The posting
Job description
South Warwickshire Conservative Association is one of the most vibrant Conservative Associations in the UK. Formed as a Multi-Constituency Association in 2025, the Association spans the parliamentary constituencies of Kenilworth & Southam, Stratford-on-Avon, and Warwick & Leamington. The Association has an active programme of campaigning, speaker events, and social activities.
Job Summary The Association is looking to recruit an Association Operations Officer on a fixed term contract to support logistical organisation of the Association’s campaigning, membership, and fundraising activities.
Details of this role Job Title: Association Operations Officer Hours :30 hours per week. Precise hours can be flexible, but primarily during the day, and with up to 6 hours per week of evening and weekend work as required Salary: £24,960 to £28,080 per annum, depending on experience Location: Stratford upon Avon, with potentially some home working if agreed and appropriate Contract duration: To May 31st, 2027, in the first instance, with possibility of becoming a permanent contract Holiday: 15 days across initial 8 month contract, plus all statutory bank holidays Start date: Immediate
Tasks and Responsibilities The main tasks and responsibilities of the Operations Officer are as follows: Campaign Logistics:
- Organise campaign literature printing, including sourcing competitive quotes, organising final document versions, and arranging delivery to the office or other location
- Prepare walk routes for delivery and campaigning using Vote Source and organise bundling of literature
- Liaise with candidates and members for leaflet deliveries, organising collection and drop off and monitoring progress of deliveries
- Prepare literature and other materials for canvassing activities where required, including organising collection and drop off with candidates and other volunteers
- Maintain weekly communication with candidates to monitor progress of literature delivery, canvassing activity, and Voting Intention data collection, and report this to the DCP and Campaign Delivery contractor
- Organise volunteers where required to support with any campaigning tasks as required and appropriate
- Input any survey or other Voting Intention data into Vote Source, or arrange for volunteers to support this work. Flag any issued raised in such data with relevant councillors or candidates
- Support with organising the campaign calendar, including liaising with candidates to arrange sessions, select suitable meeting places, and organising promotion of the calendar, including preparing graphics
- Attend and lead campaign sessions where required, with prior agreement with the DCP and Campaign Delivery contractor (you will not be expected to attend all campaign sessions)
- Liaise with the officer team and Campaign Delivery contractor on all campaign logistics tasks
- Undertake any other reasonable tasks relating to campaign logistics as directed by the DCP, Officer team, and Campaign Delivery contractor
Social Media:
- Support the Comms and Digital Officer, Officer team, and candidates with posting on social media for campaigning purposes, including photos, videos, and press release statements
- Liaise with candidates to support sharing of Association social media posts into relevant forums and groups for campaigning purposes
- Monitor social media activity including engagement and interactions, likes and comments, and respond appropriately where relevant
- Organise social media advertising, including boosting posts, developing specific target audiences, and monitoring social media spend
- Monitor social media activity of opposition parties and candidates, including local press articles, and draw relevant items to the attention of the Officer Team
- Support candidates and volunteers with preparing content for social media, including photography, filming video content, and editing and subtitling tasks
Finances:
- Support the DCP, Honorary Treasurer and Campaign Delivery contractor with monitoring spending for campaigning activities across both the long and short campaigns
- Support the Honorary Treasurer to maintain Association accounts, monitoring and reconciling income and expenditure via Xero accounting software
- Support the Honorary Treasurer and relevant Officers to pay invoices where required
- Support the Honorary Treasurer to prepare yearly Association accounts
- Support the DCP, Honorary Treasurer and Campaign Delivery contractor to prepare and submit election expenses
- Prepare invoices and organise distribution where relevant
- Maintain an organised system for filing invoices and other Association payments ahead of preparing election expenses and Association account
Membership:
- Support the Deputy Chairman Membership with managing membership renewals and payments, including contacting (via telephone and email) members due for renewal and lapsed members
- Support the Deputy Chairman Membership with monitoring membership payments, including transferring members to Direct Debit where possible, and chasing renewal and late payments
- Support the Officer Team to identify potential members of any Association clubs, such as the Westminster Club and Patrons club, encourage people to join, and organise payments where relevant
- Maintain good communications and relationships with members for the purposes of maintaining a strong volunteer base for Association activities
Events and Fundraising:
- Support the Deputy Chairman Membership, Fundraising Officer, and Officer team with event organisation, including but not limited to identifying suitable venues, arranging bookings, arranging speakers, and other event logistics
- Support the Officer team to encourage attendance at events, including encouraging ticket sales, arranging alternative payments where necessary, and monitoring attendance lists
- Support the Officer team with event logistics including organising food and drink requirements, organising raffle prizes or other fundraising activities, and general event support
- Support with the organisation of any Association club events, including Westminster Club and Patrons Club, where appropriate
Association Organisation:
- Attend Association management meetings, Executive Council meetings, the AGM, and other meetings where required, for the purpose of providing updates on work, taking minutes, and general running of meetings
- Support the Officer team to organise meetings, prepare agendas, send out invitations, and monitor attendance, in line with Schedule 7a and the Conservative Party Constitution
- Maintain good communication with the Officer team and wider Executive council for the purposes of maintaining a well-run Association
- Monitor post, emails and telephone calls to the Association, actioning enquiries in reasonable time frames, and flagging activity to the Officer team where relevant
- Keep the Association office organised and tidy, maintaining a clean and tidy work environment, and monitoring stock levels of required materials and equipment
- Ensure all work is carried out in line with the Party Constitution, Schedule 7a, GDPR regulations, and the Electoral Commission
- Undertake any other reasonable duties as required by the Association
Criteria Essential criteria:
- Member of the Conservative Party (existing or upon successful application)
- Valid driving licence and access to a car for commuting to the office and other Association activities
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite
- Organised worker, with good attention to detail
- Ability to build positive working relationships with a wide variety of volunteers, including officers, candidates, and members
- Experience using Xero or equivalent accounting software
- Good communication skills across a range of formats including email, telephone and in person
Desirable criteria:
- Experience of political campaigning at any level
- Experience of using Vote Source
- Experience using Canva, social media, and video editing software
- Good knowledge of the local area around South Warwickshire, including local political organisation and key local issues
How to Apply To apply for this role, please submit a CV (no more than 2 pages) and a covering letter outlining your suitability, experience, and why you are interested in this role, to Deputy Chairman Political, Ellie King, on [email protected]
If you would like to arrange a discussion about the role, please get in touch with Ellie King in the first instance.
Please submit your application by 5pm on Friday 16th October. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed on the week commencing 19th October.
The Association reserves the right to accept applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Successful applicants will be subject to Right to Work checks before commencing employment.
