- Suffolk County Council
-
Address: Various in Suffolk - hybrid working
-
Post 1: Endeavour House, Ipswich IP1 2BX x 1 post
-
Post 2: Riverside, Lowestoft, NR33 0TQ x 2 posts
-
Post 3: The Town Hall, Sudbury, CO10 1TL x 2 posts
-
Salary: £14.82 per hour
- Hours: No guaranteed hours. As and when required including weekdays, weekends and Bank Holiday
-
Contract: Zero Hour contract – Permanent
Here at Suffolk County Council, we are looking for Ceremony Officers (Celebrants) to join us on flexible, zero-hours contracts to conduct and register legal ceremonies in Suffolk. You will be based at one of our Registration Offices but will travel across the county to lead ceremonies at various registered venues. We currently have approximately 3000 ceremonies per year across 120 venues plus our own register office rooms.
Our Celebrants need to be reliable, have excellent presentation and communication skills and be confident with people and public speaking. Time management and the ability to organise yourself and others is essential as you will need to be punctual and make sure that ceremonies run on time. Your English needs to be of a really high standard, though not necessarily your first language
We are looking for friendly and professional people who are available at weekends, especially over the peak season, bank holidays and ideally have availability during the week too. If you enjoy working with people, can keep calm under pressure, and are passionate about creating special moments, we would love to hear from you. This is a chance to make a real difference for our customers while showcasing your presentation and leadership talents. With the right person, this role offers immense variety and is very rewarding. If that sounds appealing, don't hesitate to apply.
Your role and responsibilities
-
Conducting and/or registering civil ceremonies across the county, either in a ceremony room or various licensed buildings.
-
Meeting couples, preparing scripts for the service, talking through their requirements, and other associated paperwork relating to ceremony management.
-
Conducting renewal of vows and celebration ceremonies.
-
Being flexible, as ceremonies take place throughout the working week, at weekends, and most bank holidays.
You will need
We are looking for someone with a high level of personal resilience and flexibility. You will have proven experience working effectively both independently and as part of a team. Passionate about offering excellent customer service, you will be a confident public speaker, with strong attention to detail and accuracy. Your neat, legible handwriting and experience working with emotional people demonstrate your professionalism. Bringing resilience and adaptability to this challenging yet rewarding role, you will provide exceptional service to customers. You will have the confidence to travel to locations around the county, many in rural areas inaccessible by public transport.
You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile, see how to apply section below. If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.
The team
Working as part of one of our ceremony teams you will belong to a professional and caring service and work with others from across the Registration Service.
We will offer you
-
a varied and rewarding role
-
full onsite training in your role, and in registration and the law
-
potential for progression within the registration service
-
a gradual learning process working to become a celebrant to conduct weddings.
Empowering Everyone
We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report
For more information
Please contact for a casual conversation by emailing:
For Sudbury: Lisa Goldsmith [email protected]
For Lowestoft: David Hunter [email protected]
For Ipswich: Barbara Alska [email protected]
How to apply
Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (word),
Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.
Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template (Word).
-
Give us an example of a time you have delivered excellent customer service. What did you do to ensure the customers' needs were met?
-
Describe a situation where you have used your communication and public speaking skills to effectively manage a large group of people. What techniques did you use?
-
Give us an example of when you have shown great attention to detail and accuracy in your work. Why is this important in a role like a Ceremony Officer?
Step 4 - Upload a CV (without name and personal details).
Please note: Without a supporting statement and CV, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.
For guidance on completing your application, please see our How to Apply page.
Planning to use Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Please ensure your application still reflects your own skills, experience and ideas. If used inappropriately, your application may not be processed. Please read our guidance for using AI to understand what’s acceptable.
Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team at: [email protected] or 03456 014412. You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages.
Closing date: 11.30 pm 14 June 2026.
Promoted as SPJ (Standard Plus Job) on Suffolk Jobs Direct.
This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid
As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.
In return, you’ll enjoy:
- up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
- membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
- travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
- performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
- training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
- a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
- diverse and active staff networks
- flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day
Plus lots more!
If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).
