Job Description
Contract Type: Permanent
Working Hours: 37 hours per week
Worker Type: Hybrid Worker
Salary: Starting Salary is £44,711 (Level one) rising to £47,754 per annum (pro rata for part-time)
Location: Loxley House, Station Street, Nottingham, NG2 3NG
We’ve got an exciting opportunity available for talented individuals to join our workforce - perhaps this is the opportunity you’ve been looking for? Read on to find out more…
Working for Nottingham City Council has great benefits. As well as competitive pay, great leave entitlement and access to a generous pension scheme, we strive to create an innovative, inclusive and progressive work culture where everyone is supported to do and be their very best.
In return, we are looking for people like you - people who are innovative, driven and committed to serving and improving Nottingham. So, if you are passionate about making a difference to the lives of those who live and work in our city, we want to hear from you.
* You can read more about the different benefits offered to colleagues working for Nottingham City Council here .
About The Role
The Governance Services Team is at the heart of the Council’s democratic processes, ensuring that governance and decision-making arrangements are of a high standard in which councillors, citizens and other stakeholders can have confidence. We work closely with elected councillors and colleagues to ensure that the Council’s governance framework is transparent, effective, legally compliant, and supports robust and efficient decision making that contributes towards achieving the Council’s objectives. We are a proactive and forward-thinking team, integral to the Council’s current programme of improvement. The importance of good governance has a high profile within the organisation and this is an opportunity to be part of team that is valued and has scope to drive forward improvements in local decision making.
We are looking for a Senior Governance Officer to work with the Head of Governance and another Senior Governance Officer to provide dynamic leadership to the Team and drive forward service improvement and associated project activity. The role includes providing advice to senior officers, councillors and other stakeholders on complex governance matters, and the right candidate will need to have experience of working in a local authority democratic services environment and comprehensive knowledge of law and procedures governing the conduct of meetings, council constitutions and school appeals. Knowledge and experience in using the Modern.Gov committee management system would be desirable but is not essential.
The Role Includes
- leading and line managing the team of Governance Officers by setting the direction for the Service, motivating and encouraging creativity in individuals and driving service improvement through effective performance management;
- being responsible for the proactive development and delivery of effective, modern, fit for purpose services in line with all legislative requirements, statutory and other guidance and principles of best practice;
- being responsible for the development and maintenance of the Council’s Constitution ensuring that it is compliant with the law, supports the corporate priorities and provides an efficient framework within the Council can operate;
- leading on, and being responsible for the development, management and implementation of a range of governance related project work;
- leading and developing the Schools Appeals Services, overseeing arrangements for the administration of appeals, the recruitment and training of Panel Members and the clerking of hearings, ensuring all are in line with the relevant codes and managing the sold School Appeals Service;
- representing the Service at a senior level, deputising for the Head of Governance when required.
About You
The ideal candidate will have:
- comprehensive knowledge, and experience of applying local authority governance law and procedures including those which govern the conduct of meetings and council decision making;
- the ability to successfully lead teams and manage the work of others to deliver agreed objectives in the context of a fast-paced and changing environment;
- the ability to provide accurate and credible advice to others, including in relation to complex legal or constitutional matters
- the ability to build effective working relationships with colleagues, councillors and partners, operating with political awareness and an appreciation of the sensitivity of issues within a political environment.
- the ability to manage a complex workload and work under own initiative, with the flexibility necessary to successfully manage changing priorities and adjust plans in line with changing drivers and influences.
- experience in leading change programmes and creating a culture of continuous improvement.
The majority of committee meetings are held during the day at the Council’s offices in Nottingham City Centre and attendance in the office for team collaboration is required atleast one day per week. Working from home is supported on other days/times. Occasional travel to meetings in other locations may be required and the ability to drive with access to a car is desirable.
This post is politically restricted.
You can find the job description for this post here
At Nottingham City Council we believe that work is what you do, not where you do it. We offer different working arrangements, depending on the role, including hybrid working. Further information on Worker Types and what these mean in terms of how and where you work can be found on the
additional information for applicants page.
For informal enquiries please contact Jane Garrard, Head of Governance, by telephone on 0115 8764315 or by email at
[email protected]Closing Date: 6th July 2025
Please note there may be occasions where we close the advert before the closing date and we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
Interviews will be held: w/c 14th July
If you have any technical issues when completing your application, please contact our Employee Service Centre: https://emss.org.uk/support
By applying to this job, you agree to our Terms & Conditions.
About Us
Thank you for your interest in working for Nottingham City Council. As one of the largest employers in Nottingham we offer a wide range of roles across a range of services. In return for your skill, drive and commitment to serving the people of Nottingham, we can help you to develop an exciting and rewarding career, with access to the following benefits.
In addition to working within a great team and a competitive salary you will have access to:
- 26 days annual leave (rising to 33 days after 5 years’ service) + bank holidays with the ability to buy additional leave annually
- Access to a generous, defined benefit pension scheme offering 17.9%
- Smart Working – to support your work life balance
- Health and wellbeing benefits including access to our Employee Assistance Programme
- Discounted membership at selected local sports and fitness centres, cinema, shopping and much more!
Nottingham City Council is committed to recruiting a talented workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We are a fair and inclusive employer and welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and with different abilities. We recruit for diversity and value difference.
We particularly want to hear from you if you are from Minority Ethnic communities, identify within the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer+ community (LGBTQ+) and if you are Disabled - these groups of people are underrepresented in our workforce, and we’d like to reflect our local population more through our recruitment processes.
We are supportive of flexible working arrangements wherever possible and we would encourage you to discuss this with us during the selection process, should this be something you are interested in.
