Governance Services Officer

Hackney is one of Britain’s most exciting and fastest-changing boroughs. We have changed the reputation, not just of the Council, but of Hackney itself. The challenges that have arisen over the last two years have intensified the need for action and we are determined to rebuild Hackney for, and with, our diverse communities.

Governance Services is looking for an enthusiastic and committed person to join the team to help shape the way that governance is delivered across the whole Council. We are looking for an officer to support the organisation of committee meetings and other governance programmes that directly impact on the meetings through which residents engage with the Council.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who is well organised, has exceptional administrative and communication skills and can work well under pressure to support the whole governance team in a range of activities and special projects including the following:

– Administering committee meetings, and creating and publishing agendas, minuting meetings and producing decision notices

– Supporting elected Members and organising Member development events and briefings

– Webcasting meetings

You will play a vital part in supporting a small team to deliver an effective and transparent governance service that enables Members, officers and residents to engage in the decision making process.

Previous governance experience is not essential but would be beneficial. The role provides an excellent opportunity for someone who wants to progress within a governance environment. You will need to have good IT skills to support the hybrid meetings and to use and maintain systems such as Modern.Gov.

With your strong communication and organisational skills, you will be able to understand the Council’s Constitution and statutory provisions relating to local authority meetings, and be confident in advising Members of the Council and senior officers on formal council meetings and decision-making processes.

Enjoying variety and pace, you will be able to prioritise your own work to meet legal and constitutional deadlines. You will also have the ability to understand complex documents and discussions and to extract, summarise and record the key points. Experience in managing meetings within a political or governance environment would be an advantage but is not essential as training will be provided.

This post is politically restricted under the terms of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, meaning that the postholder is unable to have any active political role, such as stand for office, canvas on behalf of a political party or advocate publicly for a political party.

This role is located in the vicinity of the Hackney Town Hall campus, and the expectation is that you would work flexibly from the office in addition to attending evening and late night meetings.

If you want to work in a place where you can represent our values so we achieve the best for our residents, please click on the apply button below.

As a Council, our most outstanding asset is our staff, who are highly dedicated to serving our residents and committed to our goals as an organisation.

If you want to work in a place where you can represent our values so we achieve the best for our residents, please click on the apply button below.

We operate a fair and open anonymous selection process. Therefore, we do not accept supporting statements or CV’s.

To proceed with your application, you will need to create an account and submit your application.

As part of the application process, you will need to complete a number of competency based questions. These questions allow you to demonstrate your suitability for the role and provide examples of your skills, knowledge and experience outlined in the job description.

We understand the benefits of using AI in the workplace. However, if you are thinking of using this tool to submit your application, we ask you to think about what value it will add. AI tools tend to lack the personal touch and authenticity we value in candidates. We encourage you to showcase your unique knowledge and skills using your own voice.

Closing date for applications: 28 September 2025 (22:59)

Interview and assessment date: W/c 06 October 2025

We are also working towards our vision, which is to be a place for everyone; where residents and staff can be proud; a place that celebrates diversity and where everyone can feel valued, included and involved. In order to achieve this, we look for people who are: Proud; Ambitious; Pioneering; Open; Proactive; Inclusive.

Hackney Council works to eradicate discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. We also recognise that people can be disadvantaged by their social and economic circumstances, so we will also work to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage caused by social class. We also welcome those interested in flexible working. We particularly welcome applications from disabled people, as this group is currently under represented in our workforce.

The Council has a dedicated employment support service (Hackney Works), which offers Hackney residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you are thinking about applying for a job, please contact the Hackney Works team to find out what support is available: hackneyworks@hackney.gov.uk

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