UNISON
MEMBERSHIP LIAISON UNIT
BALLOTS MANAGER
12 MONTHS FIXED TERM CONTRACT
REF: ORM/133T
Job Description
Grade: Grade 4
Hours: 35 per week
Location: UNISON National Office
Reports to: Head of Member Liaison Unit
Job Purpose:
Balloting for industrial action is an area where the union has to observe strict legal
obligations. Staff and lay members need to be advised on how to meet these
obligations. The work requires careful management and detailed planning.
The law around industrial action is constantly changing. It is an area where we need
to continually learn lessons; act on them; and develop new strategies and processes.
Staff need to be guided and managed appropriately.
Summary of responsibilities
The ballots manager will manage all work on industrial action ballots. This will
include:
overseeing the day to day work around local ballots;
planning large or multi employer ballots;
revising and producing information on balloting for staff;
leading the development of an automated workflow system for ballots;
liaising with regional and national managers on the scope/structure of
potential ballots.
Strategic/development
To analyse and advise on the impact of any changes in industrial action law on the
union’s balloting processes.
1
To develop the union’s balloting processes in the light of any changes in the law;
union policy or lessons learned.
To analyse and advise on the best systems to communicate ballot management
issues.
To devise and implement a strategy for training regional and national staff on the
union’s balloting processes.
Communications/Coordination
To communicate and advise all levels of staff including regional secretaries, national
service group heads and the assistant general secretary on balloting issues.
To communicate and advise lay members including the chairperson and members of
the Industrial Action Committee on balloting issues.
To write clear, concise and accessible reports, guidance documents and project
documentation relating to ballots management.
To devise and implement planning documentation for local and national ballots.
Where we have questions on specific disputes and ballots, to produce written briefs
for the union’s legal advisors.
Managerial
To ensure that all legal and logistical deadlines relating to all of the union’s ballots for
industrial action are met.
To allocate specific tasks and direct individual MLU staff on ballots work.
To manage and lead the monthly MLU ballots operations meeting.
To manage the relationship with the independent scrutineer.
To manage the relationship with any third party suppliers used in managing ballots.
To manage any conflicting priorities.
Finance
To draw up balloting requirements in any relevant tender documentation.
To assess any tender bids relating to ballots management.
Specialist/Technical
To carry out specified roles (sponsor, project manager user or supplier) on any
relevant projects relating to ballots management.
2
To manage ballots using PRINCE ll methodology.
To develop the union’s balloting system on RMS in line with the union’s
requirements; changes in legalisation and balloting processes.
To analyse where automated systems can assist the union in managing ballots; and
assist in developing such systems.
To train staff at all levels on aspects of ballots management including any relevant IT
systems.
To maintain their individual knowledge of current law and changes in the law relating
to balloting for industrial action.
To manage the use and development of the ballots intranet site.
General/other
To manage ballots work in line with the UNION’s aims and objectives, rulebook and
policies.
September 2010
3
UNISON
MEMBERSHIP LIAISON UNIT
BALLOTS MANAGER
12 MONTHS FIXED TERM CONTRACT
REF: ORM/133T
Person Specification
UNISON is an equal opportunities employer, committed to providing equal
opportunities regardless of race, marital status, gender, sexuality, disablement or
age (up to 65). This person specification is designed to help members of
interviewing panels judge the qualities of interviewees in a systematic and consistent
way and in accordance with UNISON’s equal opportunity policy. It is given to all job
applicants for information.
Strategic/development
Ability to analyse and advise on the impact of any changes in industrial action law on
the union’s balloting processes.
Ability to develop the union’s balloting processes in the light of any changes in the
law; union policy or lessons learned.
Ability to analyse and advise on the best systems to communicate ballot
management issues.
Ability to devise and implement a strategy for training regional and national staff on
the union’s balloting processes.
Communications/Coordination
Ability to communicate and advise all levels of staff including senior managers and
the general secretariat on balloting issues.
Ability to communicate and advise union members (including the chairperson and
members of the Industrial Action Committee) on balloting issues.
Ability to write clear, concise and accessible reports, guidance documents and
project documentation relating to ballots management.
4
Ability to devise and implement planning documentation for local and national
ballots.
Ability to produce written briefs for the union’s legal advisors on questions related to
specific disputes and ballots.
Managerial
Ability to ensure that all legal and logistical deadlines relating to all of the union’s
ballots for industrial action are met.
Ability to allocate specific tasks and direct individual MLU staff on ballots work.
Ability to manage and lead monthly ballots operations meetings.
Ability to manage the relationship with the independent scrutineer.
Ability to manage the relationship with any third party suppliers used in managing
ballots.
Ability to manage any conflicting priorities.
Finance
Ability to draw up balloting requirements in any relevant tender documentation.
Ability to assess (in line with in house guidance) any tender bids relating to ballots
management.
Specialist/technical
Ability to carry out specified roles (sponsor, project manager user or supplier) on any
relevant projects relating to ballots management.
Ability to manage ballots using PRINCE ll methodology.
Willingness to develop the union’s IT balloting system in line with the union’s
requirements; changes in legalisation and balloting processes.
Willingness to analyse where automated systems can assist the union in managing
ballots; and assist in developing such systems.
Ability to train staff at all levels on aspects of ballots management including any
relevant IT systems.
Ability to maintain own individual knowledge of current law and changes in the law
relating to balloting for industrial action.
5
Ability to manage the use and development of a ballots intranet site.
General/other
Ability to manage ballots work in line with the UNION’s aims and objectives, rulebook
and policies.
September 2010
6