Local government officer

You would plan and supervise important public services like education and housing. You’d make sure that people get good services that meet their needs and are value for money. The councillors - who are elected by local people - will decide the aims of the council and it would be your job to work out how to achieve these aims. 

You would deal with people from a wide variety of backgrounds. You could work in a variety of departments and roles, such as planning the services, or leading a team which puts the plans into action. You would have to stick to budgets and make sure the money is spent carefully. 

Your day-to-day tasks would vary according to the department you work in and your level of responsibility.

You could:

• Analyse and interpret information

• Use information to plan services and projects

• Set up and lead projects

• Check the progress of projects

• Write reports and briefing papers for colleagues and councillors

• Deal with enquiries and advise colleagues

• Do presentations at meetings

• Supervise administrative work and manage clerical staff

• Keep records

• Prepare and manage contracts

• Liaise with other public agencies

• Oversee budgets and funding

• Institute of Leadership and Management - Learning and development

• Institute of Administrative Management - Development for professional administrators, managers, and and business leaders

• Chartered Governance Institute - Trains, informs and represents the interests of governance professionals across all sectors

• Association of Democratic Services Officers - Professional association for people involved in running local government bodies

• Chartered Management Institute - support and training to improve management skills

• Convention of Scottish Local Authorities - About Scottish local government