Political Assistant to the Conservative Group

Brent Council; Wembley; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity awaits in a vibrant London borough as a Political Assistant for the Conservative Group. This role involves supporting the Group through effective communication, research, and administration. You'll engage with various stakeholders, prepare press materials, and navigate the dynamic political landscape of local government. Join a forward-thinking council committed to community transformation and diversity, where your contributions will help shape the future of the borough. If you're passionate about public service and have the skills to thrive in a political environment, this position is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• Experience in a political environment and knowledge of local government.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage shifting priorities.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Conservative Group with organisation and administration.
• Research and analyse issues relevant to the Group.
• Prepare press releases and manage media inquiries.

Skills

Research and Administrative Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Organisational Skills

Computer Skills (Word Processing, Spreadsheets)

Job description

Salary Range: £40,755 – £43,299 (pro-rata) p.a. incl. London weighting

Contract: Secondment / Fixed Term until 31 August 2025

Hours of work: 26 hours per week (3.5 days a week)

Location: Civic centre and other locations from time to time

NOTE: This post is politically restricted and will be offered in line with current legislation governing Political Assistant Posts. This means if you currently work for Brent Council, you cannot do this job and your other job at the same time.

Political Assistant for the Conservative Group

Brent is a tremendously vibrant London borough where the iconic arch of Wembley Stadium dominates the skyline. Spanning both inner and outer London, it is a borough of huge contrasts in terms of its economic, environmental, ethnic and social make up. Brent’s diversity is evident to all who visit our borough and our long history of ethnic and cultural diversity has created a place that is truly unique and valued by those who live and work here.

The council is pursuing a far-reaching transformation agenda that better meets the needs of our community so it is an exciting time to join us.

The Post

Brent Council is looking for a political assistant to support the Conservative Group. The job involves:

• Assisting the Group with organisation and administration (including attendance at Group Meetings);
• Working closely with the Group to research, evaluate and analyse issues which are of interest, relevance and importance to the Chair, Leader and Members of the Group;
• Acting as first point of contact and ensuring effective communications between Group Members, and between the Group, the Party, the Council, and other stakeholders;
• Preparing press releases and dealing with the media enquiries on behalf of the Leader and the Group; and liaising with Members of Parliament and Officers of the Council.

The ideal candidate will have experience of working in a political environment, a professional approach and agile organisational skills to deal with shifting priorities. You will need to demonstrate awareness of what local government is and does, and the financial, political, and legislative context in which it operates.

The Person

You will have:

• research/administrative experience
• experience of dealing with public bodies or political organisations
• a good knowledge of Council political structure and public affairs;
• good interpersonal skills and organisational skills;
• good computer skills including word processing, spreadsheets, database and desk top publishing; and
• the ability to work under pressure as part of a team as well as use your own initiative

Closing date: 27 April 2025 (23:59)

Additional Information

If you are interested in applying for this job, please start by clicking the "Apply Now" button below. You must provide a supporting statement as part of your application that clearly shows how you meet the criteria on the Person Specification. CVs submitted without a cover letter will not be considered.

Brent Council values the diversity of its community and aims to have a workforce that reflects this and therefore encourage applications from all sections of the community. We positively encourage all applicants to self-identify their characteristics in the diversity survey section in the application.

We are committed to safer recruitment and safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants should be aware that posts working with children, young people and vulnerable adults are subject to an Enhanced DBS check as well as other employment clearances.

The information we collect from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas and your data protection rights, can be found here.

Brent has a positive approach to flexible working.

As a disability confident employer Brent welcomes applications from people with all disabilities, including “non-visible” disabilities and mental health conditions. We will interview any disabled applicant who meets the essential criteria. If you require reasonable adjustments to be made to any part of the recruitment process due to your disability, please contact us on [e-mail]