2 months contract with a local authority

Job Purpose

The Democratic Services Manager provides high-level guidance and advice to internal and external customers, working with senior managers to develop new approaches and apply knowledge, facts, and evidence to support the development of business plans, budgets, resource allocation, and setting objectives and strategies for the future. This role involves managing a range of service demands, dealing with serious or complex escalated issues effectively and in a timely manner, as well as influencing, developing, performance managing, motivating, and empowering teams while role modeling the Values of the Council.

Key Duties/Accountabilities

Provide leadership, direction, and management to Democratic Services to deliver first-class committee, member, and scrutiny services contributing to the Council’s recovery and improvement plans and wider strategic and corporate objectives.
Work with Councillors, the Monitoring Officer, Executive Directors, and others to ensure the delivery of effective democratic services and the provision of constitutional advice complying with legislation and appropriate managerial, financial, and administrative standards.
Organize and coordinate the proper and effective planning, conduct, and control of all the authority’s democratic decision-making processes and implementation thereof.
Develop an effective scrutiny and governance function to ensure that scrutiny is an integral part of the Council’s decision-making process, providing constructive challenge, review of services and performance, and improved transparency and accountability to decision making.
Lead the provision of excellent Member services including support to the Leader & Cabinet Officer, political groups, Mayor’s/Civic Office, and a comprehensive Members’ Development and Training Programme.

Essential Experience Required

Experience of leading and managing significant organizational change with evidence of achieving tangible benefits, including supporting the implementation of new organizational structures, systems, and/or new and flexible ways of working.
Experience of financial and budgetary management with the ability to formulate financial strategies that provide value for money and put stakeholders at the center of financial decision-making.
Proven track record of embracing digital approaches and new ways of working to achieve quantifiable efficiencies and improved ways of working.

Essential Qualification Required

Management qualification - anticipated to be degree level + Post Graduate qualification (e.g. ILM7/MBA) – or vocational equivalent

Additional information to note

Head of Democratic Services