We are recruiting an experienced Senior Democratic Services Officer to provide a high-quality committee administration service and take a leading role in delivering a local authority's scrutiny function.
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Democratic Services, Committee Services or Governance professional who can confidently support formal decision-making, advise elected members and senior officers, and manage complex committee and scrutiny activity.
The roleYou will manage and coordinate meetings of the Council and its committees, preparing agendas and reports, attending meetings, producing accurate minutes and ensuring that decisions are progressed. You will provide clear procedural advice relating to local-government legislation and the Council's Constitution, while ensuring that information is published within the required legal timescales.
A key part of the position will be leading the Council's scrutiny function. You will coordinate scrutiny work programmes, support reviews and investigations, monitor recommendations and work closely with elected members, senior leaders, officers and external stakeholders. You will also help promote scrutiny as a meaningful way for residents and stakeholders to contribute to council policy.
The role will also support the administration of members' allowances, committee budgets and councillor-related funding. You will maintain accurate information across systems including Modern.gov, the Council's website and intranet, ensuring public-access and governance requirements are met.
As a senior member of the team, you will provide guidance and training to new, temporary and existing Democratic Services staff, check the quality of work and provide cover for the Democratic Services Lead when required.

The successful candidate will have:

• Extensive experience of local-government committee administration
• A strong track record of working with scrutiny
• Knowledge of the democratic process, local-government legislation and council constitutions
• Experience preparing agendas, reports and clear, concise minutes
• The confidence to provide procedural advice during formal committee meetings
• Experience working with councillors, senior officers and external stakeholders
• The ability to research, analyse and summarise complex information
• Strong report-writing, communication and project-management skills
• Experience handling confidential and politically sensitive information
• The ability to manage competing priorities and multiple deadlines
• Experience supporting or leading colleagues within a team
• Strong IT skills, ideally including Microsoft Office and Modern.gov
• The flexibility to attend regular evening and occasional ad-hoc meetings outside standard working hours

Why apply?This is a varied and influential role at the centre of local-authority decision-making. You will have the opportunity to work closely with elected members and senior leaders, shape the delivery of the scrutiny function and help ensure that governance arrangements remain effective, transparent and legally compliant.You will be working 20 hours a week, paid from £21.34 per hour plus holiday. This will be paid on a weekly basis.

To apply, please submit your CV demonstrating your experience of local-government committee administration, scrutiny and providing governance or procedural advice.

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