Democratic Services Officer
| Posting date: | 02 April 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £39,166.00 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 20 April 2026 |
| Location: | Canterbury, Kent |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Canterbury City Council |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: | CCC0782 |
Summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen within Canterbury City Council’s Corporate Governance team for a Democratic Services Officer to play a vital role in supporting the democratic processes that drive our council. You will have the opportunity to work with a range of individuals including members of the public, councillors and officers across the organisation.
Why Join Us?
Annual Salary: £39,166
Flexible, hybrid working – enjoy the balance of working from home and in the office.
Generous annual leave: 23 days rising with service (pro-rata), plus bank holidays and three additional days over the Christmas period. You can also buy more leave!
Pension: A fantastic local government pension scheme.
Training and development opportunities to support your career growth, including covering Professional Body Membership fees.
Employee perks: Discounts, free counselling and advice, contributions towards flu jabs, and more.
Travel support: Free use of Canterbury’s Park and Ride, flexi bus tickets, cycle-to-work schemes, and reduced train season ticket loans.
What You’ll Be Doing:
As a Democratic Services Officer, you will:
Administer and coordinate meetings of the full council and committees, ensuring all decisions are recorded accurately and published within statutory deadlines.
Advise councillors, officers, and the public on democratic governance and constitutional processes.
Manage IT systems supporting the democratic process, including Modern.Gov, webcasting and electronic voting systems.
Provide systems support to councillors and assist them in using technology effectively.
Maintain a thorough knowledge of relevant legislation to provide accurate and timely advice.
Working Pattern:
Full-Time role 37 hours with flexible hybrid working arrangements.
Regular evening meetings, with occasional travel within the district required.
Contract type: Fixed term until 31 March 2028
About You
We’re seeking a confident, adaptable individual who thrives in dynamic environments. You’ll need:
Knowledge of local government administration or governance and decision making in a similar public sector environment
Experience administering IT systems and dealing with a wide range of people tactfully and diplomatically.
Excellent organisational and communication skills to manage competing priorities.
Working closely as a team is crucial, but you will also need to think on your feet and be confident to give advice on the spot, including in busy meetings held in public.
The ability to interpret and apply legislation effectively.
A background in democratic services is beneficial but not essential, as full training will be provided.
Apply Today!
If this Democratic Services Officer role in Canterbury sounds like the opportunity for you, click “Apply Online” now to start your application.
For an informal discussion about the role, contact Matthew Archer, Head of Corporate Governance on 01227 910662.
Interviews are provisionally scheduled for Wednesday 29 April 2026.
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion at Canterbury City Council.
We are committed to promoting equality and diversity in everything we do. We provide a safe and welcoming environment where everyone is valued, included and respected.
Our diversity strengthens our ability to serve the diverse communities we support through our work
To demonstrate this through our actions, all applications are anonymised for the shortlisting panel, allowing all applicants to be assessed on merit alone.
Site Maintenance Dates:
Site maintenance is being carried out and may be unavailable on 25 April 2026 between the hours of 00:00 – 12:00.
Why Join Us?
Annual Salary: £39,166
Flexible, hybrid working – enjoy the balance of working from home and in the office.
Generous annual leave: 23 days rising with service (pro-rata), plus bank holidays and three additional days over the Christmas period. You can also buy more leave!
Pension: A fantastic local government pension scheme.
Training and development opportunities to support your career growth, including covering Professional Body Membership fees.
Employee perks: Discounts, free counselling and advice, contributions towards flu jabs, and more.
Travel support: Free use of Canterbury’s Park and Ride, flexi bus tickets, cycle-to-work schemes, and reduced train season ticket loans.
What You’ll Be Doing:
As a Democratic Services Officer, you will:
Administer and coordinate meetings of the full council and committees, ensuring all decisions are recorded accurately and published within statutory deadlines.
Advise councillors, officers, and the public on democratic governance and constitutional processes.
Manage IT systems supporting the democratic process, including Modern.Gov, webcasting and electronic voting systems.
Provide systems support to councillors and assist them in using technology effectively.
Maintain a thorough knowledge of relevant legislation to provide accurate and timely advice.
Working Pattern:
Full-Time role 37 hours with flexible hybrid working arrangements.
Regular evening meetings, with occasional travel within the district required.
Contract type: Fixed term until 31 March 2028
About You
We’re seeking a confident, adaptable individual who thrives in dynamic environments. You’ll need:
Knowledge of local government administration or governance and decision making in a similar public sector environment
Experience administering IT systems and dealing with a wide range of people tactfully and diplomatically.
Excellent organisational and communication skills to manage competing priorities.
Working closely as a team is crucial, but you will also need to think on your feet and be confident to give advice on the spot, including in busy meetings held in public.
The ability to interpret and apply legislation effectively.
A background in democratic services is beneficial but not essential, as full training will be provided.
Apply Today!
If this Democratic Services Officer role in Canterbury sounds like the opportunity for you, click “Apply Online” now to start your application.
For an informal discussion about the role, contact Matthew Archer, Head of Corporate Governance on 01227 910662.
Interviews are provisionally scheduled for Wednesday 29 April 2026.
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion at Canterbury City Council.
We are committed to promoting equality and diversity in everything we do. We provide a safe and welcoming environment where everyone is valued, included and respected.
Our diversity strengthens our ability to serve the diverse communities we support through our work
To demonstrate this through our actions, all applications are anonymised for the shortlisting panel, allowing all applicants to be assessed on merit alone.
Site Maintenance Dates:
Site maintenance is being carried out and may be unavailable on 25 April 2026 between the hours of 00:00 – 12:00.
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.