Higher Level Business Support Officer

Education, Skills & Early Years

Lifelong Learning Service

Higher Level Business Support Officer

Ref: 001649

Contract: Permanent

Salary: £26,403 - £28,142 per annum (Grade 3)

Hours: 36.66 per week

Location: Coldhurst Lifelong Learning, Rochdale Road, Oldham. OL1 2HR. (Oldham Lifelong Learning centres).

Closing Date: Sunday 9 August 2026

Interview Date: TBC.

Role Overview

The purpose of the post is to provide effective and comprehensive higher level business support to Curriculum teams within the Lifelong Learning service, by working as part of a team, through the provision of more service-specific administration duties.

Key Responsibilities

• Create, maintain, update and check for accuracy, curriculum specific learner tracking systems (databases and spreadsheets) to ensure the curriculum team are fully compliant with the grant funded allocation. (GMCA)
• Run specific data reports and checks using a range of MIS systems to analyse learner data including class allocation, guided learning hours, qualification aims, progression and results.
• Deal with and respond to higher level complex learner queries and give the correct and compliant Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) including funding eligibility, language support, childcare support, learner support, and know how and when to refer to external specialist services.
• Support staff with new systems including demonstrating how to use and input onto these correctly thus enabling them to become independent end users.
• Liaise closely with Curriculum Manager and Programme Leaders to update and advise of anomalies, compliance, actions taken to date and any further actions required that may need communicating to the wider team.

Key Requirements

To succeed in this role, you will need as a minimum:

• Experience in providing higher level quality business support combined with excellent administration, ICT skills and organisation skills.
• Excellent customer service skills with the ability to efficiently and courteously respond to higher level complex queries.
• Have the ability to work under pressure to meet compliance demands and service needs.
• Have excellent communication skills, be a flexible and supportive team player and be able to work at pace with excellent attention to detail.
• Previous experience of working in a Lifelong Learning Service would be beneficial.

We want Oldham to have vibrant, safe neighbourhoods where people are proud to live with opportunities for healthier, more fulfilled lives; and a sustainable, thriving economy. As we look to the future, the challenges may be significant, but so are the opportunities. We’ve identified three missions with our residents and partners, focusing on what will deliver the biggest impact:

A Great Place to Live, Healthier, Happier Lives, and Green and Growing.

We’re looking for candidates who will support us to achieve our ambitions and we encourage you to download our Corporate Plan: Ready for the Future and our Oldham Plan for further information.

Our Values and Behaviours

By driving innovation, investing in our people, and championing our communities, we will ensure that Oldham continues to be a place where everyone can live their best life. To support this, we have three core values which define who we are and how we operate. These are ‘ Proud, Ambitious, and Together’ , and they shape our culture, inform our decisions, and inspire us to deliver on our commitments to the people of Oldham.

We have translated these values into five behaviours which guide our actions and are the standards we hold ourselves to, day in and day out:

• Work with a resident focus
• Support local leaders
• Committed to the borough
• Delivery high performance
• Take ownership and drive change

You can find out more about our values and behaviours on our greater.jobs Oldham page

Our Benefits Package

At Oldham Council we offer a great benefits package for our employees, which includes the following:

• 25 days annual leave which increases after 5 and 10-years’ service
• The option to purchase additional annual leave.
• An attractive LGPS benefit pension scheme with the option to make shared cost additional voluntary contributions.
• Discounted gym membership with Oldham Active.
• Staff discount scheme for shopping, entertainment, eating-out, eating-in, travel, motoring and more.
• Salary sacrifice scheme for home and electronics and Cycle to Work.
• Wellbeing support, including a Mental Health First Aider network and an Employment Assistance Programme that provides 24 hours access to advice and support.
• Staff recognition and celebration events.
• Peer support groups

Inclusive Recruitment

We work closely with employees to help them work at their best, including making adjustments such as flexible working, describing available working patterns, providing equipment or making changes to the workplace.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and therefore expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you have lived or worked abroad for 3 months or more in the last 5 years or 12 months or more (whether continuously or in total) in the last 10 years whilst aged 18 or over, please refer to the link below for details for how to obtain your Certificates of Good Character.

Unfortunately, at this time we are not able to offer sponsorship.

If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme please indicate this within the ‘About You’ or ‘Supporting Statement’ section of your application.

If you’re an applicant with disabilities and have previously been in or currently in care, a carer, someone who has served in the Armed Forces, or you’ve participated in the GM Elevate Programme, and you meet the essential criteria of the role, you are guaranteed to reach the first stage of assessment under our Guaranteed Assessment Scheme .

Data and Privacy

For details of how we use your data please see our Privacy Notice

Important Information

Please note that should a vacancy that has been released for internal or external recruitment be deemed suitable for a current employee at risk of redundancy, it can be pulled back at any point, up to the post being formally offered to a candidate who is not at risk of redundancy.

Right to Work in the UK from 1st July 2021.doc