Assistant Officer (Technical Support) - Occ613922

About us

It is an exciting time to join Oxfordshire County Council’s Highways team. 

We’re determined to deliver a high quality, safe, sustainable, and reliable network. The service structure has recently been re-imagined, ensuring we’re best positioned to meet the high expectations of our customers, and evolving challenges such as climate adaptation.

Oxfordshire County Council is looking for an Assistant Officer (Technical Support) to work within the Highway Electrical Assets Team. 

We are responsible for street lighting and illuminated signs in most towns and villages throughout the County and also in Oxford City. A few Parish Councils also own their street lighting, as do district councils and housing associations in car parks and garage areas.

We have approximately 60,300 streetlights on roads and footpaths, and 7,100 illuminated signs/bollards (including Zebra Crossing and School Signal Crossing Beacons, Vehicle Activated Signs (VAS) & Highway/Subway drainage pumps.

We ensure to repair faulty lights/highway electrical equipment quickly (i.e. within 7 working days of when contractor receives a report and carry out routine maintenance, cleaning and changing lamps on signing equipment every 2-3 years to ensure good operation of equipment and for electrical and structural safety.

About the role

The post involves assisting the Team Leader with all the technical aspects of the street lighting service, including dealing with the input of all fault reports, and to assist as required with the technical, operational and maintenance aspects of street lighting, illuminated signs/bollards, highway drainage pumps and other miscellaneous highway related electrical apparatus. 

This will also involve updating the asset management system and the monitoring procedure /performance of the contract and liaising with contractors to issuing works instructions, programming works, consultations and to ensure works completed to agreed programme etc.

The post holder will require the ability to communicate complex issues effectively by telephone, in writing, by e-mail and in person with District, Parish, Councillors and members of the public. 

An ability to handle challenging and sometimes emotional situations and customers with an ability to work calmly under pressure prioritising competing demands effectively. 

The role is intended to support the team in all aspects of the business.

The role would require the raising of purchase orders to the County Councils supply chain and arranging payment to be made to invoices received thereafter. In doing so the post holder will ensure that Council procurement and financial guidelines are being adhered to. 

The role will offer support by assisting with the administration of the team’s correspondence and file management. 

The role will require the application for various permits associated with our work, for running database searches, and for handing enquiries. 

The role will require general administrative duties in support of the team including effective record keeping. 

About you

You will need to be willing to learn new skills in a fast-paced environment and to work without direct supervision.

You will have proven front-line service (visitors/telephone) experience.

You will be a team player and contribute positively to build a positive and engaged working environment. 

You will have a high attention to detail and be able to see tasks through to their completion.

You will be confident in raising suggestions for process improvement and take a proactive approach to solving problems where they are identified. 

The designated work location will be in County Hall, Oxford, although much of the work is anticipated to be able to be carried out whilst agile working, (i.e. other offices in Oxfordshire or from home). You may be occasionally required to carry out site visits with other members of the team to gather information. 
Rewards and benefits

• Culture of flexible working
• Technology to support agile working where role permits
• Up to 31 days holiday p.a. plus bank holidays 
• Option to ‘buy’ additional holiday
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support
• Membership of the Local Government contributory pension scheme, with an employer’s contribution of up to 19.9%
• Enhanced family friendly policies
• Local and national discounts for shopping and travel
• Great learning and development opportunities to support your ongoing development

Would you like to know more?

Please click here to view the Job Description and Selection Criteria

For an informal discussion about the roles please contact Anthony Palman-Brown, Team Leader, Electrical at anthony.palman-brown@oxfordshire.gov.uk 

Application Procedure

To apply, please complete an online application form by clicking either of the Apply Now buttons at the top and bottom of this advert. This includes a section asking you to explain how you meet the selection criteria, as specified in the job posting. You may attach a cover letter and/or CV to your application form, however it is not mandatory.   

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