Mayor’s Political Assistant

Fixed-Term/Secondment Opportunity until 08 May 2026

Elected in November 2023, Caroline Woodley is the first woman directly elected Mayor of Hackney. The Mayor is looking to recruit to the Mayor’s team ahead of the May 2026 local election.

As Political Assistant to the Mayor you will liaise closely with the Mayor, politicians across Hackney Council, senior officers and their teams, to drive forward the Mayoral priorities and work to ensure the Mayoral agenda reaches Hackney residents. You will be operating as part of a strong team working to support the Mayor & Cabinet in what is a fast paced, politically sensitive environment.

You will need to be a highly motivated, proactive individual with strong communication skills. You will have a detailed knowledge of the current issues facing local authorities in London, and experience of working in politics with a proven record of providing advice and building relationships at a senior level. You will also have an interest in and commitment to the political agenda of the Labour Party. Experience of working under pressure in a political environment and at a high level is desirable, as is experience of public affairs and stakeholder engagement.

Hackney is one of the most dynamic and progressive local authorities in the UK. We are a resilient, vibrant, and creative borough in the heart of London, with strong, diverse communities and a powerful set of shared values.

Over the past twenty years, the Council has built up first-class services, outstanding public infrastructure, and a reputation for excellence, innovation, and ambition. We are leading the way on essential work such as our fight for equity in Hackney with a particular focus on becoming an actively anti-racist borough. But the work doesn’t stop there, we are proactive in our approach to bringing fairness to all aspects of life including gender, neurodiversity and across the poverty divide.

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: 01 June 2025 (22:59)

Interview date: W/c 23 June 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