Head of Democratic Services*

Who You Are

You are a proactive leader with experience in managing democratic services and can immediately engage with ongoing projects. Your communication skills enable you to effectively work with a team of 12-15 people. You are skilled in planning and facilitating important meetings, including Budget and Full council meetings, and are committed to being present in the office a minimum of three days a week.

What the Job Involves

As the leader of Democratic Services, you will ensure the delivery of high-quality committee, member, and scrutiny functions in alignment with the council's recovery, improvement, and strategic objectives. You will provide constitutional, governance, and democratic-process advice to council members, senior leaders, and officers, ensuring legislative compliance. Your role involves overseeing and enhancing democratic decision-making processes, developing a strong scrutiny function, and managing Member Services, including support to Cabinet, political groups, and civic functions. You will manage a team up to 15 direct reports, oversee a £1m budget, and drive organizational change and service innovation.

Skills

• Strong leadership and management skills
• Experience in democratic services and decision-making processes
• Ability to provide authoritative advice on governance and democratic processes
• Excellent communication and team engagement abilities
• Capability to manage and motivate a team effectively
• Budget management experience
• Commitment to in-office presence at least three days a week