Business Support Officer in Ipswich

Suffolk County Council

Address: Endeavour House, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 2BX - Hybrid

Salary: £25,185 per annum (pro rata for part time)

Hours: 22.5 - 37 hours per week, flexible working options available

Contract: Permanent

Posts available:

• Post 1: 37 hours per week
• Post 2: 22.5 hours per week - focused on Property/Estates Administration

We are pleased to offer an exciting opportunity to join Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service as a Business Support Officer within our small but busy Business Support Team. Working at the heart of the service, you’ll provide a wide range of administrative support while acting as the non-emergency voice of the organisation. This is a varied and rewarding role where you will use your administrative experience and customer service skills to support colleagues and engage confidently with the public. If you are organised, adaptable and motivated to make a positive difference, particularly for children and young people in Suffolk, we would love to hear from you.

Your role and responsibilities

You will support the Business Support Coordinators by delivering a wide range of administrative tasks across the department and directorate, developing a strong understanding of all areas supported by the team. Working collaboratively with colleagues, you will help ensure calls to the Fire and Rescue Service’s non-emergency lines are answered promptly and enquiries are handled effectively. You will regularly engage with staff and senior leaders across the service, contributing to the delivery of high-quality outcomes for both internal teams and the communities we serve. We are excited to be expanding our team, reflecting the value placed on the service we provide and the high standards we consistently deliver.

We are looking for individuals with a positive, can-do attitude and a genuine willingness to learn and develop, alongside good working knowledge of Microsoft Office, Microsoft Teams and SharePoint. You will be able to work effectively both as part of a team and independently, supporting shared priorities, and demonstrate confident communication skills when engaging with a range of audiences.

You will need

• A positive, can-do attitude with a genuine willingness to learn and develop.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office packages, along with experience of Microsoft Teams and SharePoint.
• The ability to work effectively both as part of a team and independently, supporting shared priorities and goals.
• Confident communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally with a range of audience.

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (JPP), which you can find in the ‘How to apply’ section towards the bottom of this advert.

If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The team

The Business Support Team is a busy and dynamic team based at Fire Service Headquarters in Endeavour House, Ipswich. We provide vital support to a wide range of departments across the Fire and Rescue Service, while also acting as the non-emergency link to the public, offering excellent opportunities to be involved in varied activities at the heart of the organisation. The team plays a unique role across the service, with opportunities to support events such as Open Days and the County Show, and to work closely with teams across the organisation. Based at Endeavour House, there is also an opportunity to be within the catchment area of Ipswich Princes Street on-call crew for those interested in taking part in operational response. We work in a hybrid way in line with Suffolk County Council policy and are flexible to individual needs, with options to discuss alternative working arrangements, including different locations or home working days. Please note, there will be a requirement to be office-based during the initial training period.

Empowering Everyone

We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.

For more information

Please contact Graeme Richardson for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling 01473264439 or emailing Graeme.richardson@suffolk.gov.uk

How to apply

1. Read the Job and Person Profile (Word).
2. Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.
3. Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template (Word).

Describe a situation where you had to manage multiple tasks at the same time. How did you organise and prioritise your workload?

Can you describe a time when you handled a difficult or challenging customer, for example someone who was upset or frustrated? What did you do and what was the outcome?

Tell us about a time when you had to adapt quickly to a new task, system or way of working. How did you approach it?

Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.

For guidance on completing your application, please see our How to Apply page.

Planning to use Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Please ensure your application still reflects your own skills, experience and ideas. If used inappropriately, your application may not be processed. Please read our guidance for using AI to understand what’s acceptable.

Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team at recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or 03456 014412. You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages.

Closing date: 11.30pm, 10 June 2026.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.