Business Support Lead, Level 2 (Maternity Cover)

Old Moat; Manchester; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A local council is seeking a Business Support Lead to provide essential support to senior officers, managing diaries, travel, and communications. Ideal candidates should have prior experience in PA roles, excellent communication and IT skills, and the ability to work proactively within a fast-paced environment. This office-based position offers a 35-hour work week and a temporary contract for 12 months.

Benefits

Generous holiday allowance

Local government pension

Enhanced parental leave

Learning opportunities

Volunteering leave

Employee discounts

Qualifications

• Previous experience in providing high quality PA support to senior staff.
• Adept at interacting with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality business support to Statutory Officers.
• Manage diary, inbox, travel arrangements, and work planning.
• Build productive relationships with services and partners.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

IT skills

Stakeholder management

Proactive attitude

High accuracy

Job description

About The Role

Working hours: 35 hours per week (on site)

Contract type: Temporary for 12 months

Closing date: 11.59pm, 16 October 2025

Interview method: in person

This role is subject to:

• 2 references - where possible, we require 3 years\' history

As Business Support Lead in the Executive Office, you will be working with our most senior statutory officers, providing essential support and organisation to the day-to-day work they undertake. You will provide high quality business support to the Statutory Officers in relation to their diary, inbox management, papers, travel arrangements and work planning. You will contribute effectively to business support services, ensure high standards are achieved at all times, and build productive relationships with services and partners to enable collaborative working. Please note this role is primarily office based.

About the Candidate

The successful candidate will have previous experience in providing high quality PA support to senior staff; possess excellent communication and IT skills and be adept at interacting with a wide range of stakeholders including senior members of staff. You will provide high quality, customer focused, flexible and timely business support directly contributing to the achievement of objectives of the organisation. You will define, lead, and ensure that appropriate and effective business support initiatives are in place to support the delivery of high-quality services. You will have lead accountability for the organising and performance management of business support activities which may include the management of staff, finances, or physical resources. You will be hardworking, proactive, and dependable; you will take pride in your high standards of accuracy and professionalism. You will be able to work in a fast-paced environment as part of a small team or under your own initiative and will be confident in generating your own solutions.

About Us

We’re the local council for one of the UK’s most vibrant and diverse cities. Working for Manchester isn’t just a job – it’s an opportunity to contribute to a city that leads change and transforms lives. Whether it’s strengthening communities or driving innovation in public services, you’ll play a vital role in creating opportunities and shaping a brighter future for everyone. Our Manchester is our vision for a fairer, greener, and healthier city – a vision shaped by the people of Manchester. It guides everything we do at the Council and is brought to life through the Our Manchester behaviours:

• We take time to listen and understand
• We work together and trust each other
• We show that we value our differences and treat each other fairly
• We ‘own it’ and we’re not afraid to try new things
• We’re proud and passionate about Manchester

Benefits we offer

• Generous holiday allowance- Enjoy up to 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays, increasing to 31 days after five years of local government service. You can purchase up to two additional weeks.
• A buzzing pension- You’ll be enrolled in the UK’s largest local government pension scheme, with plenty of options to top up your benefits. Includes life cover of three-times your salary as a lump sum.
• Enhanced parental and carers leave- Take advantage of our enhanced family leave options to provide ample time for you to bond with your new born or support your family during critical life events.
• Brilliant perks- Access a range of discounts, from saving on the weekly shop to holidays and days out with MCR+. Plus discounts on phone contracts, cycle to work scheme, free flu jabs and eye tests, and more.
• Learn and grow- We are dedicated to nurturing talent and providing you with the tools to thrive. Take part in a diverse set of learning opportunities, from workshops and training sessions through to apprenticeships and qualifications. All this begins with our comprehensive onboarding process.
• A Good Employment Charter member- We are committed to offering secure, flexible work and embedding fairness into everything we do. We review pay annually, recognize three trade unions, and provide health and wellbeing support throughout all stages of your working life.
• Up to 3 days volunteering leave- Give back to the community with three days pro-rate of paid volunteering leave, in addition to existing benefits.

Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council

At Manchester City Council, we’re dedicated to creating a workplace that truly reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We actively welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities, Disabled people and young people.

Support During the Process

• Interview Adjustments: Let us know if you need any adjustments to demonstrate your suitability during the interview.
• Accessible Formats: Our ReciteMe tool can be accessed through the Accessibility tools on our careers page. It offers text-to-speech, translation, and adjustable text size and colour.

Guaranteed Assessment Scheme

We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the recruiting panels minimum shortlisting requirements for the role and identify with at least one of the following criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces or veterans
• Current or former care leavers
• Have a disability or long-term condition
• If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme or any MCC positive action programme

If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme, please indicate this within the Supporting Statement section of your application.

When You Join Us

We’re a Disability Confident Employer, offering:

• A workplace adjustment hub which provides specialist support, advice and guidance to ensure you have the adjustments needed to thrive at work.
• Disabled Staff Network, Neurodiversity Staff Network and Mental Health Staff Network that provides a safe inclusive space to share experiences and opportunities to influence council practice.
• A strong commitment to ensuring all information adheres to accessibility standards and that our workplaces are accessible and disability-friendly.

For more information about the role or any adjustments, please email a contact address in the text where applicable. We encourage you to review the role profile attached for further details.

What we will need from you if you\'re successful: In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. This is not a role we consider eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy. Candidates are therefore encouraged to consider their own right to work options without the requirement for Manchester City Council sponsorship.

Pre-Employment Checks

If you are successful in securing a position with us, the pre-employment checks required will depend on the role you’ve applied for. As a guide, these checks may include:

• Proof of Right to Work: documentary evidence of your right to work in the UK.
• References: we’ll require references from your current and previous employer(s).
• Proof of Qualifications: evidence of qualifications relevant to the role will be required.
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check: a criminal record check may be necessary, depending on the role.
• Proof of Manchester Residency: for some roles, you may need to demonstrate that you reside within Manchester City Council boundaries.
• Police Vetting: some roles may require police vetting to ensure suitability for accessing sensitive information.
• Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) Clearance: BPSS clearance is required for roles involving access to government data, etc.
• Driving Licence: if the role requires driving, we’ll need evidence of your valid driving licence.

These checks are an important part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our workforce and the community we serve.

Other relevant information

We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and give their best. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we’ll make every effort to source any necessary aids, adaptations or equipment. If, however, any task proves to be unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role.

For more information about the role, please ensure that you read the role profile attached.

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