Senior Democratic Services Officer, South Yorkshire Pensions Authority

Association Of Democratic Services Officers; Barnsley; Hybrid; GBP 39,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

A public sector organisation in Barnsley is looking for a Senior Democratic Services Officer to provide essential support services and facilitate effective decision-making processes within the Authority and Local Pension Board. The ideal candidate will have strong communication skills and experience in democratic services, preferably within Local Government. This full-time role offers a competitive salary and opportunities for professional development and hybrid working arrangements.

Benefits

Generous annual leave (28 to 36 days)

Flexible working hours

Access to Local Government Pension Scheme

Wellbeing initiatives available

Modern office location with parking

Qualifications

• Experience in democratic services within public sector required.
• Background in Local Government is advantageous.
• Willingness to undertake further accredited training.

Responsibilities

• Lead coordination and delivery of democratic support services.
• Manage work programmes, agendas, and minutes production.
• Support training for Authority and Pension Board members.

Skills

Minute taking

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

ICT skills

Education

Professional qualification in democratic services

Tools

Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams)

Meeting management software

Job description

Overview

Salary: £39,152 – £41,771 per annum
Contract: Full Time, Permanent
Hours: 35 Hours Per Week, Mon to Fri
Location: Barnsley with Opportunity for Hybrid Working

We have an exciting opportunity to join our small, friendly, and forward-looking Governance team in this well-respected, award-winning organisation managing a £11 billion pension fund.

If you’re looking for a role involving variety, challenge and autonomy, where you will lead on the coordination and delivery of a high-quality democratic support service to our Authority and Local Pension Board members, then this could be the role for you.

Who we are:

We are both a local authority and a pension fund and we’re unique within the Local Government Pension Scheme as the only democratically accountable single purpose pension organisation in the UK. As a local government body, we have a public sector ethos and place a great deal of importance on our organisational Values and Behaviours – which are all about being honest and accountable, professional, progressive, and empowering.

We have a culture that encourages work-life balance, and we offer flexible working hours and hybrid office / home working. Our Barnsley office provides a state-of-the-art working environment; and with on-site parking and located within 10 minutes’ walk of both the train and bus stations, it makes us easily accessible. At SYPA we are big on your professional development, you’ll have a learning and development plan, and we’ll support you to keep your CPD updated.

For further information please look at our website – South Yorkshire Pension Authority website

Take a look at our LinkedIn page to find out more about us and see what we’ve been up to recently!

What you’ll be doing

As our Senior Democratic Services Officer, you will play a pivotal role at the heart of the organisation.

You will be central to driving the highly effective operation of the decision-making arrangements and scrutiny processes of the Authority, providing an excellent democratic support service to all our Authority and Local Pension Board members.

You will be responsible for employing and developing a suite of processes and procedures to manage the work programmes, agenda and minutes production, and recording of decisions taken at the formal Authority, its committees and the Local Pension Board. You will support all the members of these bodies throughout the municipal year, and you will be involved with identifying member learning and development needs, taking responsibility for co-ordinating the scheduling and provision of relevant training.

In addition to the key relationships you’ll have with our members, you will of course work closely with the Director and Senior Management Team, as well as with managers and other colleagues across the organisation. Externally, you’ll liaise and collaborate with the democratic services teams of the four Councils across South Yorkshire, our partners in the Border to Coast Pensions Partnership and other relevant stakeholders.

What you’ll be able to offer

You’ll bring your considerable experience and expertise in democratic services to this role to make it a success. You’ll either hold a relevant professional qualification or membership already (such as from the Association of Democratic Services Officers) or be able to demonstrate equivalent knowledge built through experience and a willingness to undertake further accredited training and/or a qualification.

Your background must involve working within the public sector, and it would be advantageous if your knowledge and experience has been developed from working in Local Government (with or without specific LGPS experience).

Naturally, it is vital that your written and oral communication and interpersonal skills are highly developed and effective to meet the demands of this role supporting our members and the democratic process. You will have demonstrable skills in minute taking and attention to detail.

Similarly, you will need to evidence a highly developed range of ICT skills and practical experience of using various systems, including meeting management software and Microsoft Office products – Outlook, Word, Excel and Teams in particular.

What’s in it for you

• We have a generous annual leave policy that offers between 28 days and 36 days annual leave depending on length of service, plus all statutory bank holidays and you can accrue and take up to 13 extra days leave per year by utilising Flexitime.
• Our working hours are 35-hours per week Monday to Friday. All our Authority, Committee and Board meetings currently take place during the daytime.
• We have several work-life balance policies including a Flexible Working Hours policy (Flexitime) which allows you to work your contracted hours to suit both you and the team that you are working in, as well as offering hybrid working enabling you to work from home for up to 3 days per week, subject to successful progress during probationary period.
• You’ll automatically be enrolled into the LGPS (Local Government Pension Scheme) which provides a salary-related pension, to which the employer contributes.
• Salary sacrifice schemes for Additional Voluntary Contributions to pensions and for lease cars are also available.
• We offer a range of wellbeing initiatives including regular webinars on health & wellbeing, fresh fruit, tea, coffee, and employer provided flu vaccination vouchers each year. We also organise regular social and charity events.
• We also offer a 24/7 confidential helpline, access to workplace counselling and Occupational Health.
• Access to a range of benefits and discounts through the Wider Wallet scheme.
• A salary of £39,152 to £41,771
• Centrally located modern office for public transport links and staff on-site parking available.

Closing date for applications: Friday 17 October 2025

Interview Date: Monday 03 November 2025

We reserve the right to bring the closing date forward should enough quality applications be received prior to the current closing date.

We will be shortlisting throughout the duration of the campaign therefore early applications are encouraged.

For an informal conversation and to learn more about the role, please contact Joanne Stone – Head of Governance and Corporate Services by email at [e-mail] or on 01226 666418.

We do not accept any unsolicited submissions from agencies.

For full details and to apply, please click on the ‘Apply for Job’ button below.