Senior Committee and Governance Services Officer

Overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen in Democratic Services, within the Council’s Assistant Chief Executive Directorate.

The role is at the heart of democratic decision-making at the Council. In Committee and Governance Services, we have responsibility for the efficient and effective conduct of the Council’s formal meetings - full Council, Cabinet, Committees, Sub-Committees, and others.

About us

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally.  

About the role

As a Senior Committee & Governance Service Officer you will provide a professional and vital role in the successful delivery of the Council’s democratic processes. You’ll arrange and attend meetings, producing agendas, minutes, decision sheets, briefing notes, and reports. You’ll provide advice to senior officers and councillors on the Council’s decision-making processes, including executive and non-executive decision processes. You’ll advise on procedural matters within the Council’s Constitution, dealing with complex and politically-sensitive issues in a confidential and confident manner. You’ll also be a problem solver, able to anticipate and resolve a range of sensitive scenarios.

Please see the job summary for further information on the role. 

Any-Desk:

As an ‘any-desk’ worker, you’ll need to be connected to our network to access digital folders and resources, but this can either be from home or an office location when required. You will be required to work from the office a couple of times a week, depending on your role and team requirements.

About you

Ideally you’ll have previous experience of working within democratic services or a political environment in local government.  You’ll bring a well-developed understanding the relationship between elected members and officers. You will have experience of working with elected councillors and senior managers on politically sensitive issues and managing confidential information with discernment. You’ll also be a team player, comfortable with attending meetings and supporting your team colleagues with arrangements and in proactively suggesting improvements.  Reliability and calmness under pressure are pre-requisites, given that the role often involves working to tight deadlines and working on your own initiative.

Some of the Council’s meetings are held in the evening therefore a flexible approach and attendance at evening meetings is a requirement of this post.  Support and assistance to the other teams within Democratic Services will also be a key aspect which includes member development and elections and providing support on webcasting when required.

Other information

This post is a full time position, although other options would be considered on request.

This role is office based but is currently being offered on a 40% office and 60% home working agreement. This arrangement is under continuous review and may change in line with business need. The majority of Council/Committee meetings are held at The Gateway offices, Aylesbury, although some meetings are held at the Council offices at Wycombe.

For further information on this role please see the attached job summary.

Interview date: week commencing 19th January 2026

If you would like to have an informal conversation about the role, please contact Clare Gray, Principal Committee & Governance Services Officer, at [email protected] 01895 837529

This post is politically restricted under the terms of the Local Government Act 1989.

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

a fair and inclusive culture

• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

 

About the Business Unit

The Assistant Chief Executive directorate is central to Buckinghamshire Council’s journey to establish itself as one of the best councils in the country. With a clear focus on service improvement through transformation and a drive to build better relationships with the local community, the directorate is fast-paced; but extremely rewarding. Our teams are not only proactively delivering on projects and plans but also reacting to developing situations. If you are ambitious, innovative, and would relish the opportunity to influence change - a role within our service area could be your next career move.

The team includes exciting areas of work, including our Policy and Communications, Legal and Democratic Services teams – innovating the way we communicate with our colleagues, Members and the local community, and role-modelling best practice through policy, planning and legal services. If you think you can help us achieve our goals, and want to be a part of this exciting journey, we would love to hear from you!

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/