Assistant Director of Governance

Are you passionate about shaping governance and enhancing democratic processes? Oldham Council is seeking a dynamic and visionary leader for the pivotal role of Assistant Director of Governance. In this senior leadership position, you will play a critical role in ensuring our governance frameworks operate smoothly, transparently, and in compliance with the highest legal standards. As the Assistant Director of Governance, you will lead a talented team across key areas including Democratic Services, Elections, Land Charges, Executive Services Support. This is an exciting opportunity to work closely with elected councillors and senior leaders, providing strategic guidance and fostering strong governance that supports the council's vision for a fair, open, and accountable borough. You will also act as a key advisor on legislative governance, ensuring our constitution and decision-making processes are accessible, compliant, and fit for purpose. Your leadership will help shape the future of how Oldham operates, from elections and civic responsibilities to managing complex governance frameworks, empowering our Scrutiny function, and working closely with Greater Manchester Combined Authority on regional governance matters. This is not just a role it's an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on local democracy and governance at the heart of a community-focused organisation. If you are a collaborative problem solver, experienced in managing governance within large, complex organisations, and ready to lead innovative change, we would love to hear from you! Why Join Us?

• Lead key governance initiatives with real impact across Oldham.
• Work with a forward-thinking, cooperative council committed to fairness, openness, and accountability.
• Be at the forefront of democratic processes, supporting the borough's leadership and delivering strategic change.
• Excellent opportunities for professional development and leadership growth.
• Make your mark in governance apply today and help shape the future of Oldham!
This role is based in Oldham and reports directly to the Assistant Director of Strategy & Performance.,
• Lead, develop and manage a team of officers in the Governance team (Democratic, Executive, Constitution and Elections services) who are responsible for advising, supporting and services the Council's formal governance, decision making and scrutiny processes and civic and election functions.
• Be the Council's designated Scrutiny Officer in accordance with the Local Government, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 and provide constructive and proactive challenge to the council decision-making function.
• Ensure the Council's constitution and governance procedures are fit for purpose, complainant with legislation, accessible and well understood by internal and external stakeholders, including developing and providing guidance and training where appropriate and support the ongoing reviewing and updating of the constitution as needed with elected members and the councils monitoring officer.
• Ensure elected Councillors are effectively supported and developed through the shaping and delivering of an effective member training, induction, development and support offer, and support arrangements to fulfil their roles as democratically elected representatives.
• Ensure the planning and execution of elections are in accordance with legislation and electoral commission guidance lines and best practices.
• Be responsible for the effective running of the Delegated Decision Reporting and Forward Planning process in line with statutory and legislative requirements.
Key Requirements: To succeed in this role, you will need as a minimum:
• Experience of delivering high quality Governance within a large and complex organisation.
• Detailed legislative knowledge of council constitutions, and the law surrounding council governance, e.g.; Local Government Acts and the Localism Act.
• Able to be creative and think through issues and problems through the use of theoretical, conceptual and technical knowledge to find practical solutions and think through issues and problems not dealt with before to a conclusion
Oldham Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. If you would like support with this application, an interview or interested in looking at any courses that could help with this position please get in touch with Get Oldham Working - Get Oldham Working registration form - Oldham Council NB. - Any candidate that meets the criteria of our Guaranteed Assessment Scheme and meets the essential criteria of the role, will be guaranteed the first stage of assessment (whether that is an interview or another assessment, as appropriate). Our Guaranteed Assessment Scheme supports candidates with disabilities, carers, those who are aged 24 or under and have previously been in or currently in care, and those whose last long term substantive employer was the Armed Forces. Diversity and Inclusion: At Oldham Council, we are committed to creating a fair and inclusive workplace that is as diverse as the communities we serve. We aim to develop a culture of respect, where differences are recognised regardless of background. We aim to be an employer of choice by engaging in fair and open recruitment processes and Applications are encouraged from all communities across the borough to create a workforce that represents the diversity of our population.

Oldham is committed to developing a Co-operative future; one where citizens, partners and staff work together to improve the borough. Anyone joining the council is coming into an ambitious organisation with big plans. We are working hard to build a brighter future for our borough and we need people from a wide range of backgrounds to continue delivering the best for our communities. The Council has a clear set of Behaviours, which outline how we do business and we share these borough wide with our residents, partners and businesses. Internally we have translated these into five cooperative behaviours which outline the priority areas of focus for all staff at all levels. You can view these Behaviours, along with staff benefits on our Greater.Jobs pages Working for Oldham