Head of Democratic Services - AR

Job Description Head of Democratic Services (Interim)

Location: Slough (Minimum 3 days per week on-site - mandatory)
Contract: 6+ months
Rate: £625 per day

Role Purpose

To provide strategic and operational leadership of the Democratic Services function, ensuring the effective delivery of the Council's democratic governance framework. The postholder will ensure statutory compliance, high-quality member support, and the smooth operation of all formal decision-making processes, including Budget and Full Council meetings.

This is a key leadership role requiring an experienced individual who can provide stability, direction, and assurance during a period of organisational change.

Key Responsibilities Leadership & Management

• Provide strategic leadership to the Democratic Services function.
• Lead, manage and develop a team of approximately 12-15 staff.
• Drive performance, engagement, and service improvement.
• Lead and manage a service restructure, ensuring continuity and resilience.

Governance & Democratic Process

• Ensure the effective organisation and delivery of:
  • Full Council meetings
  • Budget Council meetings
  • Cabinet and Committee meetings
• Oversee the preparation, publication and quality assurance of agendas, reports and minutes.
• Ensure compliance with statutory and constitutional requirements.
• Maintain and oversee the Council's Constitution and governance framework.

Member Support & Political Interface

• Provide high-level procedural advice to elected members, senior officers, and the Chair/Mayor.
• Support effective decision-making within a politically sensitive environment.
• Ensure strong working relationships with Group Leaders, Committee Chairs and senior leadership.

Strategic Governance

• Contribute to corporate governance improvements and organisational change initiatives.
• Ensure transparency, accountability and lawful decision-making processes.
• Work closely with the Monitoring Officer and Chief Executive to maintain governance standards.

Person Specification Essential Experience

• Significant senior-level experience within Democratic Services in a Local Authority.
• Experience operating at Head of Service / Assistant Director level (or equivalent).
• Extensive experience supporting Budget and Full Council meetings.
• Proven experience leading and managing multi-disciplinary teams.
• Experience managing or implementing service restructures or transformation programmes.

Knowledge & Skills

• In-depth understanding of local government governance and constitutional frameworks.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Ability to operate confidently within a politically sensitive environment.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong organisational and decision-making capability under pressure.

Key Attributes

• Calm and authoritative presence.
• Resilient and adaptable during change.
• Politically astute and diplomatically confident.
• Able to provide immediate impact in an interim capacity.