Job Introduction
Salary: £33,143 – £36,363 a year pro rata
Hours per week: 37 hours a week
Contract type: Fixed Term for 6 months
What you'll be doing
The Business Support Team Lead is responsible for leading and managing the Business Support function, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, efficient and customer-focused administrative services across the Directorate. The post holder will provide effective line management to a team of Business Support Officers, overseeing workload allocation, performance, attendance, wellbeing and professional development through regular supervision, coaching and day-to-day support.
The role provides strategic and operational oversight of a broad range of business support activities, ensuring that administrative processes are delivered consistently, efficiently and in accordance with organisational policies and procedures. This includes supporting complex projects, coordinating confidential reports and documentation, managing correspondence, complaints, recruitment administration and maintaining accurate records using a range of corporate systems.
Working closely with senior managers, the Business Support Team Lead will oversee the planning and coordination of meetings, ensuring high-quality administrative support is provided, including the organisation, recording and quality assurance of meeting minutes. The post holder will attend management meetings, contribute to service planning and identify priorities to ensure business support resources are effectively deployed.
The role has responsibility for a range of financial management activities, including procurement processes, budget monitoring, reconciliation of invoices and expenditure, processing higher-value purchase requests, supporting staffing budget management and administering grant funding in accordance with financial regulations and Council procedures.
Using management information and performance data, the post holder will analyse trends, produce reports and visual dashboards, and make recommendations to improve service delivery, workforce planning and business processes. They will play a key role in identifying opportunities for continuous improvement and ensuring resources are aligned to service priorities.
The Business Support Team Lead will also manage complex enquiries from customers, colleagues and partner organisations, exercising sound judgement to resolve issues within their remit while ensuring compliance with data protection legislation, corporate policies and governance requirements. The role requires strong leadership, organisational skills and the ability to work collaboratively across services to deliver effective and responsive business support.
This is a public facing role so you’ll need to show off your fluency in speaking and writing English.
Please note this role does not attract sponsorship.
What we expect from you
You will be an experienced business support professional with a proven track record of leading administrative functions and managing teams in a busy, customer-focused environment. You will have experience of supervising, mentoring and developing staff, creating a positive and supportive culture that promotes high performance, continuous improvement and excellent service delivery.
You will be highly organised, with the ability to manage competing priorities, coordinate workloads and meet demanding deadlines while maintaining high standards of accuracy and professionalism. You will be confident working independently as well as collaboratively, adapting to changing service priorities and supporting the deployment of resources where required.
Strong communication skills are essential. You will be able to build positive working relationships with colleagues, managers, customers and partner organisations, communicating clearly and effectively both verbally and in writing. You will have experience of producing or quality assuring reports, correspondence and other documentation, ensuring consistency, accuracy and confidentiality.
You will be confident using a range of IT systems and office software, including business support and back-office systems, and will be comfortable analysing performance information, interpreting data and producing meaningful reports that support informed decision-making and service improvement. Strong numeracy skills and the ability to identify trends, monitor performance and make evidence-based recommendations are essential.
You will have experience of monitoring performance, undertaking audits and identifying and managing associated risks. You will also have the ability to support projects, coordinate activities across multiple workstreams and contribute to the successful delivery of service objectives.
You will understand the importance of equality, diversity and inclusion and be able to recognise and respond appropriately to discrimination in both service delivery and the workplace. Knowledge of the statutory responsibilities of Social Work services and an understanding of project support principles would be advantageous.
You will hold a recognised Level 3 qualification in Business Administration or an equivalent qualification, or be able to demonstrate equivalent relevant experience. You must be able to travel to locations across the Borough as required, work flexibly to meet service needs, and be able to communicate effectively in spoken English with members of the public and colleagues in accordance with the role requirements.
About us
Our ambitious Luton 2040 Vision – that no-one in Luton will have to live in poverty – is at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that our people are remarkable, talented, committed and passionate about serving our residents.
The people of Luton depend heavily on this council – and that means our workforce! Are you ready to realise the remarkable and help us deliver our vision?
Application Process
Please note that we reserve the right to close the advert earlier than this date should we receive a high volume of applications.
Benefits
We offer a range of excellent staff benefits which include:
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From 25 to 32 days’ annual leave: linked to length of service and grade
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Buying annual leave scheme: buy up to 20 days additional annual leave
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Career Pathways: step up in your career or move into a specialist area
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Pension scheme: with generous employer contributions of up to 19.2 per cent (at April 2026) and 3x salary death in service grant
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Generous relocation package: up to £8,000 (subject to eligibility)
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Employee Assistance Programme: a free, 24/7 confidential counselling and wellbeing support service available to all employees, their partner or spouse and dependent children over 16 still living at home
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Work/life balance: flexible working options including working from home where possible. We welcome requests for flexible working arrangements including part-time hours and alternative working patterns
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Training and support: unlimited access to development courses, mentoring and support and clear career pathways
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Staff offers: includes discounts on your MOT, gym and fitness, restaurants and salons
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Arriva Travel Club: great value savings on local bus travel
How to apply
We understand that job applications take time and effort, but a high-quality application shows that you are professional with a good attention to detail. The recruiting manager may receive a number of applications for each job advertised so you want yours to stand out!
Our ‘How to apply' page has more tips to help with your application: Click here
