Business Support Officer

Networking Women in the Fire Service; Reading; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A public service organization in Reading seeks a Business Support role, providing strategic support to the Senior Leadership Team. This position involves monitoring budgets, preparing reports, managing diaries, and liaising with various stakeholders. The ideal candidate must demonstrate professionalism, integrity, and strong communication skills, along with proficiency in Microsoft Office. Join us to make a real difference in the community. Closing date for applications is 28 January 2026.

Qualifications

• Ability to operate with professionalism and integrity in sensitive environments.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint).

Responsibilities

• Provide dedicated support to the Senior Leadership Team.
• Monitor budgets and support ongoing projects.
• Organise and deliver various events and visits.

Skills

Professionalism

Integrity

Discretion

Communication

IT skills (Microsoft Office)

Team collaboration

Job description

About the role

Working in Business Support within the fire service means stepping into a role where your skills make a difference every single day. Working as part of a team, you will be providing strategic support to the Senior Leadership Team and Directors, working across a variety of service areas to help deliver excellent service to the community of Berkshire. It’s a chance to combine purpose with professional growth—bringing your organisational talent, problem‑solving mindset, and people‑focused approach to an environment that values integrity, teamwork, and innovation. If you’re looking for a role where your contribution truly matters and your work supports a safer future for everyone, this is the place to make your impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide dedicated support to assigned members of the Senior Leadership Team
• Monitor budgets and support projects
• Write and prepare management and committee reports
• Manage diaries and respond to correspondence
• Organise and deliver events and visits
• Undertake analysis and research on specific issues
• Prepare and draft responses, including complaints and Freedom of Information requests
• Carry out systems‑based work (data entry, interrogation, and assurance)
• Liaise with senior local and central government officers, politicians, community representatives, and private/voluntary sector organisations, demonstrating high political awareness and sensitivity

About You

• Can operate with professionalism, integrity, and discretion in a sensitive environment
• Is able to prioritise decisions and implement solutions in a timely manner
• Communicates effectively, both verbally and in writing, with a range of audiences
• Has strong IT skills and is proficient in the full Microsoft Office suite (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint)
• Has experience working in a multi‑disciplinary team with competing priorities
• Is willing to attend meetings at various locations, including evening meetings of the Fire Authority

Application and selection process

The successful candidate will demonstrate and promote behaviours in line with the Job Profile/Person Specification and our Behaviour Competency Framework as attached. The Behavioural Competency Framework allows us to easily identify the behaviours that drive successful performance and enables us to deliver an effective service. The behaviours detailed within the job profile will be assessed throughout the selection process.

Please see the link to the Job Profile/Person Specification.

Appointment is conditional upon undertaking a standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

For further details about the role or to simply discuss any adaptations or adjustments we can make to assist you in your application or with our recruitment process please contact Fayth Rowe, Executive Services Manager at [e-mail] to arrange an informal discussion.

Please note we do not accept applications via agencies or CV’s without an accompanying application form.

Closing date

for applications is 17:00 hours: 28 January 2026

Assessment and interview process

It is anticipated that the assessment and interview process will run on 5th and 6th February 2026 with the anticipated start date to be as soon as possible following appointment.