Scrutiny Business Manager

This role has a starting salary of £57,868 per annum, based on a 36-hour working week.

We are excited to be hiring a new Scrutiny Business Manager to join our fantastic Democratic Services team. The team is based in Woodhatch Place, Reigate and the role is right at the heart of the council's political and strategic decision making.

This is a hybrid role, and the Council operates an agile working policy. You will be expected to be in the office on average one to two days per week and there will be opportunity to work flexibly from different locations according to business need around this.

Rewards and Benefits

• 26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
• 2 paid volunteering days plus 1 team volunteering day per year
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources

About the Team

We're a flexible, friendly team used to working together to solve problems and come up with new ideas. Our work can be high profile and subject to pressure so we always aim to support one another and share our knowledge and experience.

About the Role

Working at the heart of the decision-making process in Democratic Services, you will provide support and guidance to Members in their local, strategic and civic roles. The role will involve day-to-day contact with county councillors and senior officers.

In this challenging and varied post, you will be managing a team that supports meetings of the Council's scrutiny/select committees plus the Surrey Police and Crime Panel. This will include overseeing and advising on inquiries, carrying out research and collecting evidence, drafting reports and briefing papers, advising on policy options, and providing procedural advice to Members and officers.

In addition to this you will also be responsible coordinating task groups linked to the Council's select committees. You will also have the opportunity to co-ordinate and contribute to training for committee members and officers across the organisation.

Working as part of the Democratic Services Senior Management Team, the post holder is responsible for the leadership and strategic direction of the Democratic Services function. This post is varied and requires the holder to use their initiative and be a practical problem solver. A can-do attitude alongside excellent communication skills is vital.

Shortlisting Criteria

To be considered for shortlisting for this position, your application will clearly evidence the following:

• Excellent political awareness, influencing and negotiating skills.
• The ability to manage a diverse workload to deadlines, develop and work to agreed procedures and translate complex information into clear, concise reports will be vital.
• Strong research, analytical and policy development skills.
• Experience of working with councillors and an understanding of their support needs.
• An understanding of the law relating to local government decision making and scrutiny, political management issues and culture.
• Experience of line management and supporting teams to reach their full potential.

You will also need sound judgement, good networking skills and a creative, innovative approach to the job. For more information please refer to the full job profile attached.

This post has been designated as a politically restricted post in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

Contact us

Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 03/03/2023 with interviews planned for 22/03/2024. We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.

Our Commitment

Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applications where:

• The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
• The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form

Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.