Democratic Services Officer

Derby City Council is seeking a Democratic Services Officer, to act as a governance advisor to the local authority, working closely with Derby's political leaders and most senior officials.

Working as part of a small team, the successful candidate will provide comprehensive support to the Council's committees and scrutiny boards, whilst building strong relationships with stakeholders both inside and outside the organisation. Following a two-year process to update the Council Constitution, the postholder will support the delivery of the final stages of this important project and help embed those changes across the Council.

Candidates will have excellent written and verbal communication skills; the ability to manage complex and competing workloads; and, be able to demonstrate existing knowledge of local government decision-making processes and modern committee management practices. In particular, we're looking for candidates who have well-developed skills of research and analysis, that can be employed in support of the Council's Overview and Scrutiny activity.

Whilst not essential criteria, any applicant who holds an appropriate qualification in the field of public administration or Democratic Services (for example, the ADSO Diploma in Local Democracy), will be considered favourably. The role requires a willingness to work outside of regular office hours on a semi-regular basis to administer evening meetings.

The role forms part of the Democracy Service, which includes councillor and civic support, school admission appeals and licensing, as well as responsibility for the delivery of citywide elections. As a part of a wider team, you will be asked to be involved in these areas of the Council's business on occasion.

The position may suit either an existing or aspiring governance professional looking to take the next step in their career, but what is most important is the attitude and approach to your work. If you're passionate about the democratic process, a strong communicator and not afraid to embrace innovative ways of working, we'd love to hear from you.

In return for your hard work and commitment, you will be entitled to access the Council's flexible hours scheme and enjoy the benefits of hybrid working. We also offer a competitive salary and a host of other benefits: these include support for your continuous professional development, generous annual leave entitlement, membership in the Local Government Pension Scheme, and more. For a comprehensive overview of what we offer, please visit our website: https://www.derby.gov.uk/jobs-and-careers