Support Services Officer (Democratic Services)

About the role

This is a varied and engaging role within local government, offering the opportunity to gain a strong understanding of how the Council operates and the importance of effective governance. The work is fast-paced and diverse, with involvement in a range of tasks and projects day to day.

The position plays a key role in providing administrative and business support to the Democratic Services team, helping to ensure the smooth delivery of services and effective support to elected members and stakeholders, while also offering guidance to colleagues on governance processes.

This role provides an opportunity to make a meaningful impact across the Council, influencing service delivery and support for elected members. The successful candidate will be expected to uphold Council procedures, standards, and values, while delivering flexible, high-quality support across the service as required.

What will you be doing?

What you will be doing:

• Providing support to elected members in their roles.
• Handling confidential and sensitive information with discretion.
• Offering governance guidance and support to colleagues across different services.
• Maintaining accurate records of Registers of Interests for members and Towns and Parishes.
• Managing and responding to the Democratic Services inbox promptly and accurately.
• Using a range of systems, including Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and Local Government systems such as Mod.Gov.
• Keeping well-organised and up-to-date records and filing systems for the Democratic Services team.
• Responding to enquiries from local residents via phone and email.
• Delivering general administrative support to the Democratic Services team.
• Supporting the delivery of daytime and evening meetings, including webcasting.
• Processing elected members’ travel and expense claims accurately and efficiently.

About you

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has strong organisational, administrative and IT skills
• Communicates clearly and confidently, both in writing and in person
• Can juggle multiple tasks without dropping the detail
• Takes pride in delivering a reliable, accurate and friendly service
• Handles confidential information with discretion and professionalism
• Works well under pressure and stays calm when deadlines are tight

Experience in local government or democratic services is helpful, but not essential. What matters most is your ability to be part of team, embody our council values and deliver an efficient, high‑quality support service.

If you would like to discuss the role, please contact Francesca at francesca.mchugo@northnorthants.gov.uk or alternatively call 01536 859 207 and ask to speak with Francesca or Alice.

Our Benefits

Here at North Northamptonshire Council, we’re transforming for the better, using all our creativity and imagination to create the best life for our local people.

You’ll find that we have a wide range of careers that may be more surprising than you think!

Why choose us?

We offer a vibrant working environment with:

• a competitive salary
• a pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill-health protection.
• lots of opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council
• generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days
• hybrid and flexible working arrangements, where practicable for service needs to help you with a healthy work-life balance.

We provide a range of great benefits such as an Employee Assistance Programme, an Employee Benefits Scheme, wellbeing support, travel rates at HMRC rates, as well as supporting a range of active Employee Network Groups.

About us

Our Values and Behaviours

Our values define who we are and how we operate, by forming the foundation for how we interact with our customers, colleagues and provide our services. They are also at the forefront of our decision making and delivery and are:

Customer-focused
Respectful
Efficient
Supportive
Trustworthy

Our key commitments help ensure that the priorities we make, now and in the future, maintain the necessary breadth of focus in those areas that we believe matter most.

Disability Confident Employer

We are proud to be a recognised Disability Confident Employer and is committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role.

Our Employment and Disability Service provides bespoke support to individuals facing barriers to employment, helping them work towards their goals to start, stay and succeed in employment. For further information please click here The Employment and Disability Service (EADS) | North Northamptonshire Council

Armed Forces Community

The council obtained the Gold status award for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS).

Further information can be found at Jobs and careers | North Northamptonshire Council (northnorthants.gov.uk)