Job Description

Conservative Campaign Headquarters is seeking to appoint a Head of Candidates to work alongside the Executive Director of Campaigning, the Chair of the Candidates Committee and the wider campaign team to support the review and management of the selection processes for elected representatives at all levels of the Party.

Role purpose:

Work with the Chair of the Candidates Committee and the Chair of the National Convention to deliver a new contract between candidates, the Voluntary Party and CCHQ.

Work with the Chair of the Candidates Committee and Executive Director of Campaigning to design, lead and deliver the Party's parliamentary reselection process for the next General Election and the Mayoral, PCC, and Senedd candidate selection process.

Ensure candidates at all levels of office for the Party are strongly Conservative, in their values and principles, and as demonstrated through their actions, and fulfil the other required competencies and characteristics.

Ensure candidates at all levels of office for the Party are selected in a fair, transparent and timely manner.

Provide support, guidance and training to candidates on the Approved List to develop their political awareness and prepare them for public office.

Develop a programme of outreach and engagement to encourage Conservatives from all backgrounds to become Members of Parliament.

Take line management responsibility for the team, providing leadership, direction, and support to ensure effective delivery of objectives.

Role responsibilities :

Selections

Support the review of the candidate selection process led by the voluntary party and Chair of candidates committee, ensuring that the party develops a network of high quality, authentically Conservative candidates, of the calibre to stand for elected office and contribute to a future Conservative government.

Contribute to selection rules and processes for all elected offices across the Party, ensuring that systems and processes are followed consistently

Use technology in every area of your role to rethink how you deliver objectives and drive for efficiency and excellence.

Ensure that all communications regarding selection processes are clear, unambiguous and accessible to all.

Develop and support a network of high-quality assessors to support the selection process.

Orchestrate and deliver Assessment Centres and Panels across multiple national locations.

Candidate Support

Maintain the Candidate Database and ensure that information held is secure and accurate, providing regular reports on various categories within the list for senior staff and Chair of Candidates Committee.

Manage the Candidates' Network Programme, organise and attend Networking Events in London and at Conference.

Oversee production of the Candidates' e-Newsletter on a quarterly basis, and other communications as necessary.

Run a comprehensive and high-quality training programme for candidates and key Association officers involved in the selection process.

Outreach Programme

Work closely with Executive Director of Campaigning, Chair of Candidates Committee and the Director of Conservative Movement to develop a programme of outreach and engagement.

Maintain a database of interested parties and seek to grow this audience through targeted activity and communications.

Follow up after each event and ensure the Party learns from successful strategies.

Strengthen the bursary scheme available to candidates.

Line Management

Provide effective line management for team members, including setting objectives, conducting regular one-to-one meetings, and overseeing performance and development.

Ensure team members are supported, motivated and equipped to deliver their responsibilities effectively.

Manage workloads, foster a positive and inclusive team culture, and ensure alignment with wider CCHQ goals.

Oversee recruitment, induction, and ongoing development of team members, in line with HR policies and best practice.

Innovation and Learning

Innovate for continual improvement, to seek excellence and improve delivery across all your objectives

Other

Monitor and review the Candidates section on the Party website and update where necessary

Review and revise standard documentation as required including presentations

Skills and Professional Experience

A strong and established network across the Conservative Party is desirable

Experience in managing a team

Experience of managing or undergoing a political candidate selection process is essential

Demonstrates clear leadership, providing direction and vision for others within CCHQ and/or externally.

Exceptional organisational and communication skills are required

Experience of management and leading a team to deliver projects under pressure

Shows deep understanding of the key success drivers of CCHQ and how they impact on the external environment.

Successful networking skills, self-confidence, and good communication skills.

Builds and maintains the trust of others, and a high level of discretion and diplomacy.

Being a Work Level 3 at The Conservative Party

Creating a compelling strategy

: Taking your direction from our Business Plan, you develop your own



compelling strategy for delivering our goals - one that inspires your team to achieve it. You relish the



opportunity to communicate your vision and plans and reinforce them regularly, thereby ensuring the



impact remains strong. You are focused on the big deliverables and work tirelessly to achieve them.

Being a connected leader:

You are an expert in your field, bringing cutting-edge thinking that gives us an advantage. You need a wide internal network of colleagues and have a strong Party network. You



recognise that you're not only the leader of a team; you're also part of a team too.

Developing others:

Your job is to inspire others around you to do more than they would have done on



their own. Your area should be a source of talent for the whole business. To do that, you will need to



recruit good people and then develop them, championing long-term career development and identifying



moves that would benefit the Party. Share knowledge by being generous with your time when asked to



help, by mentoring a range of colleagues and by contributing to developing others.

Delivering excellence:

Your results will speak for you - we take great pride in our reputation for delivery.



This means that our teams know what is required and have the confidence to deliver results beyond expectation.

The Conservative Party Values

OPPORTUNITY & RESPECT FOR EVERYONE

: We value diversity by embracing ideas and experiences from people of all different backgrounds, creating an inclusive culture across our professional, voluntary, and elected Party. Through courtesy and respect, we can support our people to be at their best and develop working practices in an environment where everyone can be themselves.

WORKING TOGETHER TO DELIVER CHANGE:

We constantly seek to improve and are pro-active in all that we do, being bold with our ideas and seeking out new opportunities. We are one team; the professional, voluntary, and elected Conservative Party working together, where everyone can contribute, and all feedback is welcome. We get things done by having confidence in our abilities and trusting the skills of those around us.

VALUING FREEDOM & RESPONSIBILITY

: We value freedom by empowering people to do the right thing and hold ourselves accountable for the decisions we take. We act with integrity and communicate honestly; this is at the foundation of the relationships we build.

RELEASING ASPIRATION & REWARDING EFFORT:

We value our people by recognising and encouraging talent through training, development and creating opportunities. We strive to reward achievement. Knowing that exceptional performance drives our team success.