Job Summary
Caroline Voaden, MP for South Devon, is looking to hire a committed, enthusiastic and politically astute Parliamentary Assistant to work with her in Westminster.
This is an exciting opportunity to support the office of a busy MP, working hard in the best interests of the people of South Devon.
Your role will be to support Caroline in all her work in Westminster, providing advice and political insight, managing her Westminster diary and supporting Caroline in her work on committees and leading All Party Parliamentary Groups.
The role requires initiative, as well as clear and professional communication with a wide range of stakeholders in what can be a fast-changing environment.
You will monitor Parliamentary activity, being alert to all opportunities for Caroline to engage on issues that matter to her and her constituents.
No two weeks in Parliament are ever the same, so you can expect a varied workload alongside your core responsibilities. Being alert to daily changes of schedule and prioritising the diary accordingly is a key part of the role – you'll need to be able to think quickly and stay calm.
Caroline's team in Devon has a wealth of experience and is keen to help the successful applicant excel and develop their professional skills. The role will involve working closely with the Devon-based team and will require trips to the constituency during recess. A prior knowledge of South Devon is desirable.
The job role is offered for 30 hours a week as follows:
Monday-Wednesday full-time
Thursday/Friday by agreement (some flexibility required depending on Caroline's diary)
Responsibilities
* Providing written and oral briefings to the MP for contributions in the House and meetings
* Horizon scanning and advising the MP on opportunities to table questions, draft amendments, speak in debates or engage with other parliamentary procedures
* Supporting the MP with Select Committee and APPG work, such as planning, implementing the APPG's workplan, relationship building and engaging with interest groups, preparing briefing material, and being the key contact between the MP and interested parties
* Attending meetings with or on behalf of the MP and following up on actions as required
* Drafting letters to Government departments and local stakeholders on key issues
* Managing and helping prioritise the MP's Westminster diary, organising meetings and arranging events; coordinating diaries with the Devon team
* Analysing, evaluating and interpreting data to ensure the MP is accurately informed on key issues
* Developing and maintaining current knowledge on relevant areas of parliamentary business and current affairs, including issues of importance both nationally and in the local constituency
* Engage confidentially, professionally, with care and integrity with members of the public, through telephone enquiries, social media, email and face to face to maintain positive ongoing relationships
* Providing general administrative support, including efficient data and file management to ensure the office complies with data protection legislation
* There may be a requirement for the role holder to work outside of normal working hours and travel for work occasionally. There will be a requirement to spend time in South Devon during some of the parliamentary recess breaks.
* Work with colleagues in the MP's casework and comms teams to ensure Westminster and constituency priorities are aligned. Daily check-ins with the Devon team will be a key part of this.
The successful applicant will:
* Ideally have 1-3 years of professional experience in Parliament or a similar role
* Be sympathetic to the aims and values of the Liberal Democrat Party, with an enthusiasm for helping raise the profile of both Caroline and the party in Westminster and South Devon
* Have a keen interest in and understanding of politics and current affairs
* Demonstrate a high level of political awareness and understanding
* Have demonstrable knowledge of how Parliament works
* Show a clear grasp of key issues affecting South Devon – prior knowledge of the constituency is desirable
* Understand the role of an MP in general, and the work this involves
* Display excellent written and oral communication skills, with a track record of welcoming and professional engagement with people from all walks of life
* Be exceptionally well-organised and able to effectively prioritise competing demands on time and resources in an often fast-changing environment
* Have experience of producing succinct documents based on detailed research with excellent attention to detail
* Be proactive and able to work with minimal supervision
* Be content working alone while the MP is out of the office, but enthusiastic about building relationships with the wider Lib Dem staff team in Parliament
* Have excellent IT skills and an understanding of a range of workplace software, including Microsoft Office
* Understand the principles of data protection legislation and handling confidential information
How to apply for this role:
To apply, please e-mail a CV (max 2 pages) and a cover letter (max 2 pages) explaining why you want the role, your prior experience and how you meet the key skills and person specification by 5pm on the closing date to:
Please use the subject line: 'Job application - Parliamentary Assistant'
All applications will be acknowledged.
Job Types: Part-time, Permanent
Pay: £26,775.00-£42,991.00 per year
Expected hours: 30 per week
Benefits:
* Company pension
* Cycle to work scheme
* On-site gym
* Sick pay
Work Location: In person
Application deadline: 14/09/2025
Reference ID: London Parliamentary Assistant
Expected start date: 06/10/2025