Scrutiny Officer

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council,

Sandwell Council’s Democratic Services Division is seeking an enthusiastic, driven and experienced Scrutiny Officer to support the effective delivery and continuous improvement of the Council’s overview and scrutiny function. This role plays a vital part in strengthening democratic accountability, supporting Elected Members to challenge, review and influence decision‑making, and helping to improve outcomes for residents.

You will work closely with Members, senior officers and external partners in a complex political environment, providing high‑quality professional advice, co‑ordinating scrutiny activity and ensuring the Council’s scrutiny arrangements operate effectively and transparently.

In this role you will:

Lead on the delivery and continuous improvement of the Council’s scrutiny function, supporting Members to challenge, question and evaluate policies, performance and strategic priorities Support the Statutory Scrutiny Officer on all aspects of scrutiny, including the development of work programmes, co‑ordination of reviews, evidence gathering and stakeholder engagement Monitor, track and evaluate scrutiny recommendations and their impact, including preparing the annual scrutiny update report to Council Provide high‑quality professional advice and support to scrutiny committees, task and finish groups and individual Members Contribute to the design and delivery of an effective Member development programme, supporting learning and continuous improvement.

Attributes that you would bring to the role:

Strong experience of local government committee administration, with a comprehensive understanding of overview and scrutiny legislation and practice The ability to provide clear, confident and impartial advice to Elected Members and officers Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and work flexibly in a fast‑paced environment A high level of attention to detail, with a commitment to producing accurate, high‑quality work and reports

Why Sandwell Council?

At Sandwell Council, our work has a real impact. We are proud to be a values‑led organisation that supports its employees with excellent benefits, a competitive remuneration package, and a strong focus on development. By joining us, you’ll play a key role in delivering services that make a real and lasting difference to thousands of people across the borough.

Benefits that our employees enjoy:

Competitive market salary and 31 Days Annual leave (Excluding bank holidays) Local Government Pension Scheme Hybrid Working and Flexible working options Fantastic training and development opportunities A supportive, inclusive and ambitious working environment Interviews will take place week commencing 18 May 2026.

Please submit a CV and supporting statement to Stephnie_Hancock@sandwell.gov.uk before the closing date.

We reserve the right to close vacancies prior to their advertised date if we receive a large number of applications. Therefore, you are strongly advised to submit your CV as soon as possible. When submitting your CV and supporting statement, please refer to the supporting documents attached.

If you are an internal candidate and currently at risk, please let the recruiting manager know.

If you wish to apply as Care Leaver or a Disability Confident candidate, please make sure to state this when submitting your CV.

If you have a disability and require assistance in submitting your CV, please contact Stephnie_Hancock@sandwell.gov.uk

For more information about working for Sandwell Council, our recruitment process and our offer to you please visit https://www.sandwell.gov.uk/counciljobs

Click here to find out more about our One Team Framework: Values and Behaviours

https://www.sandwell.gov.uk/WeAreSandwell/council/story

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