Lead Adjudicator Independent Complaints System

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.

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.

Following receipt of an application the Disciplinary Sub-Group will search for publicly available information about the applicants. They may also ask the applicant to attend a virtual interview, provide examples demonstrating their expertise, skills or experience, for the name of a referee who is a current party member, and 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

• To provide overall leadership for the Senior Adjudicator Team and the complaints system as a whole
• To liaise with the Standards Office team to ensure that the complaints system is operating effectively and consistently
• To recommend to the DSG areas where the Complaints Process needs updating to further its independence, efficiency and effectiveness
• To advise and support Complaints Process volunteers to fulfil their roles as Panel Adjudicators, Investigators and Process Mentors
• To carry out the tasks allocated to the Lead Adjudicator within the Complaints Procedure, including, but not limited to:
  Making decisions on whether complaints should proceed
• Suspending or expelling members
• Liaising with internal and external bodies with regard to complaints, including the police where relevant
• 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
• To report annually to Federal Conference on the operation of the complaints system

Person specification

• The ability to – and to be seen to – consistently exercise reasoned, objective, and impartial judgement
• The ability to recognise and appropriately deal with conflicts of interest
• Strategic thinking and political understanding
• 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
• Previous experience with the Complaints Procedure or similar process
• Excellent knowledge of the structure and processes of the Liberal Democrats
• In depth knowledge and understanding of the values of the Liberal Democrats
• Proven ability to work with and understand the motivations of volunteers.
• Experience as an adjudicator within the Liberal Democrat Complaints system
• Excellent written and verbal communication…