Head of Candidates' Office

Job Title:                Head of Candidates’ Office

Responsible to:        TBC by Chief Executive 

Salary:        £52,289.35

Benefit:        3% Employer’s Pension Contribution

Tenure:         Permanent

Hours:        Full time 37.5 hours per week

Location:         Office and/or Home based, with frequent stakeholder meetings around the country.

Closing date:        5pm 16th March 2026

Purpose of job

The successful candidate will provide strategic leadership of the Liberal Democrats’ candidates’ functions, ensuring robust governance, effective delivery of selection timetables, continual improvement of systems and processes, and strong collaboration with party committees, staff and volunteers.

Key Responsibilities

1. Lead the Candidates Team and provide strategic support to Joint Candidates Sub-Committee, English Candidates Committee, Scottish Campaigns & Candidates Committee and Welsh Candidates & Campaigns Committee.
2. Create a timetable for candidate selections in conjunction with State and Regional stakeholders, put a plan in place for its delivery and monitor progress robustly, ensuring adequate reporting at staff and governance level.
3. Lead our Candidates’ Strategy, including ensuring adequate plans are in place for recruitment (including due diligence), development, mentoring and pastoral care for candidates.
4. Continually improve our Candidates’ functions, leading personally on policy and process development, and improving the data, tech and systems needed to administer all candidates’ functions with minimal operational friction.
5. Design, in liaison with stakeholders, and ensure the delivery of a suitable internal communications plan for candidate functions across the party.

Essential Skills and Experience

Leadership & Management

• Proven experience of leading and developing a team in a complex organisational or political environment.
   
• Strong people-management skills, including setting priorities, managing performance, and supporting professional development.
   
• Experience of working with volunteers, committees and/or elected representatives alongside paid staff.
   
• Strategy & Delivery
• Demonstrable experience of developing and delivering organisational strategy, translating high-level objectives into operational plans.
   
• Track record of managing complex programmes or timetables with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
   
• Ability to monitor progress, identify risks early, and put in place effective mitigation.

Governance, Risk & Due Diligence

• Experience of working within formal governance structures, including reporting to boards, committees or sub-committees.
   
• Strong understanding of risk management, compliance and reputational risk, with experience of due diligence or safeguarding processes.
   
• Ability to exercise sound political and organisational judgement in sensitive situations

Process Improvement & Systems

• Proven experience of reviewing, designing and improving processes to increase efficiency, consistency and transparency.
   
• Experience of working with data, technology or CRM-style systems to support operational delivery.
   

• Ability to work collaboratively with digital, data or operations teams to specify and implement system improvements.
   

  Communication & Stakeholder Engagement

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messaging to different audiences.
   
• Experience of designing and delivering internal communications plans across complex organisations.
   

• Strong stakeholder management skills, including the ability to build trust and credibility with senior volunteers and staff
   

  Values & Political Context

• Strong commitment to the values of the Liberal Democrats.
   
• Good understanding of the political environment in which a UK-wide political party operates.
   
• Ability to work with discretion, integrity and professionalism at all times.
   

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Experience working directly on candidate recruitment, selection or approval processes within a political party.
   
• Familiarity with the Liberal Democrats’ internal structures, committees and constitutional arrangements.
   
• Experience of operating across multiple nations or regions, particularly England, Scotland and Wales.
   
• Experience of leading organisational change or transformation projects.
   
• Knowledge of data protection, safeguarding, or vetting processes in a political or membership organisation.
   
• Experience of supporting or advising senior governance bodies or elected officials.

Personal Attributes

• Highly organised, with exceptional attention to detail.
   
• Confident, calm and resilient under pressure, particularly during election periods.
   
• Collaborative and diplomatic, with the ability to navigate differing perspectives and priorities.
   
• Proactive, solution-focused and comfortable taking ownership of complex problems.

How to apply

Please fully read through the requirements of the job before applying and take a few minutes to complete our Equality and Diversity Monitoring Forms then proceed with your application. 

• A full CV of no more than two pages and including a telephone number and email address;
• A covering letter (no more than one A4 page) setting out why you want the job and how your experience and skills are relevant to it;
• To be considered for this position, please submit your application to recruitment@libdems.org.uk

We will be reviewing applications as they come in and reserve the right to appoint prior to the closing date.

Please note: 

We will not be able to employ you if you are not eligible to work in the UK. We will not be able to obtain a work permit on your behalf.

Applicants are encouraged to inform us if any reasonable adjustments are needed to be made during any part of the recruitment process.

Please let us have details of your current salary and two referees including one from your current employer – if you would prefer us not to contact them until a later stage of the selection process, please let us know.

We may not notify applicants if their application has been unsuccessful at the shortlisting stage.

The Party believes it is essential to foster equity, equality, diversion and inclusion within our workforce. We want our employees to thrive in an environment where everyone is welcome and supported to achieve their potential. It is important to celebrate what makes us unique and that you feel valued, appreciated and free to be who you are.