Head of Democratic Services

Solos Consultants Ltd; Eastbourne; Hybrid; GBP 47,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

Solos Consultants Ltd is seeking an experienced Head of Democratic Services to provide strategic leadership across Democratic Services, Overview and Scrutiny, and Civic Office within a local authority.

You will work with elected Members and senior officers to ensure transparent decision-making, robust governance and continuous improvement of democratic arrangements, while managing budgets and teams.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in local government in a senior management or governance role.
• Strong understanding of local authority governance, political structures, constitutional arrangements and formal decision-making processes.
• Experience advising elected Members, senior officers and other stakeholders on complex or politically sensitive matters.
• Proven leadership and people management skills, with the ability to motivate teams and deliver effective services.
• Experience managing competing priorities, service budgets and operational demands in a challenging public sector environment.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills, with the diplomacy and judgement required to operate in a politically sensitive setting.
• The ability to remain impartial while building effective relationships across political groups and the wider organisation.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and direction to Democratic Services, Overview and Scrutiny, and Civic Office teams, ensuring high-quality service delivery and effective performance management.
• Act as a trusted adviser on democratic governance, constitutional matters, political processes and council decision-making arrangements.
• Advise senior officers, elected Members, committee chairs and political group leaders on complex, sensitive and politically significant issues, maintaining impartiality and sound professional judgement.
• Oversee the planning and coordination of Council, Cabinet and committee business, including meeting schedules, the Forward Plan, political balance and committee appointments.
• Lead the development and review of constitutional arrangements, democratic structures and decision-making procedures in response to legislative and organisational change.
• Support effective Overview and Scrutiny arrangements, enabling Members to challenge decisions, contribute to policy development and hold decision-makers to account.
• Ensure elected Members receive appropriate advice, information, administrative support and development opportunities.
• Oversee Members' allowances, declarations of interest, hospitality registers and associated governance and transparency requirements.
• Provide leadership for civic and ceremonial functions and ensure effective support for the Mayor and Deputy Mayor.
• Manage budgets, resources, service performance and team development, promoting innovation and continuous improvement.

Skills

Senior governance experience

Local government knowledge

Advising stakeholders

Leadership & people mgmt

Budget management

Communication & negotiation

Impartiality & political sensitivity

Job description

Head of Democratic Services

Location: Hove, East Sussex (hybrid – 3 days onsite)

Contract: Temporary, initially 3 months

Hours: Full-time, 37 hours per week (4 days per week considered)

Rate: £34.58 per hour PAYE or £46.36 per hour Umbrella

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Head of Democratic Services to provide strategic leadership across Democratic Services, Overview and Scrutiny, and Civic Office functions within a local authority.

This is an excellent opportunity for a senior local government professional with a strong understanding of democratic governance, political processes and council decision-making to take on a key leadership role, ensuring that democratic arrangements operate effectively, efficiently and in accordance with relevant legislation.

Working closely with elected Members, senior officers and key stakeholders, you will play a pivotal role in supporting transparent decision-making, maintaining high standards of governance and driving continuous improvement across democratic services.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and direction to Democratic Services, Overview and Scrutiny, and Civic Office teams, ensuring high-quality service delivery and effective performance management.
• Act as a trusted adviser on democratic governance, constitutional matters, political processes and council decision-making arrangements.
• Advise senior officers, elected Members, committee chairs and political group leaders on complex, sensitive and politically significant issues, maintaining impartiality and sound professional judgement.
• Oversee the planning and coordination of Council, Cabinet and committee business, including meeting schedules, the Forward Plan, political balance and committee appointments.
• Lead the development and review of constitutional arrangements, democratic structures and decision-making procedures in response to legislative and organisational change.
• Support effective Overview and Scrutiny arrangements, enabling Members to challenge decisions, contribute to policy development and hold decision-makers to account.
• Ensure elected Members receive appropriate advice, information, administrative support and development opportunities.
• Oversee Members' allowances, declarations of interest, hospitality registers and associated governance and transparency requirements.
• Provide leadership for civic and ceremonial functions and ensure effective support for the Mayor and Deputy Mayor.
• Manage budgets, resources, service performance and team development, promoting innovation and continuous improvement.

About You

• Significant experience working within local government in a senior management, Democratic Services or closely related governance role.
• A strong understanding of local authority governance, political structures, constitutional arrangements and formal decision-making processes.
• Experience advising elected Members, senior officers and other stakeholders on complex or politically sensitive matters.
• Proven leadership and people management skills, with the ability to motivate teams and deliver effective services.
• Experience managing competing priorities, service budgets and operational demands in a challenging public sector environment.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills, with the diplomacy and judgement required to operate in a politically sensitive setting.
• The ability to remain impartial while building effective relationships across political groups and the wider organisation.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a one-stage interview via Microsoft Teams