Senior Democratic Services Officer - Local Authority

Senior Democratic Services Officer

• Pay rate: £18.34 per hour PAYE
• Location:
  Democratic Services, Governance and Pensions
• Job Type:
  Full-time, interim

Join our team as a Senior Democratic Services Officer, where you will support the Council's democratic and governance functions. This role is crucial in ensuring legal and constitutional compliance, providing advice, and administrative support to councillors and officers, and maintaining high ethical standards and good stakeholder engagement.

Day-to-day of the role:

Supporting Meetings and Decision-Making:

• Advise councillors, officers, and the public on legal and procedural matters.
• Plan and manage work programmes for committees and decision-making bodies.
• Organise meetings, prepare agendas and minutes, and ensure everything runs smoothly.
• Write and present reports on legal/procedural matters.
• Attend meetings to provide advice and document outcomes.

Governance and Administration:

• Handle correspondence and follow-up actions from meetings.
• Maintain governance systems, templates, and training materials.
• Help manage the Council's Key Decisions Plan and meeting schedules.
• Liaise with other departments and partner organisations.

Appeals and Hearings:

• Support school admission appeals and communicate decisions.
• Organise and support Licensing Act hearings, including preparing documents and advising panel members.

Essential Skills & Qualifications:

• Good written English and Maths (GCSE A-C or equivalent)
• Proficient in Microsoft Office
• Strong organisation, admin, and communication skills
• Politically aware and discreet
• Knowledge of local government decision-making and procedures
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• High attention to detail and quality
• Ability to stay focused under pressure
• Good at prioritising and meeting tight deadlines
• Able to interpret complex information
• Willingness to learn and develop
• Experience advising elected members
• Experience with school appeals and local government law

Desirable Skills & Experience:

• Experience in a Democratic Services team
• Familiarity with committee and electoral register software
• Understanding of IT in local government

Benefits:

• Competitive pay rate
• Opportunities for professional development and training.
• Supportive team environment.

To apply for the Senior Democratic Services Officer position, please submit your CV and cover letter detailing your relevant experience and why you are interested in this role.