and workable
• Building strong relationships with government officials, political parties, regulators and other partners in the electoral community

This role is vital to ensuring our voice is heard in shaping electoral law and practice.

You’ll be joining a collaborative and forward‑thinking team. We’re passionate about improving democracy and committed to using evidence and insight to drive change. The team works closely with colleagues across the Commission and externally to influence policy and legislation. Our culture is inclusive, supportive and intellectually curious, ideal for someone who values collaboration, thoughtful analysis and continuous learning.

We’re seeking an energetic and skilled policy professional who can think strategically and communicate persuasively.

You’ll bring

• Excellent knowledge of policy‑making and legislative processes in the UK
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills
• Strong organisational skills, comfortable working independently and at pace with limited supervision
• Confidence in communicating complex information to diverse audiences
• Ability to build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders and influence key decision‑makers

This role will suit someone with a background in public policy, government affairs or legislative analysis.

This is an exciting opportunity to influence the future of elections and political finance in the UK. You’ll gain exposure to high‑profile work, develop your experience and contribute to meaningful democratic reform.

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

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

When applying, please provide an anonymised CV which omits your protected characteristics and any personally identifiable information.

• Your name, address, phone number, email or other contact details
• Your date of birth or age
• Gender, ethnicity, nationality or other personal identifiers
• A photo of yourself
• Remove educational dates as these are a clear indication of your age
• There is no requirement to include your primary education details
• Your employment history including employers and dates of employment
• Explanation for gaps in your history
• Your duties, responsibilities and achievements

If your CV contains personal details (such as your name or contact information), we will be unable to consider your application. Please double‑check your documents before submitting, including the file name you use to save and upload your CV.

The Electoral Commission is proud to be a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer. As part of this commitment, we aim to prioritise interviews for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria listed in the job description. There may, however, be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. For example, during periods of exceptionally high application volumes or seasonal recruitment activity, the Commission may need to limit the overall number of interviews offered to both disabled and non‑disabled applicants.

If you have a disability and would like to be considered under this commitment, please indicate this when you apply. We also welcome requests for reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process or within the workplace.

• Interviews (2nd stage): Week commencing TBC

• Associate

• Full‑time

• General Business and Consulting

• Public Policy Offices