Democratic Services Officer (Temporary for Six-Months)

South Yorkshire Pensions Authority; Mexborough; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

South Yorkshire Pensions Authority is seeking a Democratic Services Officer on a fixed-term basis. You will support Authority Members, Local Pension Board and committees, coordinating meetings and producing papers, minutes and training plans while maintaining excellent governance standards.

Providing professional and clear communications, you will handle enquiries and help deliver an annual programme of updates and events. Flexible working and a supportive, public-sector ethos are highlighted.

Qualifications

• Educated to Level 2 or 3 standard, or able to evidence equivalent knowledge or experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly and accurately in a range of situations.
• Good IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft 365 applications such as Word and Excel.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional support to Authority, Committee and Local Pension Board meetings.
• Prepare agenda packs, publish minutes, and schedule work programmes.
• Support learning and development of Authority, Committee and Board members with training events.
• Respond to email, telephone and in-person enquiries with guidance and information.

Skills

Communication skills

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Attention to detail

Education

Level 2/3 qualification

Tools

Microsoft 365

Job description

Are you looking for a new challenge in a varied and interesting role? If so, we have an exciting opportunity to join our friendly and forward-looking team here at South Yorkshire Pensions Authority on a fixed term basis. The Democratic Services Officer role sits in our highly collaborative Governance and Corporate Services team and involves a wide range of duties supporting the elected councillors and other members of our Authority, Committees and Local Pension Board.

You will have recent experience in a business support, democratic support or administrative role, and be able to demonstrate some knowledge and interest of working in corporate or public sector governance. You will have the ability to work accurately whilst dealing with deadlines and different priorities, and will communicate professionally and effectively, working well with others to achieve objectives.

You will have strong attention to detail and the ability to understand and apply regulations and policies. Experience of working within a public sector environment or within local government democratic services would be advantageous.

You will also demonstrate:

• Educated to Level 2 or 3 standard, or able to evidence equivalent knowledge or experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly and accurately in a range of situations.
• Good IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft 365 applications such as Word and Excel.

As a democratically accountable, single purpose pensions authority, we are both a local authority and a pension fund. We are responsible for administering the local government pension scheme for the four councils and other local government-related employers in South Yorkshire managing a pension fund of over £12 billion, serving nearly 180,000 scheme members. As a local government body ourselves, we have a public sector ethos and place a great deal of importance on our organisational values and behaviours which are all about being honest and accountable, professional, progressive, and empowering.

We have a culture that encourages work-life balance, and we offer flexible working hours. Our Barnsley office provides a state-of-the-art working environment with free on-site parking and located within 10 minutes walk of both the train and bus stations; it makes us easily accessible.

Take a look at our website: Work For Us (sypensions.org.uk)to find out more about the benefits of working for SYPA and visit our LinkedIn pageto see what we have been up to recently!

What youll be doing:

Working directly with elected and co-opted Authority Members, Local Pension Board members and senior officers, youll provide professional support to their formal meetings. In this varied and fast-paced role, you will work within a team responsible for co-ordination of Authority, Committee, and Local Pension Board meetings, including preparing and publishing agenda packs, producing minutes, scheduling work programmes and ensuring decisions are recorded and published.

This is an exciting time to take up this role as we respond to a range of new governance requirements in the LGPS. Youll play a key part in supporting the learning and development of our Authority, Committee and Board members, including promoting and organising an annual programme of training and events to meet their needs, and keeping them up to date through regular monthly updates.

You will respond to email, telephone and face-to-face enquiries, providing advice, guidance and information, while working collaboratively with colleagues and external partners to resolve issues effectively.

We have a generous annual leave policy that offers between 28 days and 36 days annual leave per year depending on length of service, plus all statutory bank holidays and you can accrue and take up to 13 extra days leave per year by utilising Flexitime.

We have several work-life balance policies including a Flexible Working Hourspolicy (Flexitime) which allows you to work your contracted hours to suit both you and the team that you are working in.

You’ll automatically be enrolled into the LGPS (Local Government Pension Scheme) which provides a salary-related pension, to which the employer contributes.

We offer a range of wellbeing initiatives including regular webinars on health & wellbeing, fresh fruit, tea, coffee, and employer provided flu vaccination vouchers each year.

We also organise regular social and charity events.

We offer a 24/7 confidential helpline, access to workplace counselling and Occupational Health.

Access to a range of benefits and discounts through the Wider Wallet scheme.

Centrally located modern office for public transport links and staff on-site parking available.