VanESSA Driver and Project Support Officer

East Suffolk Council; Lowestoft; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous leave

LGPS

Flexible working

Learning & development

Wellbeing and staff networks

Discounts on products

Job summary

East Suffolk Council in Lowestoft is inviting applications for a VanESSA Driver and Project Support Officer on a fixed-term contract to 30 September 2028. You will operate a modern mobile hub vehicle and support delivery of rural services across East Suffolk.

The role requires prior driving experience, safety awareness in public settings, and strong customer service. It offers flexible hours (25–30 per week) and a range of benefits as described in the advert.

Qualifications

• Experience driving as part of a work-related role.
• Knowledge of health and safety responsibilities in a public-facing environment.
• Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Safely operate and maintain the VanESSA mobile hub vehicle.
• Support the rural mobile hub programme delivery.
• Carry out routine vehicle safety checks.
• Provide excellent customer service to hub visitors.

Skills

Driving experience

Customer service

Health & safety knowledge

Interpersonal skills

Job description

• Location: Lowestoft, NR33 0EQ or Melton, Woodbridge, IP12 1RT (the project is located in Leiston)
• Salary: £29,542 - £32,046 per annum (pro rata) (subject to job evaluation)
• Hours: 25 - 30 hours per week
• Contract: Fixed term contract until 30 September 2028

East Suffolk Council is an exciting place to work, delivering essential local services and making a real difference to a quarter of a million people across East Suffolk.

We currently have an opportunity to join East Suffolk Council's Communities Team as a VanESSA Driver and Project Support Officer.

Your role

The successful candidate will safely operate and maintain the VanESSA (East Suffolk Support and Advice) mobile food and advice hub vehicle – a 2023, Euro 6, 5m Renault Master Manual Diesel - to support the practical delivery of East Suffolk Council's rural mobile hub programme.

What you will need

The successful candidate will have experience of driving as part of a work – related role and carrying out routine safety checks. The post holder will have knowledge of health and safety responsibilities in a public facing environment and have excellent customer service and interpersonal skills.

Why work for us

East Suffolk Council is a great place to work and there are lots of benefits our employees can access. To find out more about why we are so proud of East Suffolk Council, take a look at our video and hear why our employees think it is such a great place to work (YouTube).

Here are some of the main benefits

• Generous leave entitlement (equivalent to 25 days a year, increasing to 31 days after 5 years’ service, plus bank holidays)
• Local government pension scheme
• Flexible working arrangements
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• A wide variety of staff support networks including access to health and wellbeing initiatives and programmes.
• Discounts on mobile phones, computers, holiday and travel, fashion and clothing, health and beauty and many other products and services.

Find more information about what we offer in our benefits brochure (pdf).

The majority of our teams are working in an agile way, with a mixture of home and office working, depending on individual preferences and service requirements. If you wish to discuss how that might impact your working arrangements if you were the successful candidate, please contact the recruiting manager listed at the bottom of this advert.

To find out more

For an informal discussion regarding this post, please contact Gemma Fraser on [e-mail].

Closing date

9 October 2026

Interview date

19 and 20 October 2026

About Us

East Suffolk Council is an exciting place to work and a great place to make a real difference to people’s lives, delivering vital services to a quarter of a million people across East Suffolk.

We hugely value our staff and know that in order for us to remain successful, it is essential for us to recognise talented employees, developing and retaining them within the organisation. We are therefore committed to investing in our staff and providing first‑class support to ensure a positive culture and rewarding careers.

To find out more about why we are so proud of East Suffolk Council and to hear why our employees think it is such a great place to work, take a look at our video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSWedQksWt0