Political Group Support Officer

Slough Borough Council; Slough; Hybrid; GBP 38,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 26 days

LGPS

Wellbeing initiatives

Tax-free childcare

Season ticket loan

Job summary

Slough Borough Council is seeking a capable Political Group Officer to support the Liberal Democrat Group, its Leader and Members until May 2027. The role focuses on research, briefings and communications to help shape group activity.

You will build relationships with Members and senior officers, manage the Group Office's workload and coordinate meetings, agendas and newsletters, with a mix of office-based and remote working. The post is based in Slough, with hybrid working and evening meetings.

Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal skills and political awareness.
• Flexible and proactive, able to manage competing priorities.
• Experience in research, preferably in local government.
• Experience dealing with elected members, senior officers and the public.
• Practical knowledge of local government services.

Responsibilities

• Research, analysis, briefings and providing media and social media support to the Liberal Democrat Group.
• Arranging and attending meetings of the Group and associated bodies, including preparing agendas, draft reports, minutes and newsletters.
• Assisting in the preparation of speeches, presentations, Council motions and amendments.
• Conducting analysis and research of Council documents and reports, and those of external organisations, to brief and advise the Group accordingly.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Political awareness

Flexible / proactive

Prioritisation under pressure

Gov research experience

Experience with elected members

Job description

• Directorate: Corporate Resources
• Pay Level: £37,711 - £42,307 (Inclusive of Local Weighting Allowance)
• Contract Type: Fixed term until 21 May 2027
• Working Hours: 37 Hours (Applications for part‑time hours of 3 days would be considered)
• Location: Observatory House/ Slough Hybrid (minimum 2 days per week in the office)
• DBS requirement: Basic

The closing date for applications is midnight on 21st October 2026

Interviews will be held week commencing 26th October 2026

What you'll be doing:

We are looking to recruit a capable and enthusiastic Political Group Officer to support the Liberal Democrat Group, its Leader and Members in discharging their function as Members of the Council until May 2027. The Liberal Democrat Group holds 10 of the 42 seats on the Council.

You will need to build and manage relationships with Members and senior officers and work under the direction of the Group Leadership to proactively manage, plan and prioritise the work of the Group Office.

The key duties of the role include:

• Responsibility for research, analysis, briefings and providing media and social media support to the Liberal Democrat Group.
• Arranging and attending meetings of the Group and associated bodies, including preparing agendas, draft reports, minutes and newsletters.
• Assisting in the preparation of speeches, presentations, Council motions and amendments.
• Conducting analysis and research of Council documents and reports, and those of external organisations, to brief and advise the Group accordingly.

The postholder must have excellent interpersonal skills, show discretion and have political awareness. You will need to be flexible and proactive, able to manage competing priorities under pressure. The successful candidate is likely to have previous research experience (preferably in local government); experience of dealing with elected members, senior officers and the public; and practical experience/knowledge of local government services.

You will be supporting Members at relevant Group, Council and committee meetings which are usually held in the evenings. We support flexible working and there will be opportunities to work remotely at times, subject to the support needs of the Group.

Our Council:

Our vision is to make a difference to our communities and environment. Every employee contributes to services for local people, directly or by supporting colleagues. We celebrate diversity and want residents to enjoy fulfilling, prosperous and healthy lives.

What we offer:

We offer a supportive place to grow your career, where your input is valued and heard. You will join a friendly, collaborative environment where ambition and innovation are encouraged.

We support flexible and hybrid working to help colleagues achieve a positive work‑life balance. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, recruit on merit and value a workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

Annual increments, where applicable, are usually payable on 1 April, subject to six months' service and satisfactory performance, until the maximum spinal column point is reached.

Alongside a competitive salary, we provide:

• 26 days' annual leave, rising to 30 days after 2 years and 33 days after 5 years' service.
• The Local Government Pension Scheme
• Wellbeing initiatives and employee networks that help us celebrate and promote equality.
• Tax‑free childcare and childcare services
• Season ticket loan to help with rail or bus travel to and from work.

Accessibility and Support:

Slough Borough Council is an inclusive employer. If you need support during the application process or reasonable adjustments for interview, please contact our Recruitment Team: [e-mail].

Information shared will be treated confidentially and used only to provide appropriate support throughout recruitment and beyond.

Our staff networks represent diverse colleague groups and help make the Council a place where people feel included and can thrive.

Follow the link HERE to learn more.

Right to Work and Checks:

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK. If you require sponsorship, please note that we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this role.

We are committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults. Appointments are subject to satisfactory pre‑employment checks.

How we recruit at Slough Borough Council

Our 8 Core Skills

At Slough Borough Council, we are moving Forward Together. Our core skills reflect what we value and will form part of your interview.

The Council reserves the right to close adverts early should we receive a number of suitable applications.