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Assistant Clerk

Job description

Job: Assistant Clerk, Clerking

Type: Temporary

Location: Greater Belfast

Salary: £19.06 PH

Hours of work: 37.5 Hours Per Week (Monday- Friday) Flexible working between 8am - 6pm

Job Purpose

The Assistant Clerk role supports the legislative process, and services and supports committees of the Assembly and plenary meetings of the client. This role involves working frequently with Members of the Legislative Members, as well as a range of other internal and external stakeholders.

The role of an Assistant Clerk is both demanding and challenging, operating as it does in a highly pressurised and scrutinised environment, and on occasion outside of normal business hours.

Whilst this competition will be used to fill posts within the client’s services, the merit list may also be used to fill other similar roles at the same grade.

Main duties and responsibilities of the job.

The main duties and responsibilities of the job:

  • Assisting the Clerk/Senior Assistant Clerk(s) in developing and providing briefing papers and advice on procedural matters relating to the management of business.
  • Undertaking research and investigatory work, providing timely and accurate analysis and recommendations to assist with complex issues relating to plenary and committee scrutiny of legislation, policies, reports, and briefing documents.
  • Supporting processing of primary legislation at each stage, including monitoring plenary, processing amendments, and providing advice and draft briefing on procedural issues for the Clerk/Senior Assistant Clerk, facilitating the tabling of amendments and the publication of Bills and Acts.
  • Engaging with departments and other stakeholders to manage issues in the conduct of plenary proceedings, the management of legislation and the conduct of committee business under the direction of the Clerk/Senior Assistant Clerk.
  • Supporting plenary sittings, including monitoring, and overseeing the progress of those sittings, taking remedial action where necessary to ensure their smooth conduct; and reviewing those sittings to identify issues which need to be considered and addressed. Preparing initial drafts of key plenary and Committee documents, speeches for Members etc.
  • Ensuring the accurate and timely production of minutes for Committee meetings for publication, to reflect the key decisions and actions of the Committee.
  • Taking part, as required, in meetings and discussions with Committee Chairs and Members.

Criteria:

Applicants for the post must, by the closing date for applications, have:

  • At least a primary degree, minimum 2.2 classification, in any subject. Applications will be considered from applicants with formal qualifications of an equivalent or higher standard to those stated.

  • A thorough understanding of the role and functions of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the political environment in which it operates including the current challenges facing the Assembly.

AND

At least 3 years’ experience of:

  • Leading and managing individual staff members or a team of staff to ensure the quality, accuracy and timeliness of work.

  • Analysing information from a range of sources to develop high quality written documents which support and inform effective decision making.

  • Planning and organising a diverse workload, delivering high quality work to tight deadlines and in line with organisational policy and procedures.

  • Developing and maintaining effective working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders such as colleagues, managers, elected representatives, departmental officials, and other external stakeholders to ensure a high quality service and achieve tight deadlines.

At least five years’ experience in each of the areas detailed at (a) - (d) above.

Apply

To apply for this position please send your CV to Jamie.winchester@mparecruitment.co.uk

Or for further information and a confidential discussion on this post please call Jamie at our Belfast office on 028 9521 1111.

Please ensure your CV is accurate and update with full personal contact details, education history, qualifications, and employment history.

MPA Recruitment are operating as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.

MPA are committed to providing equality of opportunity in employment and welcome applications from all suitably qualified applicants irrespective of gender, marital or family status, religious belief, political opinion, disability, age, race, nationality, or sexual orientation.