At a Glance
- Tasks: Support the Planning Service by handling customer data and processing planning applications.
- Company: Join West Northants Council, dedicated to making the community thrive and ensuring sustainability.
- Benefits: Enjoy a supportive culture, opportunities for growth, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Be part of a team that values innovation and empowers you to make a real impact.
- Qualifications: Experience in customer service and strong communication skills are essential.
- Other info: We are a disability confident employer and support diverse applicants.
The predicted salary is between 28800 - 43200 £ per year.
Our Technical Support team is the engine room that supports the entire Planning Service. Our Support Officers are the interface with the council’s Customer Services team and provide high quality communication and technical advice to our service users. The team registers and validates all planning applications and is responsible for leading our programme of process review, our system updates as well as driving and monitoring our overall service performance.
As an Assistant Technical Support Officer, your main role is to make sure everyone – customers, the public, both internal and external stakeholders (including our Councillors) – receive high quality, consistent and efficient support for the effective administration and performance management of the Planning Service.
You will play a key role in supporting the Technical Support Manager, Technical Support Team Leaders and all other members of the Planning Service in their role and duties.
What will you be doing?
You will play a vital role in ensuring the Planning Service provides a high quality service to all of its customers and meets its corporate performance standards. This involves handling customer data in compliance with GDPR and processing payments for planning applications in line with Council procedures.
You\’ll support the entire Planning Service and will be involved in various processes such as application registration, validation and preparing support for planning appeals.
Additionally, you\’ll assist the Planning Policy team during peak consultation periods and will contribute to process improvements, system reviews, and various strategic initiatives as needed.
About you
You will need a genuine interest in the planning environment and an interest in ensuring our community in West Northants thrives.
Our ideal person will have experience working in a busy customer focused area and have fantastic communication skills as you will engage with the public and handle their feedback, making sure everything aligns with our corporate standards. Plus, you\’ll pitch in with process improvements, communications strategies, and training programs. In planning, we are passionate about people, places and sustainability.
We balance development to support new housing and jobs with protecting the environment for future generations and our commitment to net zero by 2030. We want to create an outstanding natural environment, fit for future generations. If this is something that you feel excited about, we’d love to hear from you.
At West Northants Council, it’s about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like-minded people.
Our vision is ‘to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive’. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower, they underpin everything we do and how we deliver services.
We are committed to ensuring diversity, equality, equity, and inclusion is woven into the fabric of WNC and everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and maximize their full potential. We are a disability confident employer, a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, and a Care Leaver Covenant partner
The following film was created by us to communicate our intentions – watch WNC colleagues explain what DEI means to us .
If you need additional support or reasonable adjustments during the application process, including needing the job description in another format or language, please email careers@westnorthants.gov.uk for support.
West Northants Council, where careers thrive.
The following content displays a map of the job\’s location.
- Location The Forum, Towcester, United Kingdom
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Assistant Technical Support Officer employer: West Northants Council
Contact Detail:
West Northants Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Technical Support Officer
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the planning environment in West Northants. Understanding local policies, recent developments, and community needs will help you engage effectively with stakeholders and demonstrate your genuine interest during any discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Brush up on your customer service skills. Since you'll be interacting with the public and internal teams, showcasing your ability to handle feedback and provide high-quality support will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 3
Highlight your experience with process improvements and system reviews. Be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've contributed to enhancing efficiency in previous roles, as this aligns with the responsibilities of the Assistant Technical Support Officer.
✨Tip Number 4
Demonstrate your alignment with the council's corporate values, THRIVE. Think about how you can embody Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate, and Empower in your interactions and approach to the role, as this will resonate well with the hiring team.
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Technical Support Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Read the job description thoroughly to grasp the responsibilities and expectations of the Assistant Technical Support Officer position. Highlight how your skills and experiences align with the role.
Tailor Your CV: Customise your CV to reflect relevant experience in customer service and technical support. Emphasise your communication skills and any experience with planning processes or compliance with regulations like GDPR.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your genuine interest in the planning environment and your commitment to high-quality service. Mention specific examples of how you've contributed to process improvements or customer satisfaction in previous roles.
Highlight Your Values: In your application, demonstrate how your personal values align with the council's corporate values of Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate, and Empower. This will show that you are a good cultural fit for the organisation.
How to prepare for a job interview at West Northants Council
✨Understand the Role
Make sure you have a clear understanding of the Assistant Technical Support Officer role. Familiarise yourself with the responsibilities, such as handling customer data and supporting the Planning Service. This will help you answer questions confidently and demonstrate your genuine interest in the position.
✨Showcase Communication Skills
Since this role involves engaging with the public and internal stakeholders, be prepared to showcase your communication skills. Think of examples from your past experiences where you effectively handled customer feedback or resolved issues, as this will highlight your ability to provide high-quality support.
✨Align with Corporate Values
West Northants Council values Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate, and Empower (THRIVE). During the interview, try to weave these values into your responses. Share how your personal values align with theirs and provide examples of how you've demonstrated these principles in your previous roles.
✨Prepare for Process Improvement Questions
As the role involves contributing to process improvements and system reviews, be ready to discuss any relevant experiences you have in this area. Think about times when you identified inefficiencies and how you proposed solutions, as this will show your proactive approach and commitment to enhancing service performance.