Councillor Services & Leaders Office Manager
| Posting date: | 03 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £44,075 to £47,181 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 22 February 2026 |
| Location: | Reading, Berkshire |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Reading Borough Council |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: |
Summary
Are you an experienced leader with exceptional organisational skills, political awareness, and a passion for delivering high‑quality support in a fast‑paced public sector environment?
If you enjoy working collaboratively while also taking initiative and thinking on your feet, we’d love to hear from you.
Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities. We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity is the key to our success.
About the role:
In this highly visible position, you’ll oversee the day‑to‑day running of the Leader’s Office and lead the Councillor Services Team, ensuring an efficient, professional, and responsive service to Councillors across all political parties.
You will act as a trusted advisor and first point of contact for the Leader and Deputy Leader, manage sensitive communications, and coordinate a wide range of meetings, events and key democratic functions.
Duties & responsibilities:
Full duties and responsibilities for this role are in the attached Job Description.
Manage and motivate a high‑performing team to deliver excellent support to all Councillors
Oversee casework management systems, ensuring timely responses and high service standards
Coordinate complex diary and inbox management with the utmost confidentiality
Prioritise enquiries, manage high‑level communications, and maintain strong relationships with senior stakeholders
Plan and deliver meetings, briefings and events, handling end‑to‑end logistics
Champion continuous improvement, using data and performance insights to enhance service delivery
Collaborating across teams to influence and enhance working practices
About you:
We’re looking for someone who can operate with confidence, tact, and diplomacy at senior levels, bringing:
Strong experience in local government or political environments
A proven track record of managing teams in fast‑paced, high‑pressure settings
Exceptional organisational skills, including complex diary and event management
Outstanding interpersonal and communication abilities
A proactive, solutions‑focused approach, with the ability to navigate sensitive and confidential issues
High levels of initiative, resilience, and adaptability
This role requires a significant office presence and occasional evening work.
You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do
Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential
Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way
Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed
Our offer:
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you will get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
A wide range of flexible working opportunities
Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax
To arrange a confidential discussion on this position please contact Claire Elderfield – claire.elderfield@reading.gov.uk
Closing date: Sunday 22nd February 2026
Interview Date: Monday 9th March 2026
Interview Setup: In person at the Civic Offices, Bridge Street, Reading for up to 90 minutes
If you enjoy working collaboratively while also taking initiative and thinking on your feet, we’d love to hear from you.
Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities. We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity is the key to our success.
About the role:
In this highly visible position, you’ll oversee the day‑to‑day running of the Leader’s Office and lead the Councillor Services Team, ensuring an efficient, professional, and responsive service to Councillors across all political parties.
You will act as a trusted advisor and first point of contact for the Leader and Deputy Leader, manage sensitive communications, and coordinate a wide range of meetings, events and key democratic functions.
Duties & responsibilities:
Full duties and responsibilities for this role are in the attached Job Description.
Manage and motivate a high‑performing team to deliver excellent support to all Councillors
Oversee casework management systems, ensuring timely responses and high service standards
Coordinate complex diary and inbox management with the utmost confidentiality
Prioritise enquiries, manage high‑level communications, and maintain strong relationships with senior stakeholders
Plan and deliver meetings, briefings and events, handling end‑to‑end logistics
Champion continuous improvement, using data and performance insights to enhance service delivery
Collaborating across teams to influence and enhance working practices
About you:
We’re looking for someone who can operate with confidence, tact, and diplomacy at senior levels, bringing:
Strong experience in local government or political environments
A proven track record of managing teams in fast‑paced, high‑pressure settings
Exceptional organisational skills, including complex diary and event management
Outstanding interpersonal and communication abilities
A proactive, solutions‑focused approach, with the ability to navigate sensitive and confidential issues
High levels of initiative, resilience, and adaptability
This role requires a significant office presence and occasional evening work.
You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do
Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential
Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way
Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed
Our offer:
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you will get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
A wide range of flexible working opportunities
Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax
To arrange a confidential discussion on this position please contact Claire Elderfield – claire.elderfield@reading.gov.uk
Closing date: Sunday 22nd February 2026
Interview Date: Monday 9th March 2026
Interview Setup: In person at the Civic Offices, Bridge Street, Reading for up to 90 minutes
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
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.