Careers at Council
Business Services
Business Services govern and support the many and varied day-to-day activities of council business.
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.
What we do:
The key business support areas are:
- Governance
- Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
- Information management (records)
- Procurement
- Customer service
- Administration
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
Qualifications:
Tertiary qualifications in law or business are typically required for roles involving governance. Vocational education and training (VET) qualifications relevant for junior positions include:
- Certificate IV/Diploma of Governance
- Certificate IV/Diploma in Business (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.
What we do:
- Help desk support for employees
- Website administration
- Maintenance and upgrades of software and hardware
- Cyber security
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.
Examples of new roles include:
Urban Technologies Specialist
Integration/DBA Analyst
Robotic Process Automation Technical Analyst
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 of Information Technology
- Certificate IV, Diploma of Information Networking
- Diploma of Information Technology Systems Administration
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:
- Diploma of Recordkeeping
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.
What we do:
- Manage tender processes – develop the scope, producing documentation, liaise with suppliers
- Evaluate and issue contracts
- Manage contracts with suppliers
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
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 Customer Engagement
- Certificate II, III, IV in Local Government
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Business administration staff support the day-to-day work of other council business units.
What we do:
- Customer service (internal and external)
- Data entry
- Preparation of documents e.g. letters, reports, minutes of meetings
- Diary management
- Event organisation
Types of roles:
Personal Assistant/Executive Assistant
Administration Supervisor
Administration Officer
Administration Support Officer
Qualifications:
Vocational education and training (VET) qualifications appropriate for jobs in this field include:
- Certificate II, III, IV in Business
- Certificate III, IV in Business Administration
Some current Business Services vacancies
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.