Policy Officer

Policy Officer Northumberland County Council

Location:

County Hall, Morpeth Fixed term to July 2027

Northumberland County Council is seeking a Policy Officer to play a key role in developing and implementing the strategic policies that support the Council's vision, Corporate Strategy and Corporate Plan.

This is an exciting opportunity for a policy professional who can translate complex issues into practical solutions, provide high-level advice to senior stakeholders, and help ensure the Council's strategic priorities deliver positive outcomes for communities across Northumberland.

As Policy Officer, you will be responsible for developing and maintaining the Council's corporate strategy and policy frameworks, ensuring they remain effective, compliant and responsive to national, regional and local policy developments. Working closely with Elected Members, Corporate Directors and Heads of Service, you will provide expert policy advice, influence decision-making, and support strong governance across the organisation.

• Developing and maintaining the Council's corporate strategy and policy frameworks.
• Horizon scanning to identify policy developments and emerging issues affecting local government and Council priorities.
• Providing professional advice on strategic policy matters to senior leaders and Elected Members.
• Leading the development of policy guidance, governance processes and ways of working that support statutory requirements.
• Supporting effective governance, assurance, review and audit processes.
• Managing relationships between Members and Officers and supporting Member development.
• Supporting the Returning Officer during local and national elections.
• Developing productive partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.

You will bring experience of strategic policy development and a strong understanding of local government, governance and political environments. We are looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• A degree, higher degree, professional qualification, NVQ Level 5 or equivalent in a relevant subject, together with recent and relevant professional development.
• Experience of strategic policy development relating to cross-cutting issues and challenges
• In-depth knowledge of professional policy practice, legislation, regulations, trends and developments.
• Experience of working within a political environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex issues
• Political awareness, resilience and a collaborative approach to problem-solving and change.

This is an opportunity to make a significant contribution to the strategic direction of Northumberland County Council. You will work at the heart of policy development, governance and democratic processes, helping to shape decisions that support the delivery of the Council's vision and priorities.

We have some outstanding benefits and perks to offer you, including:

• 26 days annual leave plus public/bank holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years of service (pro rata for part-time employees)
• Automatic enrolment into the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Flexi scheme (if applicable) – up to 2 days flexible leave available per month (pro rata for part-time employees)

For guidance on completing your application and for information about our Equality and Diversity principles, please see the attached guidance.

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. If you have a disability and would prefer to apply in a different format, please see the alternative methods below. This information will be treated as confidential and will only be used to check that you meet the essential requirements of the post.

• British Sign Language: nort
• For those with speech difficulties or hearing loss:
  Text relay service dial  623930