Careers at Council
Business
Services
Business Services is the engine room of Local Government. Its role is to support, empower and enable the many day-to-day activities of Council.
The scope and diversity of the work Local Government undertakes means that working in any of the business service areas can provide you with endless opportunities to grow and develop your career.
Governance
As the third tier of government, councils have a range of legislative and statutory obligations to meet.
Compliance with the law is required in:
- Local Government elections – correct processes must be followed
- Conduct of council meetings
- Disclosure of interests – to eliminate conflict of interest by councillors and staff
- Preparation of operational, audit and financial reports, e.g. Annual Reports, Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework reports (NSW and WA)
Governance employees are responsible for ensuring that all council statutory responsibilities are met. They may also provide policy and legislative advice to elected members (councillors and mayors).
Types of Roles:
Manager Governance
Governance Officer
Legal Counsel/Senior Legal Counsel
Legal Officer
What we do:
The key business support areas are:
- Governance
- Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
- Information management (records)
- Procurement
- Customer service
- Administration
Qualifications:
Tertiary qualifications in law, business or management are typically required for roles involving governance.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
ICT is embedded in every part of day-to-day operations.
It is integral to the collection, storage, analysis and communication of information within Council and externally.
Demand for ICT skills has escalated as we upgrade our ICT systems to introduce new digital ways of doing business.
Types of Roles:
Service Manager ICT
ICT Officer/Technician
Cyber Security Specialist
Service Support Officer/Analyst
Data Analyst
Desktop and Customer Support Officer
Information Systems Officer
Specialists e.g. SAP
With the focus on councils becoming Smart Cities, new roles are emerging which require insights into big data, new technologies and the Internet of Things, along with the ability to grasp new concepts, innovate and consult broadly.
Urban Technologies Specialist
Integration/DBA Analyst
Robotic Process Automation Technical Analyst
What we do:
- Help desk support for employees
- Website administration
- Maintenance and upgrades of software and hardware
- Cyber security
- Data storage management
Read here why no 2 days are the same in IT at council for Anthony.
Qualifications:
Senior roles are likely to require university qualifications in Information Technology or Digital Business. Vocational education and training (VET) qualifications appropriate for jobs in this field include:
- Certificates II, III, IV, Diploma and Advanced Diploma of Information Technology.
Information Management
Local Government collects a large amount of data from the community, which makes information management critical in terms of transparency, efficiency and continuity of knowledge.
Information management employees consult with a wide variety of council employees so customer service skills are vital. You also need to have knowledge of records legislative requirements as well as technical knowledge of electronic document and records management systems and software.
Types of Roles:
Manager/Leader Information Management
Information Management Systems Analyst
Information Management Technical Officer
Records Officer/Coordinator
Qualifications:
Senior roles are likely to require university qualifications in Business Informatics, Information and Communication Technology or Business. Vocational education and training (VET) qualifications appropriate for jobs in this field include:
- Certificate IV in Business
- Diploma of Business
Procurement
To maximize spending efficiencies and tap into skills that may not exist internally, there are times that we outsource services to contractors. These services can include building construction, maintenance, facility operations or cleaning.
Local Government employee procurement specialists are responsible for ensuring we follow the strict legal guidelines and internal policies regarding the tendering of these services.
Employees typically possess strong project management, analytical, customer engagement and communication skills.
Types of Roles:
Executive Coordinator Procurement Operations
Procurement and Contracts Specialist
Senior Procurement Officer
Procurement Officer/Business Partner
Contracts Officer/Administrator
Tenders and Submissions Coordinator
What we do:
- Manage the tender processes – develop the scope, produce documentation, liaise with suppliers
- Evaluate and issue contracts
- Manage contracts with suppliers
Qualifications:
Vocational education and training (VET) qualifications appropriate for jobs in this field include:
- Certificate IV in Procurement and Contracting
- Diploma of Procurement and Contracting
- Advanced Diploma of Procurement and Contracting
Customer Service
When it comes to the reputation and responsiveness of councils, customer service is critical.
While all employees in Local Government need to be customer-focused, there are specific roles dedicated to this function.
Customer service staff may work in call centres, at service counters or be located throughout our business units.
Types of roles:
Customer Service Manager/Team Leader/Officer
Library Customer Service Officer
Corporate Services – Customer Service Officer
Leisure Services Officer
Cashier
Qualifications:
Vocational education and training (VET) qualifications appropriate for jobs in this field include:
- Certificate II, III, IV in Business
- Certificate II, III, IV in Local Government
Business Administration
Business administration staff support the day-to-day work of other council business units.
Types of roles:
Personal Assistant/Executive Assistant
Administration Supervisor
Administration Officer
Administration Support Officer
What we do:
- Customer service (internal and external)
- Data entry
- Preparation of documents e.g. letters, reports, minutes of meetings
- Diary management
- Event organisation
Qualifications:
Vocational education and training (VET) qualifications appropriate for jobs in this field include:
- Certificate II, III, IV in Business
- Certificate II, III, IV, Diploma of Local Government
The Universities Admission Centre
For more information about university courses visit The Universities Admission Centre.
My Skills
For more information about VET courses and training providers visit My Skills.
Some current Business Services vacancies
Working in Councils
The scale and diversity of work on offer in Local Government is impressive as is the direct and positive impact this work has on the communities we serve.
Is council right for you?
Local Government’s 189,000 employees have many different skills and backgrounds, but together they share certain values and attributes that enable them to succeed at Council.
