Business Manager

About the job

Key information

• Up to £46,142 – pay award pending
• 37 hours per week (part time applications are welcome)
• Central Taunton, with some hybrid working

An exciting opportunity has arisen at SW Councils, a job for you if you love variety, are flexible and up for some challenges – juggling skills might help! You will be joining a proactive team of professionals committed to supporting local authorities and other public and not-for-profit organisations. It is the ideal opportunity to both play to your skills and develop new ones!

Our office base is in Taunton, Somerset. Given the broad range of responsibilities of this role, the expectation is that this post will spend the majority of their time in the office. However, we offer some flexibility through hybrid working.

About South West Councils

South West Councils is a small team of 30 supporting the work of all 29 local authorities across the South West and 100+ Associate members (such as police, fire & rescue services, national parks, schools and parish and town councils). We support local authorities in information sharing and lobbying as the Voice of the South West to try to get a better deal for the region. We also support learning and development activity, provide specialist HR advice and support areas of policy including the Strategic Migration Partnership. Work at South West Councils is full of variety but also with the opportunity to focus on specific work areas.

A job with us as provides flexibility, fair pay, an excellent pension scheme, generous holiday allowance, job satisfaction, training and supports career development.

What kind of experience or qualifications do I need?

This is a wide- ranging role and we are looking for candidates who can demonstrate a good set of skills. You would have the opportunity to play to your strengths, but we also recognise that there may be the need to develop and strengthen some skills. You therefore need to demonstrate the ability and willingness to learn if you do not already have the full range of experience and high level skills we are seeking.

We are looking for candidates who can demonstrate:

• Experience of managing and leading a team and managing across multiple fast flowing work areas at the same time.
• Experience of managing and supporting meetings and overseeing delivery of agreed outcomes.
• Experience leading or supporting organisational improvement, transformation or change initiatives.
• Understanding and skills to support core organisational activities: governance/compliance/GDPR/data protection/health and safety and risk management.
• Understanding of democratic processes and the operation of local and central government.
• Experience of building strong customer relationships (internal and external) and delivering high-quality services.
• Excellent people management and leadership skills, including delegation, performance management and workload planning.
• Strong administration skills, with high levels of organisation and attention to detail.
• Ability to work effectively with senior stakeholders
• Strong analytical and decision-making skills, using data and business insight to identify and implement improvements.
• Strong digital and ICT skills, with the ability to identify and implement technology-enabled business improvements.
• Ability to be flexible, manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines and maintain high standards of work.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building and customer service skills when working with colleagues, members and external stakeholders.

What is in it for me?

• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Flexible working, including a flexi-time scheme.
• Opportunities for professional development.

Supporting documents and information

South West Councils values a diverse workforce and is supportive of the needs of all applicants and employees.

Our office base is in Taunton, Somerset. The South West Councils team are currently working a mixture of office working and working from home. The role is office based for a minimum of four days per week (with occasional travel) but there will also be the opportunity to work from home at times should an individual wish to do so and this fits with business needs.

For an informal conversation about the role and potential working arrangements, please call 01823 270101. One of our senior managers will be happy to speak to you, but due to availability it may be either Bryony Houlden, Chief Executive; Kelly-Anne Phillips, Director of Policy and Internal Services; Ian Morgan, Director of External Services; or the current postholder, Graeme Young.

If you have any questions about the process, please email jobs@swcouncils.gov.uk.

There may be first interviews via Teams on Tuesday 8 September. The final Interviews will take place on Wednesday 16th September in Taunton.

All applications must be made using the official application form. C.V.s will not be accepted.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Tuesday 1 September 2026.

Apply on the South West Councils website

Apply now