Senior Democratic Services Officer
| Posting date: | 16 October 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £36,660 to £41,082 per year, pro rata |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 03 November 2025 |
| Location: | Sittingbourne, Kent |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 2 days per week |
| Company: | Swale Borough Council |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: |
Summary
About the role:
We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Democratic Services Officer to join our team in a key role supporting the democratic processes of the council.
Your responsibilities will include supervising the Democratic Services team, preparing agendas, reports, and minutes for Council meetings, liaising with Members, ensuring legal and procedural compliance and managing records in an efficient way. You will be providing guidance on democratic procedures and developing new ways of working.
If you have great organisation and communication skills and a passion for delivering a high level of service, we’d like to hear from you. Experience of working in a democratic services team is a bonus!
This is a full-time position working 34 hours per week on a permanent contract. This role would be working on a hybrid basis, with the need to attend meetings outside of normal working hours as required.
About Swale Borough Council:
Swale Borough Council is a progressive and ambitious Local Authority, located less than an hour from Central London in an attractive and diverse part of Kent involving urban, rural, and coastal areas. We believe that staff are our most valuable asset, and we’re committed to attracting and retaining the very best. In recent times we have adapted and evolved to meet the current world by introducing a highly flexible hybrid working policy, along with a 34-hour week, recognising that staff wellbeing and work life balance is high on our agenda.
Our Offer:
A range of benefits including:
• Generous holiday entitlement which increases after 5 years LG service plus bank holidays with the option to buy additional leave.
• Additional 3 days leave given to enable a close down of the offices between Christmas and New year.
• Free parking
• Invitations to staff events to celebrate success and support wellbeing that include holistic therapies and outdoor activities
• Employee Assistance Programme which provides confidential & independent information and access to counsellors
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with valuable life cover and financial protection for your family.
• Life Assurance – three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• Season Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail/ bus journey, to & from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand-new car. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax.
• Annual flu vaccine
• Cycle to work scheme
• Staff benefits discounts on leisure, eating out, holidays and shopping
• Excellent learning and career opportunities for committed individuals
• A professional fee payment, if required for the role
About You:
You will be educated to A-level or equivalent, with experience in a democratic services team or other relevant experience. You will have the ability to interpret the constitution and standing orders, have excellent agenda, report and minute writing skills together with the ability to communicate effectively at all levels.
You will have the ability to develop working relationships and manage a team, and work efficiently to deadlines with a high level of accuracy.
You will also need to be flexible with the ability to attend work outside normal working hours/evening meetings as required.
Selection Process:
Following the submission of your application form, it will be reviewed by the recruiting manager. Those that are successful in securing an interview can expect job specific interview assessment, followed by an interview.
Swale Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employee and volunteers to share this commitment.
If you would like to discuss this position, please contact Jo Millard, Democratic & Electoral Services Manager, 01795 417360.
Job Description and Person Specification: https://docs.maidstone.gov.uk/jobs/Senior-Democratic-Services-Officer-SBC-JDPS-Oct-2025.pdf
Interview Date: Tuesday 11 November 2025
We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Democratic Services Officer to join our team in a key role supporting the democratic processes of the council.
Your responsibilities will include supervising the Democratic Services team, preparing agendas, reports, and minutes for Council meetings, liaising with Members, ensuring legal and procedural compliance and managing records in an efficient way. You will be providing guidance on democratic procedures and developing new ways of working.
If you have great organisation and communication skills and a passion for delivering a high level of service, we’d like to hear from you. Experience of working in a democratic services team is a bonus!
This is a full-time position working 34 hours per week on a permanent contract. This role would be working on a hybrid basis, with the need to attend meetings outside of normal working hours as required.
About Swale Borough Council:
Swale Borough Council is a progressive and ambitious Local Authority, located less than an hour from Central London in an attractive and diverse part of Kent involving urban, rural, and coastal areas. We believe that staff are our most valuable asset, and we’re committed to attracting and retaining the very best. In recent times we have adapted and evolved to meet the current world by introducing a highly flexible hybrid working policy, along with a 34-hour week, recognising that staff wellbeing and work life balance is high on our agenda.
Our Offer:
A range of benefits including:
• Generous holiday entitlement which increases after 5 years LG service plus bank holidays with the option to buy additional leave.
• Additional 3 days leave given to enable a close down of the offices between Christmas and New year.
• Free parking
• Invitations to staff events to celebrate success and support wellbeing that include holistic therapies and outdoor activities
• Employee Assistance Programme which provides confidential & independent information and access to counsellors
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with valuable life cover and financial protection for your family.
• Life Assurance – three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• Season Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail/ bus journey, to & from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand-new car. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax.
• Annual flu vaccine
• Cycle to work scheme
• Staff benefits discounts on leisure, eating out, holidays and shopping
• Excellent learning and career opportunities for committed individuals
• A professional fee payment, if required for the role
About You:
You will be educated to A-level or equivalent, with experience in a democratic services team or other relevant experience. You will have the ability to interpret the constitution and standing orders, have excellent agenda, report and minute writing skills together with the ability to communicate effectively at all levels.
You will have the ability to develop working relationships and manage a team, and work efficiently to deadlines with a high level of accuracy.
You will also need to be flexible with the ability to attend work outside normal working hours/evening meetings as required.
Selection Process:
Following the submission of your application form, it will be reviewed by the recruiting manager. Those that are successful in securing an interview can expect job specific interview assessment, followed by an interview.
Swale Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employee and volunteers to share this commitment.
If you would like to discuss this position, please contact Jo Millard, Democratic & Electoral Services Manager, 01795 417360.
Job Description and Person Specification: https://docs.maidstone.gov.uk/jobs/Senior-Democratic-Services-Officer-SBC-JDPS-Oct-2025.pdf
Interview Date: Tuesday 11 November 2025
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A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.