Senior Democratic Services Officer

Service Care; Slough; Hybrid; GBP 64,000 - 74,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Weekly pay

Flexible hours

Job summary

Service Care Solutions, in partnership with a local authority, seeks a Senior Democratic Services Officer in Slough. The role offers hybrid work with 2 days remote and 3 days in the office. Umbrella rate £400/day; PAYE Inc. £349/day. Contract length: 5 months.

The successful candidate will lead governance support for Cabinet/Executive, manage the Forward Plan, and draft agendas and minutes to tight deadlines in a politically complex environment.

Qualifications

• 4+ years in a local authority Democratic Services role (Cabinet/Executive experience preferred).
• Experience in complex political environments and governance.
• Ability to advise and challenge Chief Officers and Councillors.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end governance support for Cabinet and ensure statutory compliance.
• Coordinate Forward Plan and publish key decisions in a timely manner.
• Draft agendas, reports and minutes under tight deadlines, ensuring transparency of decisions.

Skills

Local government

Political astuteness

Stakeholder management

Job description

Service Care Solutions is working in partnership with a local authority , based in Berkshire , which is seeking an experienced Senior Democratic Services Officer to join its Democratic Services team. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Democratic Services professional with strong Cabinet/Executive and governance experience to work within a busy and politically complex local authority environment.

Role: Senior Democratic Services Officer

Location: Slough - 2 days remote and 3 days in the office

Umbrella Rate: £400 per day PAYE Inc. Rate: £349 per day Contract Length: 5 months

Key Responsibilities

• Executive Committee Support: Lead on the end-to-end administration and governance support for the Cabinet, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and constitution guidelines.
• Forward Plan Management: Oversee the coordination, maintenance, and timely publication of the Forward Plan, ensuring robust tracking of upcoming key decisions.
• Agenda & Minutes Management: Draft high-quality, legally compliant agendas, reports, and minutes under tight deadlines, ensuring clear transparency for all decisions.

Essential Experience & Skills

• Local Government Expertise: Minimum of 4 years of experience in a local authority Democratic Services role (with 2+ years supporting Cabinet/Executive).
• Political Astuteness: Demonstrable experience working effectively in a complex political environment, ideally within authorities under "No Overall Control" or undergoing active external intervention.
• Stakeholder Management: Confidence to advise, challenge, and collaborate with Chief Officers, Directors, and Executive Councillors.

Benefits

• Hybrid working.
• Weekly pay – the rate offered will depend on experience and interview performance.
• Flexible hours.