Huntingdonshire Dist. Council

Head of Democratic Services and Monitoring Officer Hours: 37 Hours Weekly Location: Pathfinder House, Huntingdon Contract Type: Permanent full time Closing Date: 24 February 2025, 09:00 Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC) is passionate about providing high-quality services to our communities, residents, and businesses. This means we must employ and retain the most talented and dedicated people. Situated within the heart of the Cambridge-Peterborough Growth Area, Huntingdonshire is a beautiful district that boasts thriving market towns and many attractive villages, each with its own identity. We are an innovative and forward-thinking local authority whose residents are at the heart of our decision-making. At HDC, we want to employ staff who embody our icare values ( Inspiring, Collaborative, Accountable, Respectful, Enterprising ), all of which support our ultimate purpose of putting our customers first. Job Details There has never been a better time to join HDC. We are on the lookout for our new Head of Democratic Services and Monitoring Officer. Whether you are a non-practicing solicitor or someone who understands the importance of good governance, we have an incredibly exciting new opportunity for you! About the Role We are a forward-thinking, financially stable local authority committed to delivering high-quality services for our community. Our mission is to ensure transparency, accountability, and democratic engagement in all our operations. We are seeking a driven and experienced individual to join our dedicated and high-performing team as the Head of Democratic Services and Monitoring Officer. You will play a pivotal role in supporting the democratic processes of the council. You will ensure the smooth running of council meetings, provide expert advice on governance and legal matters, and uphold the highest standards of ethical conduct. Additionally, you will have the unique opportunity to influence the outcome of the council's constitution, shaping the future of our governance framework. About You Educated to degree level or equivalent in a relevant subject and using your extensive experience in democratic services, governance, or a similar role within a local authority, you will act as the principal advisor on ethical standards and member conduct. With a thorough knowledge and appreciation of the issues facing local government and the public sector, you will bring strong leadership skills to address these issues and provide strategic advice on governance, constitutional, and procedural matters. Using your exceptional communication and interpersonal abilities, you will lead a dedicated and talented Democratic Services team, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement. An offer of employment is conditional upon having the right to work in the UK. Huntingdonshire District Council does not hold a Sponsorship Licence and is unable to provide a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) or take over sponsorship for any role. If this sounds like the opportunity for you, we'd love to hear from you. You can apply by either completing an application form or submitting your CV, along with a covering letter outlining your suitability for the role, to . The closing date is 9am on Monday 24 February 2025 . However, this is a rolling campaign and we'll be reviewing applications on an ongoing basis and will close the advert early should we receive suitable applications, so please don't delay in applying! First round technical interviews are scheduled to take place the week commencing 3 March and final assessment centre is scheduled for Monday 17 March. For many of our roles (and where it is possible), we are currently working remotely and anticipate in the future returning to a hybrid office model on a flexible basis. This will still include work from home and flexi-time opportunities to provide a good work-life balance whilst ensuring that teams benefit from in-person interaction. Candidates should therefore be within commutable distance of our offices in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire or able to attend meetings as required if further afield. Please note that the official closing date is as above, and will be the correct date. Some third-party websites may have different dates. Please refer to the HDC website for the official closing date to ensure you do not miss out on applying. Working for the Council As an employer who values diversity of thought, we seek to employ candidates from a range of backgrounds in order to make our organisation more innovative. We are seeking candidates who are looking for their next career opportunity on a full-time, part-time or condensed hours basis. We will consider any flexible working arrangements and are a supportive employer, enabling our staff to work in an environment that produces high standards of work in an employee-led environment. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our recruitment and along with our values, we are committed to creating an inclusive working environment, where diversity is valued and there is equality of opportunity. We therefore welcome applications from all sections of the community and we offer a range of benefits, including flexitime, to encourage a work-life balance.