Jobs

We're looking for an Overview and Scrutiny Officer to join our team and play a key role in supporting elected members to review, challenge and influence policies, services and decisions that affect communities across County Durham.

ABOUT THE ROLE
This is a varied and rewarding role at the heart of local democracy. You'll work closely with councillors, senior officers, partner organisations and local communities, helping to ensure that scrutiny activity leads to better outcomes for residents.

You'll support the work of Overview and Scrutiny Committees and the Police and Crime Panel by managing reviews, coordinating investigations, gathering and analysing evidence, and preparing high-quality reports that inform decision-making and service improvement.

No two days are the same. One day you could be researching national policy developments, the next facilitating engagement with local communities, presenting findings to members, or working with partners to shape future work programmes.

WHAT IS INVOLVED?
In this role you will:

• Manage and support in-depth scrutiny reviews, working groups and task and finish groups.
• Research and analyse complex information, performance data and budget information.
• Produce clear, evidence-based reports, briefings and recommendations.
• Support elected members to effectively scrutinise policies, services and performance.
• Build positive relationships with council services, partner organisations and community stakeholders.
• Facilitate public engagement to ensure local voices help shape policy development and service improvement.
• Support the work of the Police and Crime Panel and contributing to regional scrutiny activity.
• Promote innovation, best practice and continuous improvement within the Overview and Scrutiny function.

WHAT WILL I NEED?
We're seeking a motivated and politically aware individual who can balance competing priorities while maintaining excellent attention to detail.

You'll need:

• Strong research, analytical and report-writing skills.
• The ability to interpret complex information and present it clearly to a range of audiences.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Experience of working collaboratively with senior leaders, elected members or partner organisations.Please refer to the attached person specification for the full criteria

 
This is an opportunity to make a genuine difference by influencing how services are delivered and improved across County Durham. You'll join a supportive team, work on issues that matter to local people, and contribute directly to shaping the future of the county.

If you're passionate about evidence-based decision making, public service improvement and helping communities have a voice, we'd love to hear from you.

INTERVIEWS
Interviews will be held week commencing 17th August 2026.
 
We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked after young person, care leaver or a veteran.
 
OUR OFFER TO YOU
We offer a competitive rewards package that includes attractive salaries, a generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days (rising to 32 after five years’ continuous local government service), membership of the excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme, and a range of flexible working arrangements including hybrid working (home and office) where applicable. Explore the full range of rewards and benefits on our website

Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions.
 
EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION
We are a proud equal opportunities employer and believe a diverse workforce brings fresh ideas and drives service improvement. We welcome applications from everyone and make employment decisions based on skills and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we actively encourage applications from disabled and neurodivergent people and offer support throughout the recruitment process.
 
HOW TO APPLY 
Please note, we do not accept CVs. All applications must be submitted online via the Northeast Jobs portal. Use the ‘Person Specification’ section of the form to clearly demonstrate how you meet the essential (and where possible, desirable) criteria. Applications that do not evidence the essential requirements will not be shortlisted.

Please visit our website to understand our position on using AI to support your application and for guidance on completing your application.
 
If you require assistance when applying for this role, please contact our Recruitment Helpdesk on 03000 26 27 27, or via email RecruitmentCES@durham.gov.uk
 
All correspondence relating to your application will be sent from donotreply@northeastjobs.org.uk. Kindly check your spam/junk folder regularly to ensure you don’t miss any updates.
 
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Company: Durham County Council

Salary: £38,220 to £41,771 p.a. Pay Award Pending

Location: Durham, Durham

Sector: Education

Job Role: Officer