Lead Adjudicator in the Liberal Democrats Complaints System

Remuneration:  This is a volunteer role.

Time commitment:  Variable, but with an expected minimum of 5 hours a week.  The post holder will be expected to be able to respond in a timely manner to emails and messages.

Location:   This role is normally carried out through remote working.   Meetings are normally held via zoom. 

Closing date:    16^th August 2026

This role is only open to current members of the Liberal Democrats.   Holders of some offices within the party are not eligible for the role.  Please see the job description for a full list of exclusions.

It is recommended that you read the full job description before applying for this role.  

For questions and further details, and to submit an application, please contact: DSG@libdems.org.uk

You are very welcome to get in touch before making an application if you wish to understand more about the role. We can put you in touch with someone with experience of the role to discuss your potential application if you would like.

Please apply by email attaching:

• Full name, membership number and local party
• Email address 
• Phone number
• Summary of your relevant experience and skills, which need not necessarily be with the Liberal Democrats
• Other roles held within the party (current and past) or related to the party 
• Brief details showing previous involvement in any complaints in the party as a) complainant and b) respondent, together with the outcomes (dismissed or upheld).  Further information may be requested by the DSG at a later point in the process
• Up to 300 words saying why you would make a good lead adjudicator 
• A completed due diligence form
• A completed diversity monitoring form

Following receipt of an application the Disciplinary Sub-Group will search for publicly available information about the applicants.  They may also ask the applicant

1. To attend a virtual interview;
2. To provide examples demonstrating their expertise, skills or experience;
3. For the name of a referee who is a current party member;
4. To consent to further due diligence, such as a social media check.

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

The Disciplinary Sub-Group submits their recommended candidate or candidates for the role of Lead Adjudicator to the Federal Board for final interview and ratification.

The normal term of office for Lead Adjudicator is 2 years, ending on 30^th June in an odd numbered year.   In this instance the new Lead Adjudicator will be expected to take up the position on appointment, which is expected to be shortly after Autumn Conference.

Job Description: Lead Adjudicator

Purpose of the role

The Lead Adjudicator is responsible for the smooth running of the party’s complaints process and for reporting to Conference.

They are a point of contact for Adjudicators with questions about this procedure and any issues arising as a result of applying the procedure, to the extent these are not covered by or are not clear to that Adjudicator from reading the complaints procedure and the associated guidance. 

Key responsibilities

1. To provide overall leadership for the Senior Adjudicator Team and the complaints system as a whole
2. To liaise with the Standards Office team to ensure that the complaints system is operating effectively and consistently
3. To recommend to the DSG areas where the Complaints Process needs updating to further its independence, efficiency and effectiveness
4. To advise and support Complaints Process volunteers to fulfil their roles as Panel Adjudicators, Investigators and Process Mentors
5. To carry out the tasks allocated to the Lead Adjudicator within the Complaints Procedure, including, but not limited to:  
   1. Making decisions on whether complaints should proceed
   2. Suspending or expelling members
   3. Liaising with internal and external bodies with regard to complaints, including the police where relevant
   4. Informing the Head of Compliance and others when a complaint reveals a risk that electoral or data protection law may not have been complied with
6. To report annually to Federal Conference on the operation of the complaints system
    

Person specification

Essential 

1. The ability to – and to be seen to – consistently exercise reasoned, objective, and impartial judgement 
2. The ability to recognise and appropriately deal with conflicts of interest
3. Strategic thinking and political understanding
4. Specialist skills, knowledge and experience of either a) the law, for example, as a lawyer or magistrate or b) disciplinary processes, for example as an HR manager or administrator, or c) other similar processes, such as tribunals
5. Previous experience with the Complaints Procedure or similar process
6. Excellent knowledge of the structure and processes of the Liberal Democrats
7. In depth knowledge and understanding of the values of the Liberal Democrats
8. Proven ability to work with and understand the motivations of volunteers.
    

Desirable 

1. Experience as an adjudicator within the Liberal Democrat Complaints system
2. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience working alongside, and reporting to, stakeholders.
3. Specialist knowledge and/or training in addressing certain types of complaint (e.g. sexual impropriety cases, protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010, religious representation, social media management);
4. Staff management experience.
5. Excellent time management and organisation skills.

This role is unlikely to be appropriate for someone who is currently or has in the recent past been party to legal action against the party, as complainant or defendant, or for someone who has previously received a significant sanction under the party’s disciplinary system, or is currently involved in disciplinary complaints, either as complainant or respondent.  Please supply full details of any such actions or cases with your application.

Who CAN’T be a lead adjudicator?

Only current members of the Liberal Democrats can be adjudicators at any level.

The Complaints system is independent of the executive functions of the party.  Therefore people who hold the following positions are not eligible to be adjudicators at any level, including Lead Adjudicator:

• Members of the Federal Board, Federal Council, Federal Finance & Resources Committee (FFRC), Federal People Development Committee (FPDC), Federal Communications & Elections Committee (FCEC), or Federal Audit & Scrutiny Committee (FASC)
• Members of the Executive of any of the English, Scottish and Welsh state parties 

Being a current or past complainant or a respondent in a complaint within the Lib Dems would not lead to automatic refusal to appoint.  Anyone in that position should disclose the full details of the complaint(s) involved and their outcome (if completed), so that the Disciplinary Sub-Group can take the circumstances into consideration appropriately.  

Similarly, applicants should disclose involvement in complaints at work or in a council, tribunals, court cases etc.   Again, this is so that the Disciplinary Sub-Group can take the circumstances into consideration appropriately.  

Training

It is important that people understand how the Complaints System operates before applying.  All adjudicators are expected to be familiar with the Complaints process in full.  This can be found at www.libdems.org.uk/complaints-procedure 

As dealing with cases involves having access to considerable amounts of sensitive personal data, all adjudicators are expected to have read the written guidance on data protection available on the party’s website at www.libdems.org.uk/members/compliance-data-protection in particular the items under Data Security and Data Breaches and UK GDPR.  Because of the nature of complaints, adjudicators may also find the guidance on Libel and Defamation helpful.