Political Assistants Ref: 165556 Salary: £42,839 p.a. plus benefits 37 hours per week Fixed term contract: for four years ending on or before the day of Annual Council in May 2030. Join us and support local democracy in Swindon The work and decisions of Swindon Borough Council affect people’s everyday lives across the borough and the communities we serve. From housing and roads to libraries, parks and green spaces, community safety and support for children and families, the Council delivers more than 200 services that people rely on every day. What we do shapes the places people live, the support they can access and the strength of local communities. Following the recent local elections, we’re recruiting three Political Assistants to support elected members across three political groups: Conservative Group Political Assistant Labour & Co-operative Group Political Assistant Reform Group Political Assistant You will be employed by Swindon Borough Council but work directly in support of one political group, helping councillors navigate the realities of modern local government and represent the communities they serve. The pace can be intense, and no two days are likely to look the same. You’ll need resilience, judgement and political awareness, alongside the ability to build trusted relationships and work confidently with a wide range of people, including elected members, colleagues, partners and community stakeholders. A flexible work ethic is essential, as you will be required to work outside normal office working hours. If you care about communities, public service and making a difference locally, these roles offer a unique insight into local government and the opportunity to work closely with elected members at the heart of local democracy. You’ll be joining Swindon Borough Council at a time of significant change and ambition for the borough. Swindon is one of the UK’s fastest-growing towns, with a strong sense of identity, diverse communities and huge potential. Across the organisation, colleagues are working to redesign services around residents, strengthen communities and shift towards a more prevention-focused approach, helping people earlier and making support easier to access. From opening community hubs to redesigning how residents access support, there is a real focus on building services that are more joined-up, more responsive and easier for people to navigate. This post is being filled under section 9 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (Assistants for Political Groups). This is a politically restricted post under section 2 of the Act. You must be fluent in the English language (as a requirement of Part 7 of the Immigration Act “for the effective performance of a customer-facing role”). Your next package Please see our Rewards and Benefits offer for more details. As an employee, you will receive a diverse and exciting environment in which to work, encouraging creativity and innovation whilst recognising the need to support ongoing personal development and a flexible work life balance. Please see our Vision and Values page for more details. Potential applicants are sometimes put off if they don’t meet 100% of the requirements. We think individual experience, skills and passion make all the difference, so if you meet the majority of the criteria, we’d love to hear from you. Your next steps Please read the role profile and protocol document, which are available in the documents section to the righthand side of the page. To submit an application for this role, select Quick Apply. For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Vicki Yull, Committee and Member Services Manager, at vyull2@swindon.gov.uk As an inclusive employer, we welcome applications from a diverse range of communities, and in particular disabled people and people from ethnic minorities. Read our statement of commitment to equality & inclusion. If you are experiencing technical issues submitting your application, please email resourcing@swindon.gov.uk Closing date: 8 June 2026 Interview date: Week commencing 15 June 2026 – interviews will be held with Councillors from the respective political group.