Senior Business Support Officer

You will join a supportive and collaborative team, take on meaningful responsibility, and have space to lead improvements that make a real difference. Every day offers variety, autonomy, and the chance to contribute directly to our transformation into a more efficient, future-ready council.

What you will be doing

You will supervise a team of Business Support Officers and oversee a wide range of administrative and operational activity that keeps services running smoothly. The role carries responsibility for managing office systems, ensuring consistent high-quality service delivery, and providing either financial administration or project support depending on service needs.

You will lead on workload planning, quality assurance, budget monitoring, and the development and implementation of new processes that reflect emerging digital approaches. Acting as a key point of contact for colleagues and partners, you will offer expert advice, support service improvement work, contribute to strategic planning, and represent the function across meetings and working groups. Your leadership will help create an inclusive, learning-focused team environment that reflects our values and supports wellbeing.

About you

We are seeking someone who can lead and manage team dynamics and performance by setting clear expectations, providing regular feedback, and ensuring high-quality delivery through effective quality assurance practices. There is also a requirement to deputise for the manager as required.

•  extensive experience in business support or administration within a complex organisation
•  confidence in supervising or managing staff
•  strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise and work independently
•  excellent written and verbal communication skills
•  strong IT capability across systems including Word, Excel and digital tools
•  good understanding of office systems, policies and administrative procedures
•  experience of financial administration or project support
•  ability to produce high-quality written documents and reports
•  confidence in building and maintaining positive working relationships at all levels
•  motivation to drive improvement and support a learning, inclusive team culture

 We offer hybrid working however there is an expectation that the individual attends our offices in Dorchester a day a week or more often where there is a business need and to take part in training events and team activities. There is an occasional need to travel to other locations within Dorset.

As this post will support the Children’s Directorate there is responsibility to promote   the safeguarding the welfare of children and young people.

Due to access to sensitive information, the post is subject to a Basic Criminal Records Check. Please refer to our policy on the employment of ex-offenders for further information.

At Dorset Council, it's not just about the work we do, it's about how we do it. Hear directly from our employees about what makes Dorset Council special in this short video:

At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future.

We:

• provide essential services that support over 300,000 residents
• work in partnership to make a real difference
• value every role and the impact it has on our communities
• support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive

You will:

• be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset
• have access to a range of benefits and support
• receive training and development opportunities to help your career progress

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible, if you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application.

This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement.

If you’re passionate about making a difference, we’d love you to join us.

Find out more about how to apply.