Opportunities

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Parish Clerk to join our dynamic and forward-thinking Parish Council. Arborfield and Newland Parish Council (the Council) is seeking a proactive and dedicated individual to play a pivotal role in the continued growth and development of our community, the

Parish of Arborfield and all our residents. Our Council seeks to be active, responsive to the needs of the community, a strong advocate for the Parish in the wider Borough and creative in the use of our Parish owned assets.

Key Responsibilities:

Administrative Excellence: Manage the day-to-day administrative functions of the Council, including organizing meetings, preparing agendas, maintaining accurate records and ensuring the Council complies with its policies and standing orders.

Project Management: Collaborate with the councillors, the Responsible Financial Officer (RFO) and local organizations on various initiatives and projects, including the Council’s environmental projects, demonstrating a commitment to sustainable practices and environmental stewardship.

Community Engagement: Foster positive relationships with the community, engaging residents, responding promptly to issues, and encouraging their participation in Council activities and projects.

Borough Council engagement: Develop and maintain positive relationships with key departments and officers at Wokingham Borough Council and represent the needs of Arborfield in Borough policy; be an active voice in the Borough clerks’ forum and represent the Council in any Borough-Parish

liaison activities.

Financial Management: Assist the RFO in the preparation of budgets, financial reports, and grant applications. Have sufficient understanding of the accounting processes to stand-in for the RFO when required.

Policy Implementation: Work closely with councillors to implement Council policies, supporting

them in their decision-making processes and preparing reports for councillors based on input from external consultants, the Borough Council and/or supplier quotations.

Communication Skills: Effectively communicate Council decisions, policies, and initiatives to the community through various channels, including the Council website, the Arborfield News, social media, newsletters, and public meetings.

People Management: Manage the Council’s employees and contractors effectively and efficiently to ensure work tasks are completed on time. Foster a collaborative and positive working environment and keep all employees informed about the Council’s activities.

Key Characteristics:

Proactive: Demonstrate a proactive approach to problem-solving, identifying opportunities for improvement, and taking initiative to implement positive change within the community.

Forward-Looking: Embrace a forward-looking mindset, staying ahead of emerging trends, technologies, and best practices, especially in the areas of administrative efficiency, environmental sustainability and community development.

Collaborative: Exhibit excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups, including councillors, community members, and external stakeholders.

Passionate: Show passion for environmental projects and community development, advocating for sustainable practices and inspiring others to get involved.

Organized: Possess strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently, ensuring that deadlines are met.

Adaptable: Be adaptable and open-minded, willing to embrace new challenges and adjust strategies as the needs of the community evolve.

Experience:

It is not essential that you have previously worked as a Parish Clerk but you should have

demonstrable experience of self-management, organisational skills, office administration and proactive task management from inception to completion.

Training will be provided via the National Association of Local Government (NALC) and Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC) for successful candidates without experience as a Parish Clerk.

Candidates must be comfortable working alone without direct supervision. While the Councillors will provide support, they are all volunteers and not always available during office hours, therefore the Parish Clerk needs to be able to manage their own workload, seeing tasks through to completion independently.

Working hours and location

The role is 24 hours per week with core hours from 09:00 to 11:00 four days per week in the Council offices in Arborfield and mandatory attendance at evening meetings of the Council once per month, the Parks Committee alternative months and the Exec Committee and Finance Committee once per quarter. Evening meetings start at 19:30 in Arborfield Pavilion and last approximately two hours.

The balance of the hours can be flexible within a working pattern agreed in advance with the Executive Committee.

Salary and benefits

Salary follows the Local Council pay matrix and will be based on the successful candidate’s experience and qualifications.

14.5 working days holiday per year, plus bank holidays and two statutory days.

Auto-enrolment in Council pension scheme including Council matching contributions up to 6% of base salary.

Application process

If you are a dedicated individual with a passion for community development, and administrative

excellence, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity. To apply, please submit your CV and a cover letter outlining your relevant experience and explaining why you are the ideal candidate for this position to [email protected] by 15 November 2023.

Equal opportunity employer

Arborfield and Newland Parish Council is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications

from candidates of all backgrounds. All applicants must have the right to live and work in the UK and successful candidates may be subject to a DBS check.