Youth Council and Governance Support Officer

• Mid Suffolk District Council
• Address: Endeavour House, 8 Russell Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 2BX
• Salary: £31,537 - £36,363 per annum (pro rata for part time)
• Hours: Full Time, 37 hours per week
• Contract: Permanent

This role is open to full time, part time, and job share applications, all of which will be assessed equally.

Join our team

We are seeking a dynamic and politically astute Youth Council and Governance Support Officer to support the establishment and management of the Mid Suffolk Youth Council.

If you share our values and you are motivated to make a difference for our residents, clients, and communities, we would love to hear from you.

About the role

Launched last year by Mid Suffolk District Council, the Youth Council is designed to give young people a chance to have their voice heard and get involved in local politics.

The initiative was driven by research showing the disconnect between young people and politics, with almost three quarters of those asked believing that politics should be taught more in schools or colleges.

Working in our Democratic Services team, you will report to the Lead Governance Officer for Scrutiny and Projects.

In this exciting new role, you will be responsible for:

• liaising with key stakeholders

• carrying out research

• managing and clerking meetings of the youth council

• providing governance advice to councillors and youth councillors

• ensuring the youth council operates appropriately and in line with expectations

In addition, you will be expected to support the broader democratic services team, providing cover and capacity where appropriate.

About you

This is an exciting opportunity for somebody with a passion for local politics to help build something innovative from the ground up, generating enthusiasm and engagement amongst young people towards our democratic processes.

To be successful, you will demonstrate

• a keen interest in politics and local democracy
• excellent networking and communication skills
• good knowledge of research sources and techniques
• broad understanding of the local government system and the local member role
• strong administrative, clerical, IT and organisational skills
• real energy and drive to support the democratic process in the local community

This is a hybrid role, enabling you to work from home and from our office in Endeavour House (Ipswich) on a flexible arrangement suited around working patterns.

At Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils we are passionate about building communities that people want to live, work, visit and invest in.

We serve around 200,000 residents across our two districts and are well known for our collaboration and partnership working across public, private and voluntary sectors.

We believe that the heart of Suffolk is an incredibly special place to live and work, with:

• 60 conservation areas
• two National Landscapes
• many picturesque market towns

It is no surprise we are ranked among the top 50 places to live in the UK (United Kingdom).

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Generous leave entitlement (26 days a year, rising to 31 days after 5 years).
• Competitive Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Wellbeing Support and Employee Assistance Programs.
• Private Health Care Options.
• Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Scheme.
• Paid volunteering days.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements (Business needs permitting).
• Great learning and development opportunities.

For more information, visit our Employee Benefits page.

Our ways of working

We believe work is what we do, not just where we go.

We work in a hybrid way, with a mix of office, home, and remote based working (Business need permitting). Our hybrid working arrangements support flexibility and collaboration, helping our teams to thrive.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, providing opportunity and ambition for all, supporting and enabling our people to deliver the best possible services for our residents.

For more information

For an informal discussion about this role, please contact Alicia Norman, Lead Governance Officer – Scrutiny and Projects, by email: ***email_hidden*** or by telephone: 01473 296384.

Please read the Job Description and Person Specification.pdf before applying for this job opportunity.

Closing date: 5.00pm, 30 June 2026.

How to apply

Please ensure your:

• application form is fully completed, including employment and education history
• supporting statement clearly addresses how you meet the criteria in the Person Specification

This authority 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. DBS checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.

How to apply

Step 1 - read the advert and the Job Description and Person Specification (JD and PS).

Step 2 - complete the Supporting Statement template

Step 3 - complete the online application and upload your statement.

Your statement needs to indicate how you meet the criteria in the ‘Person specification ’ section of the (JD and PS)

Your statement should:

• Be no more than 2 sides of A4
• use the template provided (other formats will not be accepted)
• be uploaded on your online application, as without this, your interest will not be progressed.