Job Introduction
The starting salary for this role is £34,660 per annum, based on a 36 hour week.
Do you have a genuine passion for people and their life events? Do you want to work in a dedicated and rewarding environment?
Surrey Registration Service are looking to recruit a permanent full time Senior Registration Office (Registrar of Births, Deaths & Marriages) to join our friendly team, who are currently located at Guildford Register Office, Artington House, 42 Portsmouth Road, Guildford GU2 4DZ until its planned closure in October 2026. Following this, transactional registration services will transition to Library Hubs in Guildford, Camberley, Farnham, and Woking, supporting a modernised and more accessible service delivery model.
This role will be primarily based at Guildford Library, working Monday to Friday from 08:50 to 17:00. However, you will be expected to demonstrate flexibility by working across multiple locations to meet service delivery needs, including Camberley, Farnham and Woking as needed. Under arrangements for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), the majority of our service will be disaggregated into two new registration districts for East Surrey and West Surrey. Under the TUPE arrangements for LGR, this post will become the statutory Registrar for Births, Deaths and Marriages for the newly established West Surrey Registration District.
Our Offer to You
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26 days’ holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years’ service
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Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
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A generous local government salary related pension
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Up to 5 days of carer’s leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
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Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
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An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
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Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
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Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
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A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents
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Annual staff conference
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Opportunities to visit key stake holders as part of the enhanced training
About the Role
Surrey Registration Service is currently responsible for the registration of 19,000 births, 11,000 deaths and 3,500 civil marriages and partnerships occurring in the county of Surrey each year.
As a Registrar, you will play a vital role in delivering a statutory service that supports residents at some of the most significant moments in their lives. Working in accordance with the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 and associated legislation, you will be personally responsible for maintaining the accuracy and security of registration records, register pages, stock and daily accounts. This is a position that carries significant legal responsibility, requiring exceptional attention to detail, professionalism and a commitment to maintaining the highest standards of accuracy and compliance.
In this varied role, you will register births, deaths and still-births, take notices of marriage and civil partnership, issue birth, death and marriage certificates, collect and submit statistics to the General Register Office, and process payments for certificate copies. You will also manage the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) triaging process and provide guidance and training to Registration Support Officers where required.
Alongside your registration duties, you will be responsible for managing registration stock and records, issuing stock to deputies, completing daily account reconciliations and annual stock audits, and ensuring deputy registrations are checked for accuracy. You will support the development of colleagues through training, one-to-one meetings and performance conversations, helping to maintain a high-performing and compliant team.
You will also provide operational support across the wider service, including covering the Technical Manager role during periods of absence. This may involve undertaking registrations and conducting ceremonies, including some out-of-hours work when required. With legislative changes anticipated from November 2026, you will play an important role in supporting the service to adapt to new ways of working while continuing to deliver an excellent experience for residents.
Shortlisting Criteria
In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours:
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Highly organised and dependable team player with excellent time management skills, strong personal accountability, and a flexible, positive approach to work.
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Demonstrates a high level of accuracy and attention to detail in all aspects of their work.
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Fully trained and competent in registering births, deaths and stillbirths, taking notice of marriages and civil partnerships, and deputising for the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages (RBD).
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Strong understanding of statutory registration responsibilities, including maintaining registers, managing notices, stock control, financial accounts, and compliance requirements.
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Proficient in using IT systems, including Microsoft Word, Excel, electronic diaries, booking systems, and bespoke registration software.
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Knowledge of Data (Use and Access) legislation, Data Governance requirements, and the application of registration legislation, with the confidence to apply rules and legal requirements appropriately.
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Able to work effectively under pressure, manage services independently from a library hub, collaborate with colleagues across Surrey, and communicate with tact, patience, empathy and professionalism when supporting people from diverse backgrounds, including those who may be distressed.
You must hold a full driving licence with appropriate business insurance cover and have the use of a car. You may be required to travel anywhere in Surrey.
Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description & Our Life at Surrey handbook to get an insight into working at Surrey.
We look forward to receiving your application, which must be in the form of a CV and personal statement detailing your interest in this role, demonstrating your appropriate experience and the reasons why you are applying.
Contact Us
Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.
If you are interested and would like an informal discussion about this role, please do not hesitate to contact Della Morgan, Area Manager on 01483 518260 or by email at [email protected] or Avril Itani, Registration Service Operations Lead & Superintendent Registrar, on 01483 518264 or at [email protected].
The job advert closes at 23:59 on 09/08/2026 with interviews to follow.
Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)
Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities.
Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents! Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation - Surrey County Council
Our Commitment
We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum shortlisting criteria, as displayed on the advert, we guarantee you an interview.
Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we’re committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.
