Volunteer role: Chair for Political Psychology Section

Could you be our next Section chair?

Dear Section member, 

We are looking for our future chair to lead the Political Psychology Section's committee and represent you as members.

The mission of the Section is to promote political psychology in the UK and globally, enabling and empowering citizens with the political skills to meaningfully shape policy, practice and their worlds. 

The Section is proud to have over 500 members with almost half as students of psychology.

There is a thriving Early Career Network and an ever-growing online presence (with followers in the thousands), regular online events and an annual conference organised with partners in the Political Studies Association.

As chair, you can serve a term of up to three years. All committee members can remain on the committee for a maximum of six years consecutively before being required to step down for a minimum of one year. 

Key responsibilities for the role include: 

• Leading the committee to reach its shared vision and goals, chairing regular meetings of the Section committee (online) 
• Facilitating the coordination and support of committee members to harness their talents as well as your own, in championing the mission of the Political Psychology Section 
• Organising events in collaboration with members of the committee and the wider Section 
• Partnering with the Political Studies Association (PSA) to deliver the annual joint conference, as per the Memorandum of Understanding between the BPS and PSA 
• Representing the views of the Section to the wider BPS – via internal meetings such as the BPS Research Board – and externally via BPS communications 
• Building capacity to ensure healthy and engaged membership numbers 
• Liaise with the Section and committee membership via the Section Bulletin and via a range of social media channels run by the Section

Who should apply

The Political Psychology Section relies on a wide range of people getting involved, and the work of the Section is largely achieved through the dedication of unpaid volunteers who are drawn from among its members. 

Our volunteers come from a wide range of different backgrounds, whether they be practitioners or academics, or full members or student members. Together they form an open and inclusive community.

Please feel free to browse the Political Psychology Section webpages to find out more about past activities and news. 

How to apply

Applications should be made online before the deadline of 12 noon on 15 January 2025. 

You can apply as an individual or you can submit a co-chair application. 

Role ID: 120

Apply now

You will be asked 4 questions which are linked to the BPS Strategy and the '4 C's'

This information will be used in an election vote (if required).

Please be aware: You will not be able to make any amendments to this once submitted.

You will need to include the name and membership numbers of two members who support your nomination.

For a co-chair application you will need to include the name and membership number of two members who support both Co-Chair applicants.

Please note:

• If at the deadline we have more than one valid nomination for the role of Chair/Co-Chair, we will begin the process of holding a vote where the membership will be asked to vote which candidate they wish to take up the role, the nominee with the highest number of votes will be elected as Chair/Co-Chair.
• If at the deadline there is a single nomination, then that nominee will be elected as Chair/Co-Chair.

If you would like to find out more about this role before submitting your form, or have any questions, please email [email protected].