Location: Westminster, In-office but open to home based

Contract type: Permanent 

About us

The Local Government Association (LGA) is the national membership body for local authorities. We work on behalf of our member councils to support, promote and improve local government.  

We are a politically led, cross-party organisation that works on behalf of councils to ensure local government has a strong, credible voice with national government. We influence and set the political agenda on the issues that matter to councils to help them deliver local solutions to national problems.  

We also provide councils with the tools and resources to respond to challenges present and emerging, and support improvement across the sector. 

We value diversity and encourage applications from all sections of the community to this high-profile role.

About the role

Our five group offices – Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat, Independent and Reform UK - support and advocate on behalf of councillors across England and Wales. As Political Adviser for the Independent Group Office, you will work specifically with Independent, Green Party, Resident Association, Plaid Cymru and smaller party councillors. 

We are a politically led organisation and are looking for a Political Adviser to join the team in our Independent Group Office. You will work in a fast paced, high-pressure environment, advising, supporting and advocating for our councillors, working on a daily basis with our members, council leaders, MPs and members of the House of Lords, as well as colleagues across the LGA, on a range of important local government issues. 

This is a role where no two days are the same but as the political landscape continues to change and develop, there has never been a more exciting time to work for us.

About you

In the fast paced, ever-changing world of local government, we are looking for an organised and motivated self-starter who can confidently and sensitively work with councillors across a range of political views.

You will have expertise in working in a political environment, and a good understanding of local government, local political procedures, decision-making and processes, democracy, public policy work and parliamentary procedures. You will have excellent written and oral communication skills, project management skills and a very high degree of political sensitivity and understanding. You will need to be flexible, adaptable, able to think on your feet and prepared to give clear and authoritative advice, at times substituting for the Head of Group Office.

You must have the right to work in the UK, the LGA are unfortunately unable to offer sponsorship visas. Evidence for the right to work in the UK will be requested at the interview stage. 

To apply

If you would like to be considered for the role, please complete the online form and include a supporting statement detailing how you meet the criteria for the role before the closing date.

We are specifically assessing candidates against the following criteria:

1. Expertise in working in a political environment and with politicians 

2. Expertise in local government, particularly the role of councillors in decision-making and local leadership

3. Experience of successful project and programme management as well as utilising data, intelligence and technology

4. Evidence of excellent written and communication skills with an ability to synthesise complex information, including press releases, briefings, articles, and newsletters

5. Organisational skills to manage multiple and complex workloads and priorities

6. Ability to work collaboratively and constructively as a member of a team and across multiple teams

Political Adviser - Independent Group Office - JD

Closing Date: 5pm, 6 August 2025

Interview Date:  Thursday 14 August, interviews will be in-person at the LGA Offices, 18 Smith Square, London.

We use anonymous recruitment, which is the practice of hiding candidates’ identities. This process involves removing any identifying information from candidates’ applications which includes names.

At the LGA we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our recruitment decisions are based on fair, open competition, with appointment on merit.  

The LGA are proud to be awarded a “Disability Confident Leader”.  Please contact us via Recruitment@local.gov.uk if you require a reasonable adjustment, which is a change to the format or conditions of the recruitment process to accommodate any disability-related needs you may have.

Our benefits

• LGA annual leave entitlement is 29 days, rising to 31 days after three years’ service and to 33 days after five years’ service, plus all UK public holidays (pro rata for fixed term and part time contracts).*

• Flexible & agile working – office-based staff are required to work in the LGA’s London office two days per week as a minimum, subject to business need and this may vary significantly between different roles and from week to week.

• Future development – face-to-face and virtual courses are scheduled in line with developmental goals

• The LGA offers 24/7 access to a free, confidential employee assistance programme managed by Health Assured. This service is also available for Dependants.

• Family friendly policies

For more of LGA’s benefits and working with us, please view our webpage https://www.local.gov.uk/benefits-and-working-lga

Our values & behaviours

Our Values and Behaviours are there to give us an understanding of who we are as an organisation and who we want to be. They are a framework to help us understand:

• how we work with each other

• how we work with our members and stakeholders

• our expectations for ourselves and each other

Our values are:

Collaboration – We value collaboration, to pursue shared goals by encouraging and utilising diverse perspectives and working with internal and external colleagues across the organisation.

Inclusion – We value inclusion, where everyone feels valued, understood, and supported to contribute meaningfully.

Ambition – We value ambition, reflecting our desire to achieve best possible outcomes for local government, communities, and individuals.

Respect – We value respect, to ensure fairness, recognition, and shared accountability.