Political Assistant

Staffordshire County Council is seeking to appoint a dedicated and politically astute individual to serve as Political Assistant to the Reform UK Group. This is a unique opportunity to support elected Members in a dynamic and high-profile political environment.

About the Role

You will work directly with the Reform UK Group on the Council, supporting Members in their duties and particularly the Leader of the Group. Your responsibilities will include:

• Researching policy issues and preparing briefing notes
• Advising on political matters and current affairs.
• Attending meetings and conferences in Staffordshire and beyond.
• Liaising with Council officers, the media, and external organisations.
• You will be required to work from the office three days a week

We are looking to recruit a highly motivated individual with exceptional communication skills and political awareness. The ideal candidate will have:

• Educated to level 3 e.g. A levels or experience in political research or public affairs.
• Proven experience in a political, public affairs, or communications environment
• Demonstrable experience working with local authority Members, senior officers, and stakeholders.
• The ability to operate in a busy, complex, and politically sensitive environment.
• A strong understanding of the roles and responsibilities of elected Members and the political context in which they work.
• Effective written and oral communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability in engaging with Members, senior officers, and external stakeholders.
• Proficiency in IT and digital tools.
• You must not be an officer of any political party or organisation.

This post is politically restricted in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

Interviews will be held during the week starting 3 November 2025. As this is a Special Committee appointment, there will be a second stage interview. This will likely take place towards the end of November.

Don’t feel you meet all the requirements? We value transferable skills, experiences, and qualifications so consider applying anyway or for an informal chat about the role please contact Chris Ebberley, Head of Member and Democratic Services at: chris.ebberley@staffordshire.gov.uk

Our Recruitment Process: We anonymise applications during shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered. Please complete your application fully, especially the supporting statement, to highlight what you’ll bring to the role.

We are no ordinary county council:

Our Values:

The core of who we are as an organisation. Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively.

Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice and they sit at the heart of People Strategy:

We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people. We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future.

We look forward and race ahead - that goes for your career too.

Our benefits:

We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.

In addition to your salary, as a member of staff, you will have access to Our rewards and benefits - Careers at Staffordshire

Our recruitment process:

As an Authority we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all background and communities

As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a Gold Award Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers - we offer a guaranteed interview as long as your application meets the minimum criteria for the post.