About us
The Local Government Association (LGA) is the national membership body for local authorities. We work on behalf of our member councils to support, promote and improve local government.
We are a politically led, cross-party organisation that works on behalf of councils to ensure local government has a strong, credible voice with national government. We influence and set the political agenda on the issues that matter to councils to help them deliver local solutions to national problems.
We also provide councils with the tools and resources to respond to challenges present and emerging, and support improvement across the sector.
About the role
The LGA is looking to recruit an Assistant Member Services Manager to advise on and provide comprehensive support to the LGA’s political governance arrangements. The role is based at the LGA’s headquarters in Westminster, where most formal meetings take place and offers a great deal of scope for professional development. You will be responsible for looking after some of the LGA's highest profile meetings and will line manage three staff.
About you
You will have a proven track record of managing formal meetings in a local authority, membership or similar organisation; the ability to interpret and apply legislation; awareness of and an interest in current affairs; high-level communication and writing skills; excellent organisational skills; the ability to consistently meet demanding deadlines in a pressurised environment; and to work effectively in a complex, political and high-profile organisation.
Experience of line management in a local authority democratic services team would be advantageous, but not necessary. You must also be able to manage the interface between senior officers and elected representatives with tact and diplomacy and have a firm grasp of the use and application of IT systems, ideally including committee management software.
You must have the right to work in the UK, the LGA are unfortunately unable to offer sponsorship visas. Evidence for the right to work in the UK will be requested at the interview stage.
To apply
If you would like to be considered for the role, please complete the online form and include a supporting statement detailing how you meet the criteria for the role before the closing date.
We are specifically assessing candidates against the following criteria:
- Experience of working in a democratic services or committee management environment in either a local authority, a membership organisation or other similar public body.
- Excellent communicator able to summarise and present complex discussions in a clear and comprehensible way.
- Structured approach with attention to detail, and ability to meet tight deadlines.
- Supportive manager with a positive and constructive approach able to manage, develop and motivate staff to encourage teamwork and to achieve good performance.
- Politically sensitive and able build credible relationships with elected members.
- Effective networker, able to work across organisational boundaries and with people at all levels.
Closing Date: 5pm, Tuesday 2 April
Interview Date: Thursday 11 April
At the LGA we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our recruitment decisions are based on fair, open competition, with appointment on merit. The LGA are proud to be awarded a “Disability Confident Leader”. If you are require an reasonable adjustment, which is a change to the format or conditions of the recruitment process to accommodate any disability-related needs you may have. Please contact us via HRandPayroll@local.gov.uk
Our benefits
- LGA annual leave entitlement is 29 days, rising to 31 days after three years’ service and to 33 days after five years’ service, plus all UK public holidays (pro rata for fixed term and part time contracts).
- Flexible & agile working – office-based staff are required to work in the LGA’s London office two days per week as a minimum, subject to business need and this may vary significantly between different roles and from week to week.
- Future development – face-to-face and virtual courses are scheduled in line with developmental goals
- The LGA offers 24/7 access to a free, confidential employee assistance programme managed by Health Assured. This service is also available for Dependants.
- Family friendly policies
For more of LGA’s benefits and working with us, please view our webpage https://www.local.gov.uk/benefits-and-working-lga
Our values & behaviours
Our Values and Behaviours are there to give us an understanding of who we are as an organisation and who we want to be. They are a framework to help us understand:
- how we work with each other
- how we work with our members and stakeholders
- our expectations for ourselves and each other
Our values are:
Inclusive - We ensure that our work is inclusive of all voices.
Ambitious - We are ambitious for councils and their communities and are committed to striving for excellence in all that we do to support our colleagues, our membership and the sector to deliver the best possible outcomes.
Collaborative - We bring together the expertise and skills needed, working as one team.