I joined the Electoral Commission on a part-time basis (maternity cover). My duties include:• performance management - producing monthly and quarterly management reports for the Executive Team and Commission Board• business partnering - providing advice, guidance and challenge to colleagues in the Communications, Policy and Research directorate in relation to performance management and corporate planning• risk management – developing the risk management framework• corporate plan development – supporting colleagues in the Strategic Planning and Performance team to deliver the new Corporate PlanI passed the AgilePM (2014) Foundation project management course and I am currently undertaking a course in outcomes and benefit management

I supported managers and social workers in children's social care through:policy and strategy developmentservice improvement and business planningaudit design and implementationinspection preparationcommunication projects

I supported the full range of electoral registration and election duties with a special focus on designing and delivering data mining procedures to ensure a complete and accurate electoral register. I've highly developed customer service skills having provided front line customer support at four major elections and several by-elections.I improved registration take-up and canvass activities in the borough by using advanced Excel techniques, MapInfo GIS and R data matching software on several new service datasets. I’ve an in-depth knowledge of electoral registration and elections having passed the foundation course of the Association of Electoral Administrators.

I provided a business intelligence service across the Council using a range of techniques including a Geographical Information System and Excel to an advanced level.Principal AchievementsVoter Awareness - Understanding Electoral Registration and TurnoutI worked with the Communications team to analyse patterns of voter registration and turnout at successive elections. My analysis was used to target communication activity across the city leading to improved registration and turnout at the European Election and the Scottish Referendum.The voter awareness team received an award for innovation at the annual Pride in Our People awards for this work.Natural NeighbourhoodsI devised and implemented a project to produce a new set of natural neighbourhoods for the city using extensive engagement with Council partners and the public. The project captured citizens' perceptions of the extent of their local area resulting in a set of boundaries which are relevant to local people. The boundaries were approved by the Council in September 2014; I disseminated the boundary dataset across the Edinburgh Partnership and they are available on the Council’s mapping portal.The data have been used across the Edinburgh Partnership to improve consultation and service planning and by the Scottish Government to redraw of the boundaries used to publish small area statistics.

I supported service development and review activity, policy development and community engagement initiatives using a wide range of quantitative and qualitative research techniques.Principal achievements:Talent Management ProgrammeI was nominated by the Divisional management team for the Council’s Talent Management Programme. The programme identified me as a “growth employee”, demonstrating “outstanding potential”. The programme consisted of a full year of development and training activities including a full day at an assessment centre and 360 review by colleagues.Edinburgh Indices of DeprivationI devised two highly detailed small area deprivation analyses: the Edinburgh Index 2003 and 2008. These indices provided policy makers and practitioners with a picture of deprivation at a very fine geography and have been used to inform the distribution of regeneration funding throughout the city and also to inform service development. The indices identified pockets of deprivation which were not recognised using other available data sets and so led to tangible improvements in service provision in these areas.Secondment to Lothian and Borders Police BoardFrom April 2010 to March 2013, I was seconded on a half-time basis to Lothian and Borders Police Board as the Business Improvement Analyst.I supported scrutiny of police activity by the elected Members on the Board by providing a comprehensive briefing service across the main areas of Board activity. I supported Members during a joint Best Value Audit of the Police Force and contributed to the design and implementation of the resulting Best Value Improvement Plan.I designed and implemented a Special Interest Portfolio Scheme which linked Members with expert staff in the Police force. I was in regular contact with senior Elected Members, police officers and managers at agenda planning meetings. I produced and disseminated a newsletter informing community planning partners of key policing issues.

Summary of key duties/skills gained: line management experience; further developed customer focused research and information skills; awarded MBA.I line-managed a small team providing management information and adhoc analyses for senior management at the NHS Board. I met regularly with operational and senior managers to develop activity monitoring reports and to provide a research and analysis service. I made extensive use of MS Access, Excel and GIS software. I joined the Association for Geographic Information and forged strong links with research and information professionals in other parts of the NHS and in local authorities.

Key duties/skills gained: supervisory skills; advanced MS Office skills- Excel and Access; implemented a Geographical Information System (GIS); started MBA.I developed and maintained management information systems to produce key healthcare activity reports. I improved the accuracy, timeliness and presentation of the reports. I gained supervisory responsibility. I attended a course in GIS the request of the Chief Executive and implemented a GIS within the Trust. My management potential was recognised at this time and the Trust funded me to study for an MBA on a day-release basis.

Key duties/skills gained: continued development of database and spreadsheets; consultancy skills. I developed and improved the systems and outputs in the Performance Review Section. I increasingly fulfilled the role of consultant helping to improve management reports and systems elsewhere in the Board and in the managed business units.

Summary of main duties/skills gained: practical application of database and spreadsheet skills; knowledge of a large public sector organisation; networking skills.I undertook various temping jobs in Edinburgh, including a final placement at Lothian Health Board (now NHS Lothian) where I joined as a temporary Information Assistant to work in the Performance Review section. I developed database and spreadsheet applications to measure the performance of senior staff and to produce healthcare activity reports.

Key duties/skills gained: local history research; community engagement skills; administration skillsMy duties were primarily administrative though I also undertook research and participated in focus groups and reminiscence events.