Business Support Assistant

at  West Northamptonshire Council

About the role
The primary objective of this role is to deliver confidential administrative assistance to the manager and team, utilizing relevant systems, protocols, and resources. This involves promptly addressing telephone and email inquiries and upholding high standards of customer service while adhering to the policies and values of West Northamptonshire Council. Additionally, the role entails meeting reporting deadlines.
What will you be doing?
Your core responsibility involves maintaining and enhancing both electronic and paper-based record systems to ensure robust support for the business operations. This demands a proficient and timely utilisation of MS Word, MS Excel, and other relevant software tools. Additionally, you will oversee the coordination of resource stocks and office supplies, aiming to optimise service operations while minimising wastage through the adept use of electronic ordering and payment platforms.
In addition to managing administrative tasks, you will serve as the frontline for reception duties, handling telephone and email inquiries in alignment with the Company’s customer service standards. You’ll play a pivotal role in building strong rapport with internal and external stakeholders, including managers, colleagues, customers, and carers. Your communication style should consistently reflect clarity and politeness.
Furthermore, your role extends to providing comprehensive administrative support to managers and colleagues within your team, encompassing tasks such as responding to inquiries, managing diaries, and executing assigned duties diligently. Active engagement in staff meetings, team activities, supervision sessions, appraisals, and training programs is expected!
About you
You’re the type who thrives on keeping things organised and running smoothly. You’re comfortable juggling different tasks and can handle them with ease. Your friendly demeanour makes you a natural at reception duties and interacting with people both in person and over the phone.
Building strong relationships comes naturally to you, whether it’s with colleagues, managers, or customers. You’re tech-savvy enough to navigate software tools like MS Word and Excel efficiently. Plus, you’re proactive about staying on top of deadlines and ensuring that everything gets done on time. You’re a team player who’s always ready to pitch in and help out wherever needed! And above all, you’re committed to providing excellent service.
About us
We’re a new council, following one of the largest shake-ups in local government reform in recent history. As a new authority, we’re embarking on an exciting journey to deliver exceptional services for our residents, customers and communities.
Our vision at West Northamptonshire Council is ‘to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive’. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower, they underpin everything we do and how we deliver services.
Hear more from Anna Earnshaw, our Chief Executive, about working for West Northants Council: https://youtu.be/lV0EfeUF4aU
At West Northants Council, it’s about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like-minded people.
When potential is unlocked, talent thrives.
Choose a career that offers you a true sense of achievement, fills you with pride and challenges you in a positive way, every day.

SHOULD YOU REQUIRE THE JOB DESCRIPTION IN ANOTHER FORMAT OR LANGUAGE, PLEASE CONTACT: CAREERS@WESTNORTHANTS.GOV.UK

Our benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, these include:

• Generous annual leave entitlement starting at 28 days annual leave per year, 29 days for senior managers (pro rata, depending on how many hours per week you work), plus bank holidays. An additional 5 days, linked to continuous service, and ability to purchase up to 6 weeks additional leave per year.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection.
• Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.
• Car Lease scheme
• Professional subscriptions / registration - if your job description requires that you are registered with or are a member of a professional body, WNC will pay for your professional subscription or membership fees
• Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Health Assured, an independent, external organisation. Health Assured is available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• A variety of flexible working options to support your work/life balance, including full or part time, term time, 9-day fortnight, etc. (subject to business needs).
• Our West Ways of Working – We want our workforce to thrive, and we equip our employees with the right technology to support hybrid and collaborative working, on or off site, depending on the role.
• Making a difference - If you want to use your skills and experience with an organisation that are genuinely invested in making a difference, are committed to improving people’s lives, and whose success has a direct impact on the wellbeing of your family, friends and people in your local area, then West Northamptonshire Council is the place for you.

Please refer the Job description for details