We are recruiting for an Interim Head of Democratic Services to lead and stabilise a key function within a local authority setting.
This role requires someone who can step in immediately, take ownership of live projects and provide leadership during a critical period, including supporting upcoming Budget and Full Council meetings.
Salary - £625 Per Day
Key Responsibilities
* Lead and manage Democratic Services, ensuring high-quality committee, member and scrutiny functions aligned to council priorities.
* Provide expert constitutional and governance advice to councillors, senior leaders and officers, ensuring compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements.
* Oversee democratic decision-making processes, ensuring effective planning, transparency and accountability.
* Act as the statutory Scrutiny Officer, developing and embedding an effective scrutiny function and ensuring robust challenge and oversight.
* Lead Member Services, including support to Cabinet, political groups, civic functions and member development programmes.
* Manage and lead a team of up to 15 staff, overseeing service delivery, performance, and continuous improvement.
* Manage a service budget of approximately £1m, ensuring effective use of resources.
* Drive service improvement, including organisational change, digital development and process efficiencies.
Skills and Experience
* Experience leading Democratic Services or a similar governance function within a local authority.
* Strong knowledge of local government governance, constitutional requirements and democratic processes.
* Experience preparing for and supporting Budget Council and Full Council meetings.
* Proven ability to deliver or support service restructure and organisational change.
* Experience managing and leading teams of up to 15 staff.
* Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to work closely with Members, senior leaders and officers.
Experience managing budgets and overseeing service performance.
* Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver to tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
* Confident in driving service improvement and implementing effective processes and controls.
(Essential)
* Able to hit the ground running across existing workstreams
* Experience managing or delivering a service restructure
* Confident leading and engaging a team of 12–15 staff
* Experience preparing for and supporting Budget Council and Full Council meetings
* Office Requirement: Minimum 3 days per week in the office
INDRRH