Democratic Services Officer

Do you have experience in democratic services or supporting formal meetings, and want to take the next step in your career? Are you looking for a varied role at the heart of local government where you’ll work closely with councillors and play a key part in ensuring transparent decision-making?

If the answer’s yes, we have the role for you.

We are looking for a Democratic Services Officer to join our friendly and high-performing Democratic Services Team in a role which:

• places you at the centre of the Council’s decision-making process, working directly with councillors, officers and stakeholders.
• gives you the opportunity to lead on servicing a variety of committees and manage important governance processes.
• allows you to build on your experience and develop your skills in a supportive and collaborative environment.

About the role

As a key member of the team, you’ll:

• provide effective management and administration of formal Council and committee meetings, including agenda preparation, minute-taking and advising Chairs on procedure.
• maintain registers of interests, manage appointments to outside bodies and oversee member allowances.
• contribute to member development, engagement activities and maintain our webcasting system.
• support the team in delivering elections and other democratic services projects.

Who we’re looking for

We’d love to hear from you if you:

• have experience of supporting or servicing formal meetings in local government or a similar setting.
• are confident communicating with clarity, both in writing and in person.
• have strong organisational skills and the ability to work under pressure to tight deadlines.
• are detail-oriented, proactive and enjoy working as part of a team.

What we offer

On top of your salary between £34,072 and £39,276 (depending on experience) you will also receive a £2,000 market supplement.

When you join us your expertise, skills and experience will be valued, and your career development will be our priority.

We are committed to creating a collaborative and innovative environment which empowers you to thrive. You will be part of a friendly, supportive One Team culture with the chance to make a real difference.

We believe in balancing hard work with fun. Our active social team organises two to three events a year, ranging from Staff Awards, quiz nights to rounders in the park, helping the workplace to be productive and enjoyable.

We use Viva Engage to keep you connected and engaged and we hold regular face to face meetings, such as Chief Executive briefings to keep you in the loop.

We are conveniently located close to Oxted Station and have some on-site parking.

In addition to the stated pay, we offer membership and contributions towards the Local Government Pension Scheme, flexible working (giving you the opportunity to work from home for up to three days a week), flexi-time, payment of a relevant professional subscription and access to a discounted health scheme.

Please visit our website for more information about working for us www.tandridge.gov.uk/jobs and download our Working for Tandridge guide.

Diversity statement

At Tandridge District Council, we pride ourselves on maintaining an inclusive workplace, ensuring equality, fairness, and inclusion is at the heart of everything we do and good practice is embedded in the Council’s culture and services.

We welcome applications from all sectors of our community, including BAME, LGBTQ+ and all groups protected under the Equality Act.

Tandridge is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment.

Want to know more?

If this sounds like your kind of challenge and you want to be part of our friendly and supportive team, we’d love to hear from you.

If you’d like to find out more, please read our role profile and specification, or for an informal discussion about the role, please e-mail Alex Berry, Democratic and Electoral Services Manager, at aberry@tandridge.gov.uk or call on 01883 732968.

Local Government Reorganisation

Surrey is part of the government’s plans for local government reorganisation. This means the current two tier system, where services are split between Surrey County Council and district and borough councils like Tandridge, will be replaced with larger councils, which handle all local services.

Although this may lead to some uncertainty for anyone considering a role with us, this process will take several years and during that time we still need to provide services.

When local government is reorganised, most staff will transfer to the new council which may offer additional opportunities for career development and variety as part of a larger organisation.