Roles in the House of Lords
Graduate Positions
Clerkships
Clerkships in the House of Lords offer rewarding and interesting careers to those with an interest in Parliament. Clerks work in all the different offices of the House of Lords administration. A Committee Office Clerk plays a key role in organising inquiries, drafting reports and on occasion travelling with the committee. Clerks also gain experience of working in offices that support the Chamber more directly, for example; Legislation Office, Journal and Information Office.
Clerkships in the House of Lords are offered through the Civil Service Fast Steam application process. For further information please see the Civil Service Fast Stream Development Programme website: www.faststream.gov.uk or from the The Fast Stream route to a career in Parliament ( PDF 10 KB) The Fast Stream route to a career in Parliament leaflet about graduate appointments.
Library Clerkships
Library Clerks carry out research and provide information to Members. The main duties of Library Clerks are to respond, orally or in writing, to requests from Members and to prepare briefing papers on subjects of public and parliamentary concern.
Library Clerkship vacancies are advertised in the national press and in specialist publications.
Policy Analysts
Policy Analysts work closely with the staff of a committee providing information and briefing material for members of the committee. Specialist knowledge of the area of responsibility of the committee is required but generalists are also recruited for ad hoc committees. Policy Analysts are recruited to work for the EU, Science and Technology, Economic Affairs, Communications and other committees.
External Specialist Advisers are also employed to advise committees during particular inquiries.
Specialist Advisers and Policy Analyst vacancies are advertised in the nationwide press and in specialist publications when they are available.
Graduates are also appointed to clerical and executive posts for which a degree is not required, see below.
Administrative and Executive Positions
Vacancies for the positions below are always advertised on our website and sometimes in publications, on line or in the press. If the position requires technical knowledge/skills e.g. IT and accountancy etc it may also be advertised in specialised press.
Senior Clerical Officers / Administrators
Staff can expect to undertake tasks such as answering enquiries (telephone, email, letter or in person), working on databases, data reconciliation, research, managing information, filing and photocopying.
Executive Officers
Staff can expect to take their first steps as a line manager and to gain greater responsibility for their own work, e.g. get more involved in decision making and problem solving. Executive Officers also have greater financial and resource management responsibility.
Higher Executive Officer
Staff have greater management, decision making and problem solving responsibility over issues involving the work, staffing, budgets and finances within their office. HEO's are expected to take a broader view of their own work and the work of their office in relation to the work of the House as a whole.
Secretarial Administrators / Personal Secretaries
Staff provide Heads of Office and other senior staff with essential support. Their tasks can involve organising diaries and meetings and they provide secretarial support through word processing, filing and records management. Secretarial work in the House of Lords can also involve organising seminars and presentations and working on databases. Committee Assistants help to organise committee meetings, liaise with committee witnesses, prepare and amend committee reports and provide general administration.
Assistant Librarians
The Library employs Assistant Librarians who, among other tasks, help to create and maintain records of documents received by the Library.
Hansard Reporters
Hansard staff report the proceedings of the House of Lords and Grand Committees. As part of the reporting team they produce an accurate verbatim record of the proceedings, improving structure and including correct procedure. Hansard Reporters needs to have a sound knowledge of the English language and an ability to quickly grasp a wide variety of subjects.
Key Support Staff
Attendants
The duties of attendants include postal and messengerial work and preparation of the Chamber for sittings of the House and of Committee rooms for meetings.
Doorkeepers
Doorkeepers are responsible for assisting in the smooth running of the House of Lords. They provide a service to Peers, in particular by operating a message and letter board service. Doorkeepers ensure the maintenance of good order and security at all times in and around the Chamber of the House. They also attend some committees of the House. Doorkeepers also participate in parliamentary ceremonial occasions.
Housekeepers
Housekeepers provide an important cleaning service to the offices in the House of Lords. They are responsible for cleaning and vacuuming offices and corridors, polishing furniture, washing up, emptying waste paper bins and any other cleaning duties as required. Housekeepers are responsible for looking after the fabric and furniture of the House.
Chefs and Catering and Retail Services Staff
Chefs prepare and cook food in Catering and Retail Services to the high standards expected at all times. They observe all legislative requirements including those concerning hygiene, food, health, and safety at work. Other staff employed to work in Catering and Retail Services include waiting staff, porters and administrative staff.
Please note that this list is just indicative of the types of positions available within the House of Lords. For information on these or any other posts please contact the Human Resources Office: humanresourceshol@parliament.uk