Business Support Officer

Business Support Officer – Scotland – The Electoral Commission

Salary: £29,224 – £30,198 per annum
Additional Allowance: £312 annual tax-free working-from-home allowance
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
Contract: Permanent
Working Pattern: Full-time (36 hours per week)
Work Arrangement: Hybrid – minimum 2 days per week in the office (40% office attendance)
Vacancies: 1
Reference: 489776
Employer: The Electoral Commission
Visa Sponsorship: Not stated in the job advert. Applicants must meet the Civil Service nationality and right-to-work requirements.

About The Electoral Commission

The Electoral Commission is the UK’s independent body responsible for overseeing elections and regulating political finance. Its work focuses on maintaining trust, participation and integrity in the democratic process.

The organisation is expanding its workforce and transforming how it plans and delivers its core services. This position offers an opportunity to join its Corporate Support team and contribute to the effective running of the Commission.

Job Overview

The Electoral Commission is seeking an organised and enthusiastic Business Support Officer to provide high-quality administrative and corporate support in its Edinburgh office.

The successful candidate will support the coordination of meetings and events, arrange travel and accommodation, maintain records, manage business processes and provide administrative assistance to senior leaders.

The role also involves supporting the Head of Electoral Commission Scotland with diary management and related administrative responsibilities.

You will work with colleagues across the organisation, helping to maintain efficient daily operations and deliver a professional service to internal and external stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide administrative support to teams and senior leaders across the organisation.
• Coordinate meetings, events and associated arrangements.
• Organise business travel and accommodation.
• Manage administrative processes and maintain accurate records.
• Support the Head of Electoral Commission Scotland with diary management.
• Respond professionally to enquiries and requests from colleagues and stakeholders.
• Manage competing priorities and deadlines while maintaining high standards of accuracy.
• Identify problems, take appropriate action and escalate issues when necessary.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, share workloads and provide administrative cover when required.

Essential Experience and Skills

Applicants should demonstrate:

• Experience supporting large teams with daily administrative tasks and competing priorities.
• Previous experience working in a fast-paced office, corporate or public sector environment, such as a local authority or NHS organisation.
• Strong Microsoft 365 skills and confidence using technology to manage information and business processes.
• Excellent organisational, communication and prioritisation skills.
• Ability to communicate professionally, both verbally and in writing, with colleagues at different levels.
• Experience coordinating activities, responding to enquiries and maintaining positive working relationships.
• Strong attention to detail and a methodical approach to handling information, records and documentation.
• Ability to work independently, identify problems and know when to escalate issues.
• A collaborative approach to teamwork and supporting colleagues.

Working Arrangements

This is a full-time position involving 36 hours per week.

The role operates on a hybrid working arrangement, with employees required to work from the Edinburgh office at least two days per week.

The office is located in the Quay building in Fountainbridge, approximately 12 minutes’ walk from Haymarket station, with access to bus, tram and rail connections.

Benefits

The Electoral Commission offers a competitive employment package, including:

• Civil Service pension scheme with a 28.97% employer contribution.
• 28 days of annual leave, increasing to 30 days, plus bank holidays.
• £312 annual tax-free working-from-home allowance.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
• Study support for professional qualifications.
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities.
• Ride2Work scheme.
• Eye care vouchers.
• Access to an on-site gym at the Edinburgh office.

Application and Selection Process

Applications must include an anonymised CV.

Applicants must remove personally identifiable information, including:

• Name and contact details.
• Home address and telephone number.
• Date of birth and age.
• Gender, ethnicity, nationality and other personal identifiers.
• Photographs.
• Education dates, which may indicate age.

Your CV should include your employment history, employers, employment dates, explanations for any employment gaps, duties, responsibilities and achievements.

Important: Applications containing personal information may not be considered. Ensure your CV and uploaded file name are anonymised before submission.

The recruitment process includes an initial interview stage. Applicants in devolved nations may be interviewed virtually through Microsoft Teams.

Interview date: Week commencing 7 December 2026
Anticipated start date: 1 February 2027

The Electoral Commission is a Disability Confident Level 2 Employer. Disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria may be prioritised for interviews, subject to the organisation’s recruitment arrangements.

Successful candidates will be required to undergo a basic criminal record check and Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks.

Eligibility and Nationality Requirements

This vacancy is open to eligible applicants who meet the Civil Service nationality requirements, including:

• UK nationals.
• Republic of Ireland nationals.
• Commonwealth nationals with the right to work in the UK.
• Eligible EU, Swiss, Norwegian, Icelandic and Liechtenstein nationals.
• Eligible individuals with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.
• Other individuals covered by the applicable Civil Service nationality rules.

Applicants should check the official nationality requirements before applying.

Application Deadline

Closing Date: Friday 20 November 2026 at 11:55 pm.

How to Apply

Interested and eligible candidates should prepare an anonymised CV and submit their application through the official recruitment portal.

Employer Website:
https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/working-us

Recruitment Enquiries: recruitment@electoralcommission.org.uk