Political Assistant (Conservative)

Job Description

Important Information for Current Barnet Council EmployeesWhere possible, employees who have access to Oracle are encouraged to apply via the Opportunity Marketplace (Internal Career Site). This helps to ensure applications are correctly identified as internal and avoids potential delays during the recruitment process.About Barnet CouncilBarnet is a borough with much to be proud of. Our excellent schools, vibrant town centres, vast green spaces and diverse communities all help make it a great place to live and work. As a council we want to build on these strengths as we move into the future. We are growing and developing as an organisation to meet the challenges facing our borough and we are committed to working with partner organisations and residents to make Barnet even better. As an organisation, our staff are committed to Our Values: Learning to Improve, Caring, Inclusive, Collaborative – which drive everything we do.
About the role

This is a varied and fast-moving role at the heart of the Conservative Group, supporting a wide range of councillors and working closely with the Strategic Adviser and Member Support Manager, Conservative Group Officers and Members across the Group.

In this post you will be:

• Acting as first point of contact for the opposition, supporting them with Conservative Group business.
• Leading on the work programme for the opposition, providing support to the Conservative Group.
• Interfacing between the political leadership and the Council’s corporate management structure.
• Researching, evaluating and analysing issues which are of interest, relevance and importance to members of the Group.
• Establishing and developing appropriate systems to communicate on behalf of the opposition.

This role offers significant exposure to senior elected Members, Council decision-making and the wider political, financial and legislative context facing local government. It is an excellent opportunity for someone who wants to develop their experience in politics, policy, communications and local government.

Please click here to download the Job description for this role. (Right-click and select “Open in new tab” so you can keep the job description open while completing your application)

About you

• The ideal candidate will be an outstanding adviser, with excellent organisation, communication and interpersonal skills, and the confidence to manage the competing demands of a number of elected Members.
• Experience in a political environment is valuable and desirable, but we know that strong candidates may come from a range of backgrounds. We welcome applications from anyone with a professional approach, a strong interest in public policy and local government, and the ability to communicate effectively in verbal and written form.
• You should be able to produce high-quality written material quickly and accurately, whether that is a briefing note, speech, press statement, social media post, motion, question, amendment or line to take. You will also need to be comfortable turning complex policy, governance and political issues into clear advice and practical support for councillors.
• The candidate we are looking for will need to demonstrate an understanding of what local government in London does, the aims of the Barnet Conservative Group, and how this sits within a political, financial and legislative context.
• Digital and communications skills will be important. Experience using social media, video editing, graphic design or other creative communications tools would be an advantage, particularly where these skills can help translate complex policy and political messages into clear, engaging content for residents.

This post is politically restricted and will be offered in line with current legislation governing Political Assistant posts. This is a temporary role until August 2030.
There is specific guidance on the role of political assistants which should be complied withLocal authority political assistants guidance - GOV.UK
 

What we offer 

• 31 days annual leave, plus public and bank holidays
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, which provides a valuable guaranteed income in your retirement together with security for your dependents
• A comprehensive Flexible Working Policy which supports work-life balance by empowering staff and management to make decisions around when, where, and how work is done
• A vast range of lifestyle discounts from major retailers, supermarkets, energy suppliers and more
• Broad range of payroll benefits including cycle to work, eye care vouchers, travel and gym membership
• Excellent training and development opportunities
• Employee well- being training programs including confidential employee assistance 

How to apply Read the job description and person specification before clicking ‘Apply’ to commence the online application form. If you would like any further information about the role before applying, please contact [email removed]System notice: Some dates shown on our online application system (such as “Apply Before”) appear in US date format (MM/DD/YYYY) due to Oracle system settings.Artificial intelligence (AI) can be a useful tool to support your application as a reasonable adjustment, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn, escalated to counter Fraud for further investigation and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.Barnet Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Barnet operates stringent safer recruitment procedures, this may include AI Detection Screening, Biometric ID/Right to Work Checks, Qualification and Registration Checks, Up to 6 years of Employment Data and Insights to Accelerate Screening (Konfir), Up to 5 years of Employment History References, DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) Checks, Credit Checks and Social Media, Sanctions and Occupational Health Screening.To deliver Barnet Council’s commitment to equality of opportunity in the provision of services, all staff are expected to promote equality in the workplace and in the services the Council delivers. As such we value diversity and welcome applications from all backgrounds.Barnet Council embraces all forms of flexible working (including part-time, compressed hours, and hybrid working) and is committed to offering employees a healthy work-life balance. Candidates are encouraged to talk about relevant requirements and preferences at interview. We can’t promise to give you exactly what you want, but we do promise not to judge you for asking.Barnet Council is a Disability Confident Committed Employer. We welcome and encourage job applications of all abilities. If you require any reasonable adjustments in the application or interview, please contact the lead contact on this advert. We will make reasonable adjustments to make sure our