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