Democratic Services Support Officer

Peterborough First group; Peterborough; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Local government pension scheme

Cycle to Work scheme

Car lease scheme

Flexible bank holidays

Pension AVCs (Additional Voluntary Con

Job summary

Peterborough City Council is seeking a Democratic Services Support Officer to join our approachable team. You will support democratic processes, coordinate meetings, prepare agendas, take minutes and respond to residents with professional, impartial administration.

You will work with elected Members and officers, develop knowledge of local governance, and help deliver a transparent, accessible service throughout the year. Excellent organisational and communication skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Excellent administrative skills and the ability to work accurately under pressure.
• Great attention to detail and organisational excellence.
• Confident communicator with ability to build relationships with colleagues, elected Members and the public.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and support Council, Cabinet, committee and other formal meetings.
• Prepare agendas and papers, organise meeting arrangements and ensure readiness for meetings.
• Attend meetings, take accurate minutes and monitor follow-up actions.

Skills

Organised

Customer service

Attention to detail

Communication

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

All about the Role

Help shape local democracy and make a difference in your community.

Are you an organised, customer-focused administrator looking for a varied and rewarding career? We're looking for a Democratic Services Support Officer to join our friendly and professional team, supporting the democratic processes that are at the heart of the Council.

This is a unique opportunity to work alongside elected Members and senior officers, helping to ensure that key decisions are made efficiently, transparently and in accordance with the law. No two days are the same - one day you could be preparing for an important committee meeting, the next supporting an election, organising Member training or helping residents access public information.

You will play a key role in keeping our democratic processes running smoothly by:

• Coordinating and supporting Council, Cabinet, committee and other formal meetings.
• Preparing agendas and papers, organising meeting arrangements and ensuring everything is in place for successful meetings.
• Attending meetings, taking accurate minutes and helping to monitor follow-up actions.
• Supporting elected Members with day-to-day administration and responding to routine enquiries.
• Publishing agendas, minutes, decision notices and other public information within required timescales.
• Maintaining accurate records, Member information and statutory documentation.
• Managing shared inboxes and ensuring enquiries from residents, Members and colleagues are handled promptly and professionally.
• Providing administrative support for elections, electoral registration and referenda when required.
• Assisting with Member development, internal events and service improvement activities.
• Supporting colleagues across Democratic Services, Elections and Members' Services, helping to deliver an excellent service throughout the year.

This role offers the chance to develop specialist knowledge of local government while building valuable administrative, organisational and governance skills within a supportive environment.

All about our Team

Our Democratic Services team is passionate about supporting good governance and ensuring local democracy works effectively for everyone. We provide professional support to elected Members, committees and senior officers, helping decisions to be made openly, fairly and efficiently.

We are proud of our collaborative and supportive culture. We work together, share knowledge and encourage one another to develop new skills. Whether you're just starting your local government career or bringing existing administrative experience, you'll receive the support and training you need to succeed.

We value professionalism, integrity and continuous improvement, and we're always looking for ways to deliver an even better service for our Members, colleagues and communities.

If you enjoy variety, working with people and being part of a team that genuinely makes a difference, you will feel right at home with us.

All about You

You will be someone who enjoys being organised, takes pride in delivering excellent customer service and can confidently manage a varied workload.

You will have excellent administrative skills, great attention to detail and the ability to work accurately under pressure while meeting deadlines. You're a confident communicator who can build positive working relationships with colleagues, elected Members and members of the public, always acting with professionalism and discretion.

You will also bring:

• Strong organisational skills and the ability to prioritise competing demands.
• Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to produce clear and accurate notes and minutes.
• A positive, flexible approach and a willingness to support colleagues across the wider team.
• Good digital skills and confidence using Microsoft Office and other business systems.
• The ability to handle sensitive information confidentially and work with impartiality and integrity.
• A commitment to delivering excellent customer service and continually improving the way we work.

Most importantly, you'll be enthusiastic, reliable and keen to learn. If you're looking for a career where your work directly supports local democracy and helps make a positive difference to our communities, we'd love to hear from you.

Join us and help deliver the democratic services that enable our Council to serve its communities effectively, openly and with integrity.

Our Benefits

We value our colleagues and have developed a number of benefits in addition to our generous annual leave starting at 25 days + bank holidays, sick pay and local government pension scheme...

• Access to a range of benefits via our Employee Benefits Platform, including in-store and online discounts as well as our Cycle to Work and Home & Electronics schemes
• Buy up to 10 days additional annual leave (pro-rata)
• Access to car lease scheme
• Take your bank holidays flexibly to better suit your personal circumstances
• Make Additional Voluntary Contributions (Shared Cost AVCs) to your pension with tax and National Insurance savings
• Access to development opportunities including apprenticeships to support your personal and professional growth
• Paid volunteering hours each year so you can make a positive impact on our community during your normal working day
• Access to our equality, diversity and inclusion network
• Opportunities to receive Employee Recognition Awards

Our Commitments

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to fostering diversity, advancing equity, and building an inclusive workplace for everyone. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and particularly encourage those from underrepresented groups, including disabled people, care leavers, and individuals from minority ethnic communities. Your unique perspectives and experiences are encouraged and valued and will play a vital role in our success.

We are committed to making our recruitment process as accessible as possible. If you are a person who has or considers yourself to have a disability and you require reasonable adjustments to the application or interview process, please contact [e-mail].

Appointment to this post will be subject to the outcome of an Enhanced Disclosure obtained through the Disclosure and Barring Service. The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.