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- Tasks: Lead and develop teams to deliver high-quality business support services.
- Company: Join Westmorland and Furness Council, making a real difference in your community.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, pension scheme, and enhanced annual leave.
- Why this job: Influence service operations and drive positive outcomes for local communities.
- Qualifications: Experience in leadership, customer service, and strong organisational skills required.
- Other info: Flexible working environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 34434 - 35412 £ per year.
The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.
Job reference: REQ00000019777
Date posted: 18/03/2026
Application closing date: 08/04/2026
Location: Barrow in Furness
Salary: £34,434 - £35,412
Contractual hours: 37
Basis: Full time
Contract Type: Fixed term 18 months
About this opportunity:
We are seeking a Business Support Team Leader to play a key role in delivering efficient, high quality business support services across a range of council functions. In this vital role, you will contribute to improving outcomes for our communities by overseeing the day-to-day organisation and delivery of effective business support. You will ensure teams are led effectively, responsive and adaptable, enabling services to operate smoothly and meet changing demands. Experience of improving work procedures and leading staff through change will be an advantage.
What You’ll Be Doing:
- Lead and develop teams – supervising, recruiting, motivating and supporting business support staff across the directorate, while ensuring HR policies and procedures are implemented effectively.
- Coordinate and allocate work – managing workflows to ensure capacity is used flexibly and efficiently, monitoring performance, and acting as systems administrator and service lead when needed.
- Resolve complex operational issues – making informed day-to-day decisions, addressing queries and challenges from a wide range of stakeholders, and approving actions outside standard processes where required.
- Ensure statutory compliance – checking systems and processes to ensure statutory obligations, deadlines and reporting requirements are consistently met, alongside monitoring performance and management information.
- Drive service improvement – identifying opportunities for change, contributing to service reviews, and participating in projects aimed at enhancing quality and efficiency.
Why Join Us?
This is an exciting opportunity to influence how services operate, support continuous improvement, and lead teams who play a crucial role in delivering positive outcomes for the people of Westmorland and Furness. You will be part of a dedicated, collaborative environment where your leadership and expertise will be valued.
Who we are looking for…
Our ideal candidate will be an experienced and confident leader who is committed to improving outcomes for the people of Westmorland and Furness. They will bring strong organisational skills, sound judgement and the ability to manage a varied workload in a fast-paced environment.
They will be someone who:
- Leads and motivates others with confidence, able to supervise, develop and support business support teams while applying HR policies appropriately.
- Thinks and plans proactively, ensuring work is coordinated effectively, resources are used flexibly and performance is monitored to meet changing service needs.
- Makes well-reasoned operational decisions, handling complex queries and issues from a wide range of stakeholders with professionalism and clarity.
- Takes responsibility for compliance, ensuring statutory requirements, deadlines and internal processes are consistently checked, met and well.
- Drives service improvement, offering constructive recommendations, supporting change initiatives and contributing to project work that enhances service delivery.
- Remains calm and dependable in challenging situations, including supporting the organisation’s emergency response when needed.
Above all, our ideal candidate will be a reliable, adaptable and positive team leader who is passionate about delivering excellent business support services that help our communities thrive.
Our successful candidate will bring a strong combination of technical ability, leadership experience and practical knowledge. Based on the role requirements, they should have:
- A relevant qualification at NVQ Level 3 or 4, or equivalent experience/knowledge in related work areas.
- Proven experience supervising, motivating and allocating work to staff, ensuring teams remain productive and supported.
- Strong customer service experience, including effective communication with a wide range of stakeholders and members of the public.
- Competence working with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and SharePoint.
- Experienced in resource allocation, ensuring capacity is managed effectively through peaks and troughs of workload.
- Experience developing and maintaining accurate administration systems, with the ability to influence and monitor their effectiveness.
- Experience developing and monitoring service performance, ensuring processes and outcomes are continuously reviewed and improved.
- Knowledge of diverse and complex processes, systems and procedures within a business support environment.
- Ability to travel, as required for the needs of the service.
What can we offer you!
Working at Westmorland and Furness Council you will receive a variety of benefits, including a competitive pension scheme, enhanced annual leave allowance and other various perks and discounts schemes.
If you have any queries about this role or would like an informal chat about this opportunity, then please contact Dan Crockford on daniel.crockford@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk or 07500 129272.
Application and Interview information:
Interview date: 21 April 2026. We are currently operating both in-person and virtual interviews. Interview details such as venue/timings will be shared with successful candidates, following the shortlisting process. If you have any concerns or adjustments are needed, we are happy to discuss this with you.
Safer Recruitment & DBS:
At Westmorland and Furness Council we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the safety and welfare of children, young people and adults at risk and we expect all workers, employees and volunteers to share our commitment.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion:
Westmorland and Furness Council is committed to improving the diversity of its workforce to better reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and work to promote an inclusive, supportive culture that values and celebrates our differences.
As a Disability Confident Leader, disabled applicants, who meet the essential criteria of this job, are guaranteed an interview. We also offer guaranteed interviews to Armed Forces personnel and veterans and those in care or care experienced and under 24 years old that meet the essential criteria for the role.
Business Support Team Leader: Drive Service Excellence employer: The Cumbria County Council
Contact Detail:
The Cumbria County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Support Team Leader: Drive Service Excellence
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections on LinkedIn or even in person. Let them know you're on the hunt for a Business Support Team Leader role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the council's recent projects and challenges. This way, you can show off your knowledge and how you can drive service excellence in your potential new role.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Get a friend to do mock interviews with you. Focus on answering questions about leadership and service improvement, as these are key for the Business Support Team Leader position.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Westmorland and Furness Council.
We think you need these skills to ace Business Support Team Leader: Drive Service Excellence
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the role of Business Support Team Leader. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Since this role is all about leading teams, don’t forget to share specific examples of how you've successfully motivated and developed others in previous positions. We want to see your leadership style in action!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications.
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, make sure to submit your application through our official website. This way, we can easily track your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Cumbria County Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the role of a Business Support Team Leader. Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities and how they align with your experience. This will help you articulate how your skills can drive service excellence.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that demonstrate your leadership abilities. Think about times when you've successfully motivated a team or resolved complex operational issues. Highlighting these experiences will show that you're the confident leader they're looking for.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills and decision-making abilities. Prepare for scenarios where you might need to handle challenging situations or make quick decisions. Practising these responses will help you stay calm and collected during the interview.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, have a few thoughtful questions ready. Inquire about the team's current challenges or how success is measured in this role. This shows your genuine interest in the position and helps you gauge if it's the right fit for you.