Business Support Officer (HR and Administration)

BSNI are working with Belfast City Council to recruit a Business Support Officer (HR and Administration). This role is temporary.

Job title
Business Support Officer (HR and Administration) – Admin & Clerical
Employment type
Temporary
Number of people required
1
Target start date
03 Aug 2026
Duration
12 Weeks

Hours per week
37

Rate
PAYE: £20.66 per hour

Job location
4-10 Linenhall Street, Belfast, BT2 8BP, United Kingdom

This post is for the recruitment team. Office-based until fully trained. Mon to Fri 8:30am to 5pm, 4:30pm finish on a Friday.

Main purpose of job

To be responsible to the relevant HR Officer/ Business Coordinator (HR/Administration) for assisting with the provision of all human resource matters across the department to ensure the business needs of the department are met in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

To supervise, train and develop assigned human resources staff to ensure the business needs of the department are met.

To assist the relevant HR Officer/ Business Coordinator (HR/Administration) with the provision of advice and guidance to senior managers, line managers and other staff on a departmental wide basis, on human resources matters, in liaison with Corporate HR as appropriate.

To represent the HR Officer/ Business Coordinator (HR/Administration) within the post holders area of responsibility as required.

Summary of responsibilities and personal duties

To supervise and be responsible for programming the workload and priorities of any assigned support staff in liaison with the HR Officer/ Business Coordinator (HR/Administration) to ensure the business needs of the department are met in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
To ensure the accurate and timely production of service performance and compliance information relating to human resources matters required for reports and official returns.
To assist the HR Officer/ Business Coordinator (HR/Administration) to ensure that human resource and employee relations issues for the department are effectively managed and applied in accordance with council policies and procedures and to ensure that the relevant timescales and legislative requirements are met e.g. disciplinary, grievance, capability, attendance and other relevant procedures.
To undertake investigations in relation to specific personnel matters.
To assist with the development and management of all procedures, record keeping and reporting activities with regard to human resources matters.
To assist the HR Officer/ Business Coordinator (HR/Administration) in the review of individual sickness absence cases and maintain all medical and Occupational Health correspondence and produce Occupational Health referrals for the service in consultation with the HR Officer/ Business Coordinator (HR/Administration) and appropriate manager. To liaise with the councils occupational health provider on progress of individual cases as required.
To prepare absence management reports for presentation at case review panels.
To assist the HR Officer/ Business Coordinator (HR/Administration) in providing advice and guidance on human resource matters including but not exclusively: employee relations; attendance management; discipline and grievance; training and development; payroll; recruitment, freedom of information requests and data subject access requests.
To assist with the coordination of responses within relevant timeframes, to requests under e.g. freedom of information and data protection legislation.
To assist in the preparation of the departmental human resources units business plan.
To assist the HR Officer/ Business Coordinator (HR/Administration) in the identification of training and development needs within the human resources unit, to set individual goals/targets and implement agreed training programmes, development activities and personal development plans.
To provide and coordinate induction training for all new starts.
To keep under active review relevant working practices and procedures and make periodic recommendations to the HR Officer/ Business Coordinator (HR/Administration) where improvement or efficiencies are possible.
To represent the HR Officer/ Business Coordinator (HR/Administration) as required, within the post holders sphere of responsibility.
To motivate and manage any staff that may be assigned to the post holder to ensure effective service delivery and to be responsible for reviewing and implementing a proper staff training and development programme.
To participate in all induction and in-service training provided by Belfast City Council and in the induction and support of all newly appointed staff and other human resource management policies and procedures, as appropriate, including, absence management, disciplinary and grievance procedures.
To participate as directed in the councils recruitment and selection procedures.
To act in accordance with the council and departmental policies and procedures including customer care, equal opportunities, health and safety, safeguarding and any pertinent legislation.
To undertake the duties in such a way as to enhance and protect the reputation and public profile of the council.
To undertake such other relevant duties as may from time to time be required.
This job description has been written at a time of significant organisational change and it will be subject to review and amendment as the demands of the role and the organisation evolve. Therefore, the post-holder will be required to be flexible, adaptable and aware that they may be asked to perform tasks, duties and responsibilities which are not specifically detailed in the job description but which are commensurate with the role.

Essential criteria

Qualifications and experience

Applicants must, as at the closing date for receipt of application forms:

have a third level qualification in a relevant subject such as Business Studies, Human Resources or equivalent qualification and be able to demonstrate on the application form, by providing personal and specific examples, at least one years relevant experience in each of the following three areas;

or
be able to demonstrate on the application form, by providing personal and specific examples, at least two years relevant experience in each of the following three areas:
providing advice and guidance on HR policies and processes to operational management, and assisting in the management of staffing, payroll, work-life balance, learning and development, Freedom of Information and subject access requests;
working effectively with Trade Unions on a range of HR matters; and
direct participation in attendance management policy, disciplinary and grievance procedures and in managing employee resourcing / staffing issues.
Special skills and attributes

Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they possess the following special skills and attributes, which may be tested at interview:

Communication skills:  A high degree of literacy with the ability to write reports, memos and letters on complex or sensitive issues; effective oral communication skills with the ability to address groups and meetings clearly and to listen and understand divergent opinions and convey complex information.

Technical knowledge:   An understanding of HR issues, legislation and best practice including recruitment and selection, work-life balance, payroll, absence management, disciplinary and grievance procedures and how information technology and new technologies can increase business efficiency.

Team working and staff management skills: The ability to demonstrate effective management skills with a wide understanding of a departmental operation and the ability to work as part of a team. The ability t