Democratic Support Officer

Exmoor National Park is a unique and beautiful part of the country. Our vision is to ensure Exmoor remains a thriving, living landscape, a place where people can enjoy its special qualities and where sustainable communities flourish.

We are now looking for a Democratic Support Officer to join us on a part-time, permanent basis, working 22.2 hours per week.

The Benefits

• Salary of £31,586 - £35,235 per annum (pro rata)
• 30 days’ holiday per annum, plus Bank Holidays (pro rata)
• Paid sickness leave
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Flexible working options

This is a rewarding opportunity for an individual with local government experience and a track record of handling committee administration to join our dedicated team and help uphold good governance across the Authority.

You’ll step into a role with real purpose, where your work will help ensure that Exmoor remains a beautiful landscape, leading the response to climate change and nature recovery, a welcoming place for all, as well as a great place to live, work and do business.

And with our offices set in the beautiful market town of Dulverton, next to the river Barle, and surrounded by breathtaking valleys and woodlands, you’ll find daily inspiration in one of the UK’s most stunning natural settings.

So, if you’re ready to bring your expertise to a role that truly matters, read on and apply today!

The Role

As a Democratic Support Officer, you will provide key assistance to our committees, working groups and panels across the Authority. Specifically, you will ensure meetings are managed efficiently and in line with statutory requirements and internal procedures. You will also support members with their duties and assist members of the public to access Authority information.

You’ll prepare timetables, agendas, reports, and policies, co-ordinate Member training and appraisals, maintain the Register of Members’ Interests, and support the appointment and election of Members in partnership with external bodies.

Additionally, you will:

• Review reports and committee papers to ensure accuracy
• Attend meetings to take draft minutes and maintain official records
• Respond to enquiries and provide advice on policies, procedures, and legislation
• Approve invoices and Members’ expenses for processing, ensuring proper authorisation
• Ensure compliance with GDPR and statutory information requirements
• Contribute to the ongoing review and improvement of governance frameworks

About You

To be considered as a Democratic Support Officer, you will need:

• Extensive experience of work in a local government setting
• Experience of working in governance or in a legal setting
• Experience of committee administration
• Excellent written communication skills
• Competence in the use of IT
• Knowledge of the National Parks legal framework
• A qualification at HNC or HND level

The closing date for this role is 6th June 2025.

Other organisations may call this role Committee Services Officer, Governance Support Officer, Administration Officer, Administrator, Board Administrator, Secretary, Committee Secretary, Local Government Officer, Democratic Services Officer, or Legal and Governance Administrator.

Webrecruit and Exmoor National Park Authority are equal opportunities employers, value diversity and are strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants for employment. Equal opportunities are the only acceptable way to conduct business and we believe that the more inclusive our environments are, the better our work will be.

So, if you want to become a Democratic Support Officer and support the governance of Exmoor National Park Authority, please apply via the button shown.