Senior Committee Services Officer

The Methodist Church in Britain; Norwich; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Norwich City Council is seeking a senior post within the Democratic Services team. The role centres on supporting formal meetings from agendas to minutes, offering procedural governance advice and assisting councillors with their democratic responsibilities.

The post involves acting as lead officer for designated committees and panels, advising officers, and contributing to governance framework improvements. Hybrid working is available.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in democratic services, governance or committee administration.
• Excellent written communication for agendas, reports and minutes.
• Confident procedural advice to elected members and senior managers.
• Strong organisation with ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to work impartially in a political environment.
• Commitment to high standards of customer service and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Manage and support committee meetings from agenda preparation to minutes and follow-up actions.
• Provide advice on constitutional, procedural and governance matters.
• Support councillors in their democratic responsibilities and report preparation.
• Advise officers on decision-making requirements and governance processes.
• Lead officer for designated committees and panels in complex meetings.
• Support governance framework and constitution maintenance.

Skills

Democratic services

Governance

Minutes & agendas

Policy advice

Organisation

Stakeholder engagement

Political awareness

Education

Governance qualification (nice to have)

Job description

A senior post in the Democratic Services team at Norwich City Council, where the work sits at the centre of the council's formal decision-making. The officer would service a range of formal meetings from agendas through to minutes, give procedural advice, and support councillors and the council's Constitution. The role is distinct for its lead-officer duties on designated committees and panels, working with elected members in a politically sensitive setting, with hybrid working offered. Significant governance or committee administration experience is central to fit.

What the job involves

• Manage and support committee meetings from agenda preparation to minutes and follow-up actions
• Give advice on constitutional, procedural and governance matters
• Support councillors in their democratic responsibilities
• Advise officers on report preparation and decision-making requirements
• Act as lead officer for designated committees and panels
• Assist with member development, training and induction
• Support the maintenance and development of the Constitution and governance framework
• Contribute to continuous improvement of democratic services and governance arrangements
• Work with councillors, senior officers and external stakeholders to uphold governance standards

What’s required

Experience

• Significant experience in democratic services, governance or committee administration

Skills & knowledge

• Thorough understanding of local government decision-making and governance principles
• Excellent written communication, including accurate agendas, reports and minutes
• Confident procedural advice to elected members and senior managers
• Strong organisation, managing competing priorities and deadlines
• Excellent interpersonal skills and relationship-building at all levels
• Political awareness and ability to work impartially in a sensitive environment

Other

• Commitment to high customer service standards
• Commitment to continuous improvement

Nice to have

• Relevant governance qualification, or willingness to work towards one