Senior Assistant Assembly Clerk

Senior Assistant Assembly Clerk

Location: Belfast

Salary: £54,090 (pro rata)

Contract: Until 27th March 2027

Hours: Part-Time - 18.5 hours per week

Estimated Start Date: ASAP

About the Role

VANRATH are delighted to be supporting a prestigious public sector organisation in the appointment of a Senior Assistant Assembly Clerk, part-time.

Working within Parliamentary Services, this is a high-profile and intellectually demanding role supporting the effective functioning of legislative and committee business. The successful candidate will operate in a highly pressurised and scrutinised environment, providing critical support to Members, Committees and senior decision-makers.

Senior Assistant Assembly Clerks play a key role in the conduct of Assembly business, including legislative processes, committee scrutiny and procedural advice. The role may involve working across multiple business areas including Bills, Business Office and Committees.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide timely, accurate and authoritative advice and briefings on procedural, policy and legislative matters to senior decision makers such as Speaker, Committee Chairpersons and senior managers
• Support Members in the development of legislative proposals and amendments
• Prepare draft amendments, committee reports, draft speeches, speaking notes, inquiry plans and briefing materials
• Clerk committee or sub-committee meetings, offering written and oral procedural advice to Chairs and Members
• Undertaking or commissioning research to inform policy scrutiny, committee inquiries, private member's legislation or the drafting of legislative amendments.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders across government and external bodies
• Lead and support staff, ensuring delivery of high-quality services
• Contribute to corporate and directorate projects and continuous improvement initiatives
• Ensure compliance with Assembly procedures, policies and statutory requirements

Essential Criteria

Applicants must, by the closing date for applications have:

1. At least a primary degree, minimum 2:2 classification, in any subject and at least 3 years' experience in each of the areas detailed at (a) - (d).
2. Applications will be considered from applicants with formal qualifications of an equivalent or higher standard to those stated.

OR

1. At least 5 years' experience in each of the areas detailed at (a) - (d).

The experience specified above at 1. and 2. must be in the following areas:

(a) Prioritising, planning and organising a demanding and diverse workload to ensure compliance with deadlines;

(b) Managing, developing and motivating staff to ensure effective service delivery;

(c) Providing authoritative* written and oral advice** on complex or politically sensitive matters to elected representatives or senior managers;

(d) Developing and maintaining effective working relationships with key stakeholders such as senior managers, elected representatives, departmental officials, and other external stakeholders, which support the delivery of objectives.

* "authoritative" means that the written and oral advice must be coming from you in a role where you are accountable to the decision maker for the quality of your advice (i.e. you are the authority for advising the decision maker).

** "advice" must be in respect of guidance or recommendations offered with regard to prudent future action by the decision maker who is receiving the advice. Advice is not providing information or briefing.

For more information, please contact Ethan Boylan today.