Licensing & Operational Support Officer
Please apply online via the link provided.
12 Months Fixed Term/ Secondment Opportunity
Part Time | 28 Hours per week | Some Weekend Working Required
Salary £38,291 – £34,779 pa (pro rata)
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 & Operational 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.
This is your chance to play a critical behind-the-scenes leadership role in one of the most ambitious and award-winning market services in the country.
The Role: 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 email.
- Data Management: Maintaining accurate records of licenses, payments, trader information (including public liability insurance and certifications), and enforcement actions. You'll also provide statistical reports and manage 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: Organized, Customer-Focused, and Detail-Oriented
You're passionate about making systems work better for people and are committed to delivering exceptional service. We're looking for someone who is:
Highly Organized: Able to manage large workloads, prioritize 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 with diverse stakeholders.
- Tech-Savvy: Proficient in 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 organization, and ideally some knowledge of current issues in public sector management.
Why Join Us? A Multi-Award-Winning Team!
You'll be part of Hackney’s multi-award-winning Markets, Shop Fronts & Street Trading Service. We are nationally recognised and internationally referenced for innovation and excellence, a driver of inclusive growth, sustainability, and cultural celebration. We're home to Ridley Road, Broadway, Hoxton, and the UK’s first Zero Plastic Markets. Join a place where staff thrive, innovate, and shape the future of public service delivery.
We are a proud, diverse, inclusive, and values-led employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds.
Ready to power the engine room behind one of the UK's best market services?
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.
If you want to work in a place where you can represent our values so we achieve the best for our residents, please click on the apply button below.
We operate a fair and open anonymous selection process. Therefore, we do not accept supporting statements or CV’s.
To proceed with your application, you will need to create an account and submit your application.
As part of the application process, you will need to complete a number of competency based questions. These questions allow you to demonstrate your suitability for the role and provide examples of your skills, knowledge and experience outlined in the job description.
We understand the benefits of using AI in the workplace. However, if you are thinking of using this tool to submit your application, we ask you to think about what value it will add. AI tools tend to lack the personal touch and authenticity we value in candidates. We encourage you to showcase your unique knowledge and skills using your own voice.
Closing date for applications: 03 August 2025 (22.59)
Interview and assessment date: W/C 18 August 2025
We are also working towards our vision, which is to be a place for everyone; where residents and staff can be proud; a place that celebrates diversity and where everyone can feel valued, included and involved. In order to achieve this, we look for people who are: Proud; Ambitious; Pioneering; Open; Proactive; Inclusive.
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. We particularly welcome applications from disabled people, as this group is currently under represented in our workforce.
The Council has a dedicated employment support service (Hackney Works), which offers Hackney residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you are thinking about applying for a job, please contact the Hackney Works team to find out what support is available: hackneyworks@hackney.gov.uk
Disclaimers apply, for full details see: https://hackney.gov.uk/email-disclaimerSalary range
- £34,779 - £38,291 per year