Licensing & Business Support Officer

Keeping the Wheels Turning

You will be a key player in the operational delivery of statutory licensing initiatives, ensuring the Council meets its obligations for markets, shop fronts, and street trading licenses across the borough. Primarily office-based, you’ll be the go‑to person for processing applications, managing records, and providing essential support.

This dynamic role involves:

• Licensing Administration: Efficiently processing all types of license applications (new, variations, temporary, permanent) for markets, shop fronts, and street trading, ensuring timely and accurate issuance.
• Financial Management: Monitoring payments for market pitch fees and commercial operations, actively recovering arrears, and reconciling daily and monthly income.
• Customer Service Excellence: Being the first point of contact for applicants, traders, and the public, dealing with inquiries and complaints with a high standard of service in person, by phone, and by email.
• Data Management: Maintaining accurate records of licenses, payments, trader information (including public liability insurance and certifications), and enforcement actions. Providing statistical reports and managing customer records.
• Operational Support: Coordinating meeting bookings, assisting with HR support (leave, sickness, timesheets, recruitment), and compiling Health and Safety plans.
• Compliance & Enforcement: Assisting in ensuring compliance with legislation, preparing evidence for Officer Licensing Panels and court cases, and liaising with internal and external stakeholders.

This role requires a flexible approach to working hours, including mandatory weekend work and occasional public holidays to meet service requirements.

About You: Organised, Customer‑Focused, and Detail‑Oriented

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Highly Organised: Able to manage large workloads, prioritise tasks effectively, and meet challenging deadlines.
• Detail‑Oriented: Possesses excellent numeracy skills, the ability to interpret data, and a meticulous approach to record‑keeping.
• Strong Communicator: Proficient in written and verbal communication, with the ability to articulate legal and procedural obligations clearly and confidently.
• Tech‑Savvy: Proficient in the Microsoft Office suite and capable of inputting and extracting information from IT systems.
• Problem Solver: Able to use initiative in problem‑solving and decision‑making for the good of the service.
• Committed to Excellence: Demonstrates a commitment to excellent customer service and operates with a high degree of professionalism.
• Knowledgeable: Has a good understanding of administrative and support systems in a large organisation, and ideally some knowledge of current issues in public sector management.

Why Join Us? A Multi‑Award‑Winning Team! As a Council, our most outstanding asset is our staff, who are highly dedicated to serving our residents and committed to our goals as an organisation. We operate a fair and open anonymous selection process.

Closing date for applications: 03 June 2026 (22:59)

Interview and assessment date: W/C 15 June 2026

Hackney Council works to eradicate discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. We also recognise that people can be disadvantaged by their social and economic circumstances, so we will also work to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage caused by social class. We also welcome those interested in flexible working and particularly welcome applications from disabled people, as this group is currently under‑represented in our workforce.