Councillor Services Team Leader

Reading Borough Council; England; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in England is seeking a Councillor Services Team Leader to lead a dedicated team in providing executive and administrative support to councillors. This role involves managing enquiries, organizing events, and enhancing service quality. The ideal candidate will have strong organizational skills, a focus on teamwork, and experience in a fast-paced environment. Competitive salary and generous holiday entitlement are offered alongside flexible working opportunities.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Generous holiday entitlement

Flexible working opportunities

Local Government Pension Scheme

Life Assurance

On-site day nursery

Season Ticket Loan

Lease car salary sacrifice scheme

Qualifications

• Experience leading a team in a busy administrative or customer service environment.
• Excellent communication skills, able to handle sensitive situations with tact and discretion.
• Proven track record in planning and delivering high-quality support to senior leaders.
• Confidence in managing budgets and driving service improvements.

Responsibilities

• Lead and motivate the Councillor Services team to deliver high-quality support.
• Act as the primary contact for the Leader and Deputy Leader.
• Organize and deliver meetings, events, and training for councillors.
• Oversee team performance and budgets, seeking service improvements.

Skills

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Job description

We’re looking for a proactive and highly organised Councillor Services Team Leader to lead our dedicated team in providing high-quality executive and administrative support to all Reading Borough Councillors. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role at the heart of local democracy, supporting the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council as well as Councillors across all parties.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

We are open to flexible working patterns and can provide a hybrid working environment which utilises the best of both worlds with a mix of office working in central Reading and homeworking according to the needs of the Service.

About the role:

You’ll lead and motivate the Councillor Services team to deliver an excellent, consistent service to all councillors. Acting as the primary contact for the Leader and Deputy Leader, you’ll manage enquiries, correspondence, and scheduling to ensure priorities are met and communication runs smoothly.

You’ll take responsibility for organising and delivering meetings, events, and training, including the annual councillor induction and ongoing development programme. The role also involves supporting key civic occasions such as Mayor Making.

You’ll oversee the team’s performance and budgets, proactively seeking service improvements to ensure efficiency and quality. Providing advice and guidance to councillors and colleagues, you’ll help foster effective relationships and uphold the Member–Officer Protocol while supporting the smooth running of local democratic processes.

About you:

You’ll bring strong organisational and interpersonal skills, a solutions-focused approach, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, politically sensitive environment.

You’ll have:

• Experience leading a team in a busy administrative or customer service environment.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to build strong relationships and handle sensitive situations with tact and discretion.
• A proven track record in planning, prioritising, and delivering high-quality support to senior leaders.
• Confidence in managing budgets, driving service improvements, and balancing competing demands.

At Reading Borough Council, we value collaboration, innovation, and the difference our people make to our community. This role offers a unique opportunity to work at the heart of local government, supporting elected representatives and contributing to the success of Reading.

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

Our offer includes:

• Competitive salary
• Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
• Wide range of flexible working opportunities
• Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
• Season Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail/ bus journey, to & from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax

For more information on this position please contact Nayana George, Information Rights Service Manager via email – [e-mail]

Closing Date: Sunday 19th October 2025

Interview Date: To be confirmed

Reading Borough Council is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to equality and diversity in all aspects of our work.