Democratic Services Officer

Belmont Recruitment; Slough; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Slough Council is seeking a Democratic Services Officer for a 6-month temporary contract. The role will be based in Slough with 2 days remote and 3 days in the office.

The candidate will lead officer support for committees, provide clerking and procedural advice, and coordinate decision-making processes while contributing to member training and induction.

Qualifications

• Experience providing procedural or advisory support to diverse stakeholders.
• Experience in Democratic/Committee/ Scrutiny services role.
• Ability to research topics and prepare reports and recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Lead officer for allocated committees, panels and related groups, preparing work plans, reports, agendas, minutes and notices.
• Attend meetings (including evenings) to provide clerking and procedural guidance.
• Assist the team with meeting preparations and other duties as needed.
• Co-ordinate and support the council’s non-committee decision making processes.
• Participate in delivery of the member training and induction programme.
• Undertake detailed research and prepare associated reports and recommendations for members.
• Draft briefing papers, reports and policies for presentation to members.
• Provide timely procedural and constitutional advice to colleagues, councillors and the public.

Skills

Procedural advice

Clerking

Committee support

Meeting coordination

Research & reports

Policy briefing

Microsoft Office

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Good Afternoon, I am currently representing Slough Council, who are offering an initial temporary contract for a period of 6 months with a view to be extended or offered a permanent position for the right candidate at a rate which is negotiable dependent upon experience

We are looking for a Democratic Services Officer this role will be based at: SL1 2EJ, 2 days remote, 3 days in the office

The right candidate will:

• To be the lead officer for allocated committees, panels, scrutiny working groups, appeal panels etc (some of which might be of a complex nature), undertaking tasks including (but not limited to) the preparation and distribution of work plans, reports, agendas, minutes, and notices in line with statutory and/or local deadlines, action logs and minutes.
• To attend a range of meetings (many of which are in the evening) to provide clerking and procedural support and advice.
• To assist the team in its preparations for meetings or other duties not allocated directly to the postholder.
• To co-ordinate and support the council’s non-committee-based decision making processes.
• To participate in the creation and delivery of the council’s member training and development programme (including new member induction).
• To undertake detailed research on a variety of topics, some of which may not directly relate to the individual’s area of work, and to prepare associated reports and recommendations for members’ consideration.
• To draft briefing papers, reports and policies, and present them to members as appropriate.
• To provide timely and high quality procedural and constitutional advice and guidance to colleagues at all levels of the organisation, councillors and members of the public.

We require the following:

• Experience of providing procedural or other advice, some of which may be of a technical nature, to a variety of individuals.
• Demonstrable experience of working in a Democratic, Committee and/or Scrutiny Services type role.
• Experience of carrying out a range of sometimes complex administrative or office management tasks.