Licensing & Business Support Officer

Full Time | 36 Hours per week | Some Weekend & Evening Working Required

Location: Ridley Road Office & Borough-wide Market Sites

Power the engine room behind one of the UK’s best market services. Hackney’s markets are thriving hubs of culture, commerce, and community – but their success doesn’t happen by accident. Behind every bustling stall and successful event is a backbone of brilliant administration and licensing support. As a Licensing & Business Support Officer, you’ll play a pivotal role in making it all work, ensuring our services are fair, transparent, and responsive.

You’ll be the go-to person for licensing systems, debt management, market occupancy data and customer support, ensuring everything is accurate, accountable and aligned with our inclusive economy goals. Whether it’s preparing a Licensing Panel case, reconciling market income, or helping a new trader get started, you will make it happen, and you’ll be there leading from the front.

The Role: Keeping the Wheels Turning

• 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, and 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

• 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.

Hackney Council is an equal opportunities employer and works tirelessly 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 welcome applications from disabled people and are committed to providing support for flexible working arrangements.