Democratic Services Officer

The role of Democratic Services is to deliver effective and high-quality Committee Administration, Member Support, and Appeals processes and to promote community engagement and understanding of the democratic processes of the Council.

This role operates in the political environment of the authority and requires an understanding of the need for tact and diplomacy alongside a requirement to be accurate in the work delivered. The Democratic Services Officer is important to the effective delivery of the democratic process across the Council.

The role is part of a team responsible for providing comprehensive administrative support to the Council’s formal decision-making committees and other informal or internal meetings. The postholder will be required to provide advice and guidance to elected members, senior officers and other stakeholders to make sure that the decisions meet the statutory framework. There will also be a requirement to provide support to other parts of the service such as clerking school admission appeals and providing related administrative support.

Whilst training would be provided to the right applicant, we would be particularly interested to hear from candidates with existing experience in supporting committees or other formal meetings or within a Democratic Services team. Providing focussed support to councillors or senior officers would also be advantageous.

Accountabilities

• Undertakes a broad range of project work, with responsibility for delivering against set objectives. This includes election work and committee management. Clerks meetings of the Council and any other committees as directed including preparing the agenda, minutes and reports.

• Delivers effective administrative support to elected members, various committees and groups. Provides support through a variety of administrative tasks to ensure Essex County Council standards are met and maintained.

• Delivers a clerking service to Statutory School Appeals and provides advice and support for the appeals process.

• Supports member information and development activities as directed by managers within Democratic Services.

• Provides guidance, advice, training and support to Members on corporate policies and procedures such as dealing with expense claims or declaring interests or gifts.

• Supports project implementation across a broad and diverse range of media to maximise the opportunity to achieve local community objectives.

• Supports the Democratic Services Team to ensure the successful delivery of an annual programme of events including Civic functions, member away days and training working with external organisations and partners to ensure standards are maintained.

• Educated to an A-level standard including English and Maths at Grade ‘C’ and above or equivalent by experience.

• ADSO Certificate in Democratic Services Knowledge, or willingness to work towards it, is desirable.

• Evidence of continuing professional development and good knowledge in a political or policy environment and Local Government.

• Good organisational skills and an ability to work to tight deadlines, prioritise own work, use own initiative and be self motivating.

Desirable:

• Excellent ICT skills including Microsoft applications and specialist systems. Experience of a Committee Management system is desirable.

• Excellent interpersonal and organisational skills, with the ability to work to tight deadlines and prioritise own workload.

• Experience of working in a sensitive political environment with the ability to be tactful and diplomatic.

• Good experience of providing administration service for high level meetings including writing minutes.

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email ami.fosker@essex.gov.uk