6 Month Contract With A local Authority

• Assist in leading and managing a team supporting Council decision-making, scrutiny, and member development.
  
• Ensure Council governance processes comply with statutory and legislative requirements.
  
• Deputise for the Democratic Services Manager, covering leave and managing the service as needed.
  
• Support democratic services, including committee meetings, agendas, minutes, and reporting.
  
• Manage operational performance, workload allocation, and service improvement initiatives.
  
• Build and maintain strong networks with members, officers, public, and external stakeholders.
  

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain council forward plan, councillor information, and council decisions.
  
• Provide advice to councillors, officers, and the public on decision-making processes.
  
• Support report authors to ensure reports meet corporate and constitutional standards.
  
• Oversee independent panel processes for education admission and exclusion appeals.
  
• Ensure all council meeting logistics are properly arranged (including liaising with Property Services).
  
• Support, guide, and mentor Democratic Services and Scrutiny team.
  
• Allocate tasks, set targets, monitor performance, and motivate staff.
  
• Lead service improvement initiatives and implement best practices.
  
• Lead induction and ongoing support programs for Members.
  
• Advise on legislative changes affecting democratic services.
  
• Liaise with senior officers, councillors, and other key stakeholders, exercising political sensitivity.
  
• Ensure all communication is clear, professional, and appropriate.
  
• Ensure adherence to Data Protection, Health & Safety, equality, and diversity legislation.
  
• Promote good race, ethnic, and community relations.
  
• Undertake project work as directed by the Democratic Services Manager.
  

Requirements 

• A degree in a relevant subject.
  
• Advanced knowledge of local government governance processes, democratic engagement, and statutory frameworks.
  
• Strong understanding and practical experience of Council Constitutions and advising on their implementation.
  
• Experience working within a Democratic Services environment, supporting decision-making and committee processes.
  
• Proven staff management experience, including allocating work, setting targets, and monitoring performance.
  
• Demonstrated ability to deliver service improvements and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
  
• Experience working in a political environment, with high levels of political awareness and sensitivity.
  
• Proven ability to advise councillors and officers on decision-making processes and governance matters.
  
• Experience using Modern.gov (or similar committee management systems) for agendas, minutes, forward plans, and decisions.
  
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across teams and with external partners.
  
• Ability to lead member development, including induction and ongoing support for councillors.
  
• Capability to implement legislative changes and provide clear guidance on their implications.
  
• Commitment to equality, diversity, data protection, and health & safety legislation.
  
• Ability to take ownership, focus on results, and maintain high professional standards.
  
• Eligibility to work in a politically restricted post under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.
  

• Bi-Weekly Payments
  
• 35 hours per Week