Introduction
The Herefordshire Registration Service is looking to recruit a number of Ceremony Officers to work as part of our busy and high-profile Registration Services Team, to conduct and register a range of statutory and non-statutory ceremonies.
The Role
We are seeking candidates with excellent communication and public speaking skills. You should have a keen eye for detail and be committed to maintaining high standards in registration practices and customer excellence. Due to the nature of the role, you will need to be proactive and solution focused. Although, we value transferable skills and experiences, full training will be provided.
What will you be doing?
The duties will include conducting and registering marriages and civil partnerships at our approved venues situated across the County and in The Woollard Room and Orangery, both located at Gardner Hall on an as and when required basis with no guaranteed hours. In addition to which, you may be required to attend one of the local Registered Buildings. It is essential therefore, that you have unrestricted access to a car.
As the majority of our ceremonies will be over the busy summer months the successful candidates will need to be available to work during the week, at weekends and on Bank Holidays. Working patterns are not predictable and may involve working at short notice, so flexibility is essential.
About You
As a Ceremonies Officer you will have:
- Mathematics and English Language passes to GCSE level (Grade C or above) or other relevant qualification.
- Experience of giving presentations/public speaking.
- Experience of dealing with the public face to face in a service industry.
- Excellent communication skill, both written & verbal.
- Ability to officiate in a suitable manner at marriage, citizenship, civil partnership and other ceremonies behaving with the necessary gravitas and of being of smart appearance.
- Ability to deliver a service, which meets internal and external high standards on target and on time.
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
- To demonstrate an ability to address a group of people with confidence and professionalism
- Have regard to the need for confidentiality
- To remain calm and professional during difficult situations or when members of the public are very emotional.
We Offer
A competitive salary, holiday entitlement, and access to our contributory pension and staff benefits scheme, which includes:
- Sessional payment per ceremony. Additional hours will be remunerated separately.
- Enrolment in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
- Career progression: clear pathways to progress
- Payment for Annual Leave is included in the sessional payment.
- Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 access to support and counselling
- Pick your perks – our benefits include access to a range of retail, leisure, holiday and health benefits. This includes savings, cash back and discounts.
Why Choose Us?
We're proud and excited to unveil our new recruitment video, a celebration of Herefordshire's people, places, and purpose. Set in the heart of England and filled with pride, compassion and possibility, the video brings to life what it means to work somewhere you truly belong.
At Herefordshire Council, every role matters and every person makes a real difference for our communities. We’re a team where people feel valued, supported and empowered to grow together.
Herefordshire is big hearted, welcoming and friendly. We have strong and independent communities and idyllic countryside, situated in the South West Midlands and bordering Wales. The county sits between Worcestershire and the Malvern Hills to the east, and Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons) in Wales to the west.
Historically Herefordshire has been the gateway to the Marches. We embrace partnership working. We are a member of the Marches Forward Partnership, which is a cross border collaboration between Herefordshire, Monmouthshire, Powys and Shropshire who are collectively working to secure funding to invest in the region.
The council priorities over the next four years are set out in the Council Plan, with four main areas;
People: We will enable residents to realise their potential, to be healthy and to be part of great communities who support each other. We want all children to have the best start in life.
Place: We will protect and enhance our environment and ensure that Herefordshire is a great place to live. We will support the right housing in the right place, we will support access to green spaces, and we will do everything we can to recover the health of our rivers.
Growth: We will create the conditions to deliver sustainable growth across the county; attracting inward investment, building business confidence, creating jobs, enabling housing development along with providing the right infrastructure.
Transformation: We will be an efficient council that embraces best practice, delivers innovation through technology and demonstrates value for money.
Don’t meet all parts of the job description?
Herefordshire Council is committed to strengthening a diverse and inclusive work environment which reflects the communities of Herefordshire. If you are looking at the next stage of your career and have a broad base of fieldwork experience, we can provide supportive and welcoming opportunities to help you develop your professional, management & supervisory skills.
Reasonable Adjustments
Our recruitment process runs in partnership with Hoople Resourcing. If you require any reasonable adjustments or alternative methods for the online application process, please contact the resourcing team by email: [email protected].
Creating an inclusive workplace
We encourage our employees to feel empowered and to use their voices to help embrace diversity, promote inclusivity and shape our organisation. We have eight employee network groups, collectives of colleagues who often share identities, life experiences or cultures and offer support and community. They also play an important role in strengthening the voices of employees at Herefordshire Council. Embedded in the Council's values is a commitment to listen to people's views and needs.
For more information on our Employee Network Groups please view our dedicated recruitment website: www.spiritofherefordshire.com.
Commitments, Covenants and Statutory Obligations
The following candidates will be interviewed if they meet the essential criteria for the post they are applying for:
- Those who indicate that they have a disability. This is part of our commitment to the “Disability Confident” scheme.
- Those who indicate in their application that they are an Armed Forces Veteran or Reservist. This is part of our pledge to support the Armed Forces Covenant.
- Those who indicate in their application that they are a Herefordshire care leaver. This is part of our commitment to supporting young people leaving our care.
We take our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults seriously and expect all of our staff, visitors and volunteers to share in this commitment.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children & young people and vulnerable adults. If you are offered this position, it may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check.
How to apply
To apply for a position, please upload an up-to-date CV and complete the application form demonstrating your experience, skills and abilities for the role.
For more information or to arrange an informal discussion about the role, please contact: (Joy Gawler, Ceremony Coordinator, [email protected] or 01432 383615).
Be sure to include reference to the job description and person specification or role profile! If you are successfully shortlisted, Hoople Resourcing will contact you via email to arrange your interview and/or assessment. They will confirm the date, time and location of your interview, so please keep an eye on your email inbox - check your spam/ junk folder too. Good luck, we’re looking forward to meeting you!
